What careers can a MSc in Molecular Biology get after graduation?

[yangxu]

I just started my graduate school last September, and I wanted to plan ahead what I wanted to do if I do get a MSc. I was told that biotech companies are reluctant to hire graduates with a Masters degree simply because they'll have to go through the same training as Bachelors but with higher salary. If that's the case, I don't think the future looks too bright for me.

Therefore I'd like to ask some of the veterans on this board to shed some lights on the outlook of finding a position with decent pays in pharmaceutical companies either in Canada or in the States. I don't think I'm quite ready to do a PhD, and I don't know too much about med or pharmacy schools (do I need to go through the same curriculum as most undergrads did?). Thanks in advance.

[gilboman]

not much unless u want to be a research assistant in a lab setting.

i have a friend with M.Sc in molecular biology and there's nth out there in private sector that a bachelor's cant do.

[d_wing]

With a Master's in molecular biology, you shouldn't have trouble finding a job working in a private or clinic lab. But if you want to be paid well, you'll need to get your PhD. Companies/ hospital hire people with PhDs to run their labs and do research for them. In terms of medical schools, my professor (from UT) told me that if you do well in graduate studies med schools don't focus too much on your undergrad marks.(If you can get into grad school, your marks can't be that bad anyways) Most ppl who get into med school are master's students. You don't have to be in a particular program. You just need to do your MCAT.

[nalababe]

With a Master's in molecular biology, you shouldn't have trouble finding a job working in a private or clinic lab. But if you want to be paid well, you'll need to get your PhD. Companies/ hospital hire people with PhDs to run their labs and do research for them. In terms of medical schools, my professor (from UT) told me that if you do well in graduate studies med schools don't focus too much on your undergrad marks.(If you can get into grad school, your marks can't be that bad anyways) Most ppl who get into med school are master's students. You don't have to be in a particular program. You just need to do your MCAT.

Working in a clinical lab as a tech, you will still need to have accreditation as a MLT. Not particularly difficult, but you won't be able to just jump out and get a job in a lab. Molecular was one of the last to require this type of certification.

Labs are run on two ends. Operationally and Clinically. The Clinical Biochemist tends to be a PhD, but on the operational end, you can have anything from an MBA to a MLT that has risen through the ranks.

Industry does not have any preference for Masters vs Bachelors. The reality is that these are pretty much the same beast. Any premium in salary will typically be small if any (different in the US). As for what the Master's really equates to when comes to hiring is a Bachelors plus 1 to 2 years work experience.

In industry a typical path would be to start as an applications specialist (start 35-50+k). A next step would be either to move to Sales/Marketing or Higher Level Product Support/Management (50-80+k). Depending on the structure of the company this could be a national or global position. Then you start getting in to more of the management side....alternately, if there is R&D done in Canada you can move through that route. There can be opportunities around the world.

This could be with research companies/Technology companies like Affymetrix or Luminex or purely clinical (i.e. Siemens with bDNA or Trugene). Most of the biggies (Roche, Abbott, Siemens, BM, BD) have extended into this area as it is one of two areas that are still rapidly growing (automated Micro ID/ASTis also growing as many are still running KB or other manual techniques).

[NiMSo]

... In terms of medical schools, my professor (from UT) told me that if you do well in graduate studies med schools don't focus too much on your undergrad marks.(If you can get into grad school, your marks can't be that bad anyways) Most ppl who get into med school are master's students. You don't have to be in a particular program. You just need to do your MCAT.

I don't think that's particularly true. On the contrary, GPA (which would mostly be your undergraduate grades) is the dominant factor that admissions offices look at in almost every program. Having a higher degree will likely NOT offset poor grades. Of course, having a Master's or PhD will improve your chances, but you still need a solid GPA to be considered competitive (well, at least here in Canada, where admissions standards are quite high in professional programs).

[penquinbum]

1. Pharmaceutical salesperson. (of the legitimate variety). Big bucks in this field if you are good pushing pills on doctors to push on their patients.;)

2. High school science teacher....well, I mean you'd be in the highest salary category with theM.Sc., but you would be surrounded by pharmaceutical consumers of the not legitimate variety.

Good luck.
:cheesygri:D