1. What exactly do you do?
- What field is your job in?
Biotechnology - What is your job title?
Associate Scientist I - Please provide a brief description of the firm or organization that you currently work for (size and general description of what type of organization it is)
Global company of ~10000 employees, my site has ~50. We provide primary cells as products & services to the biotech industry.
- How long have you been employed in this position?
14 months - How many hours do you work a week on average?
43 - Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
43 - Please provide a BRIEF description of your duties and responsibilities. (job description)
I am in R&D, so I do lots of various projects. I do standard lab work, establish QA protocols, write SOPs & ATMs, develop & optimize new assays, validate new processes. I'm also starting a project to develop new kits for sale as products.
- What was your gross income last year? Please include any bonuses or incentives received.
39000 - What is your expected gross income for this year? Please include any bonuses or incentives you expect to receive.
42000 - Please list any benefits you have (Please include number of weeks vacation, sick leave and type of health insurance, retirement plan 401k)
2 weeks vacation, 1 week sick, 1 week company holidays at the very least. BCBS insurance, 50% 401k match. Typical benefits. - Do you feel you are under/well/over compensated at your current position?
Undercompensated- I do far more than most AS1's, and though I get recognition for it, I am limited in pay due to the typical pay range for an AS1.
2. Work environment!
- Does your job entail you working with others on a daily basis? Is this something you like/dislike about your job? Explain
I work with others on occasion back in the lab- some jobs are just too big for one person. I also consult with members of other departments on a lot of the things I'm developing. It's nice to get a taste of all of the different sides of the company.
- Do you work collaboratively with supervisors/managers?
Yes - Do you work collaboratively with your co-workers?
Yes - Describe your work location (e.g., office, home, theatre, in the field) and what you like/dislike about working in it
I'm in an office, in a cubicle. What's nice is that there are lots of people around to chat with, but there's a real lack of privacy.
- Please rank in order of importance from 1-8 (1- most important 8- least important) Assign each number once.
- 3 Income
- 4 Work Environment - co-workers
- 1 Work Environment - supervisors
- 2 Benefits
- 8 Hours
- 5 Level of responsibility
- 7 The actual "work" you do at your job
- 6 Job Title
3. How should someone new to the workforce get a J-O-B like yours?
- If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
Network- find out who at your school has contacts in the industry, & look into those companies for which you "know a guy who knows a guy". I am very rare in that I got my job without "knowing somebody"- about 90% of my coworkers got their interviews by referral.
- What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours? Please be specific and explain why (e.g., social skills, organization skills, technical skills)
Critical thinking, lots of laboratory skills obviously. People skills are very necessary to advance, as well as flexibility.
- Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
Minimally a college level science degree for any AS1 position, but for R&D at least a MS degree. - What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
You are the bottom of the totem pole. It doesn't matter who you worked for at school, how many papers you published... You have to prove yourself all over again, and if you look cocky for a second, it will take you MONTHS to make up for it.
4. How did you get your J-O-B
- How did you find your current job? (e.g. newspaper, internet, referral, etc.)
Internet posting. - What was the application process for your job? (e.g. submitted resume, paper application, electronic application, all, etc.)
Emailed resume & cover letter, recieved 1st phone interview, followed up with thank you email, then got 2nd phone interview, then live interview. Got offer by phone 2 weeks later. - Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail? (e.g., number of interviews, who you interviewed with, group interview, individual interview, etc.)
Yes, two phone interviews & one live interview. The phone interviews were with my immediate supervisor, and involved standard interview questions for any job (past work, personality screening, etc). The live interview was with my immediate supervisor, her boss, the HR lady, and the guy who runs R&D (knowing I would work with him a lot). Also a group interview with the lab folks I'd be working with. - If you can remember, what questions were you asked at your interview?
Generic 'why here', 'why science', personality screening questions. My boss asked me how my CD's are organized- he wanted to work with someone more tidy than he is! - Is this the job / field you planned to work in?
Yes - If your job is in a different field from your original plan how did you get here? Explain (Plan can be from high school/college/post college/personal plan)
I always wanted to work in biotech, but I'd also like to teach someday.
5. Background: Are you qualified?
- Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
Yes, lots of SOP reading and then on the job training for the specialized lab work. - Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain
Yes, I had already done very similar work in school, and also there were several weeks of closely supervised peer-training, so whenever I had a question there was someone experienced & able to answer it. - Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain
Yes, I constantly use things I learned in labs at school in my everyday work. It's amazing how much Intro to Chemistry affects my daily routine! - If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare you for your job?
6. The Future and Beyond (FINAL SECTION)
- If someone were to observe you at work, what would he or she say is "fun" about your job?
I get to supervise myself for the most part. I also get to do some 'discovery' work- figuring things out. My job isn't routine at all. - What is (are) the most fulfilling aspect(s) and least fulfilling aspect(s) of your current employment? (e.g. fiscal, spiritual, type of work, hours, commute, compensation, etc.)
My boss is very supportive and doesn't hesitate to give me credit for my work instead of taking the glory for himself. I get to publish without having a PhD. Least fulfilling- money- I get paid about 60% of what someone with my degree & experience should be getting. I took this job because of the potential growth, not the immediate return. - Is your current employment part of your career plan? Why or why not?
Yes, I intend to work my way up the ranks to become a study director. - What are your current career goals? (Can be broad or specific)
I'd like to advance fairly quickly, and still be able to do some lab work, but also deskwork like I do now. I'd like to manage a team. - Is there anything else you would like to share about your career?
It's very rewarding, because people throughout the field use our products- so each innovation affects the entire biotech community, not just my company.
7. A Day in the Life Of...
- 7 am - 8 am
Still sleeping at home. Ah, the beauty of R&D. - 8 am - 9 am
Drag myself out of bed. Enjoy listening to NPR during 35 minute commute. - 9 am - 10 am
Sort out any emails, plan projects for the day. Today there was a company announcement that detailed some events coming up. - 10 am - 11 am
Company Monthly R&D Meeting- various people presented updates on current research and goals. I wasn't on the agenda this month, so I just listened & learned. - 11 am - 12 am
Company Monthly R&D Meeting- various people presented updates on current research and goals. I wasn't on the agenda this month, so I just listened & learned. - 12 am - 1 pm
- 1 pm - 2 pm
Read over SOPs and ATMs for a project I'll begin in two days. Just making sure I'm familiar with the process. - 2 pm - 3 pm
Monthly Radiation Safety Committee Meeting- updates on what isotopes we have on hand, any new studies, waste management. - 3 pm - 4 pm
Company Monthly R&D Meeting- various people presented updates on current research and goals. I wasn't on the agenda this month, so I just listened & learned. - 4 pm - 5 pm
Researching assay I'm trying to optimize- another group is having trouble with the dynamic range, so it was handed over to me to figure it out for them. Ah, the joys of R&D. - 5 pm - 6 pm
Reading up on some current literature & advancements in the field. Found some interesting articles, forwarded to my boss. - 6 pm - 7 pm
Going home fairly early today. Some days I'll get caught up and work till 7:30 or 8pm. R&D gives you a lot of flexibility. - 7 pm - 8 pm
N/A - 8 pm - 9 pm
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N/A - 10 pm - 11 pm
N/A - 11 pm - 12 pm
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