Hello all,

I'm in need of some career advice & venting about my career and hoping to get some insights from the community. I have an MSc and several years of experience in academia, but I never pursued a PhD. For the past seven years, I've been working in biologics and cell therapy manufacturing. Initially, I started in Quality Control, but over time, I transitioned into Quality Assurance. However, I'm feeling incredibly burnt out and frustrated with my current role in QA.

As a middle-level manager in QA, I find myself constantly facing time pressure, especially since QA is typically the last step in the process before a batch is released. Despite my efforts and expertise, I often feel undervalued and unappreciated by other departments unless an auditor confirms our concerns during audits. Additionally, the nature of the work itself lacks intellectual stimulation; it mainly consists of batch reviews, SOP reviews, risk assessments, etc.

I've come to realize that the toxic environment in QA, characterized by the constant time pressure and the personalities of some team members (e.g., control freaks), is taking a toll on my well-being. I've switched companies and worked with different managers, but it seems like I encounter the same issues everywhere I go.

I'm currently at a crossroads and feeling unsure about my next career move. I'm considering transitioning out of QA altogether but feeling lost about what direction to take next. If anyone has gone through a similar experience or has any advice to offer, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you all in advance for your help and support.

We’ve launched MicrobiomePhylo, a cutting-edge webapp designed to streamline the analysis and visualization of microbiome amplicon sequencing data. Developed with researchers in mind, the platform provides a user-friendly interface to transform raw amplicon sequencing data into insightful, publishable visualizations. It supports a wide range of analyses, including data filtering, rarefaction, alpha and beta diversity and differential abundance testing, advanced statistical analysis and dynamic visualization options. Key features: ✅ easy upload of Qiime2 artifacts and metadata files ✅ customizable data filtering and rarefaction for standardized sampling effort ✅ advanced analysis options, including alpha and beta diversity, abundance analysis and correlation analysis ✅ publishable-quality visualizations to enhance your research findings

The platform is designed to save researchers time and resources by offering a streamlined approach to microbiome data analysis.

We invite you to try it for FREE at https://microbiomephylo.com and start your analysis today! #microbiome #bioinformatics #genomics #microbiology #datascience

So I’ve applied to a bunch of unis for undergrad biochem ( Europe, UK and Ireland ), and now I have to shortlist… So I’m considering between Sheffield, UCC and UCD and while I am capable of affording them, Sheffield and UCD are a bit of a financial burden on my family and idk if they are worth it. furthermore my thought process is that it’s more important to have a reputable grad school than undergrad so I don’t want to splurge on bachelors. So I’m looking for advice on: . Factors to consider when picking undergrad course/ uni such as placements and connections of the uni . The research . Opinions on what matters for undergrad . Does undergrad really matter that much or is masters more important . How beneficial is a placement year in employability . Does going to a uni with better connections really make a big diff?

Thank you!

Hi! I aim to go into the biotech/startup field and industry after completing my masters. I am deciding between UMich MS in Biostat and Columbia MS in Biostat with a concentration in public health data science. I’m still learning about each program… does anyone have any advice?

Both are great programs but my priorities are finding a supportive place that values me and helps me succeed in my goals with caring professors, as well as a place that offers a good social life and community.

If funding was not an issue, what would be your advice?

Has anyone had experience before where you became notified on your first day of work that the position you accepted has been rescoped to a lower level and your salary and overall comp will be significantly lower than what you agreed to? This happened to me recently. I reluctantly accepted this position despite being an on-site job now because they agreed to a higher level for me with greater scope of responsibility and much higher overall comp. All of this is stated in my signed offer letter. After I met with my manager on my first day, he told me they promoted another internal candidate to the position I accepted and that my position will actually be at two levels lower at a new comp level that is significantly lower. I am devastated by this and not sure what to do. I turned down another strong offer to accept this one and I can’t help but feel they purposely waited until my first day to tell me knowing that I won’t have anything else to fall back on. I asked why this wasn’t communicated ahead of time, he implied it should have been by HR but maybe they forgot or got lost in the coordination (he implied there’s been a lot of HR turnover recently). Anyone experience this? I have a signed offer letter for the original position we agreed on. My manager tried to have me sign a new offer letter when I met with him with the significantly reduced role and comp but I told him I need to review it first.

Anyone here know anything about working for them. I'm fascinated by their huge break through in cancer treatment. I think Til therapy will forever change cancer treatments.

I have worked in the biotech/pharma/med device/combination space for 13 years. I have a wide range of industry experience since I worked for a boutique regulatory team that did the regulatory, clinical consulting, ectd submissions, cmc, and medical writing. So I was exposed to a lot of different pipeline milestones. I started my own business based on what I saw get put on the back burner from a business standpoint. E.g. Business consulting, digital marketing, conference representation, talent acquisition, and guidance and policies support.

What else do you find start ups or small companies in the vertical need that they lack that investors or partners suggest they need before getting involved?

Hello everyone.

I am a pharmacist (industry-heavy education) currently doing my master's in Biotechnology. I am trying to apply for jobs and I kinda just got confused. What job roles would you suggest for someone with these qualifications? I do want to end up in regulatory affairs but I don't know the best route to get there.

Hi dear people,

I am German, already 32 unfortunately and I had made a vocational training very early after the 10th grade as "Chemikant" (specialized worker for production plants from chemistry, food up to pharmaceutical production) before I started studying biotechnology in Berlin. I worked roughly 3 years full time (something between food and pharmaceuticals. I extracted raw plant materials like e. g. Baldrian or Artischocke with hot water or 96% EtOH, reduced the water ingredient of the extract and dried it under vacuum to receive powder extract) after my vocational training. With 23 I went back to school to get access to universities in Germany. Finally I started studying biotechnology, with a few detours. Unfortunately I didn't study in regular time, not even close (from September 2017 until March 2022) and I only have a bachelor (of science), current state. I mean Corona is a good excuse, but my C. V. isn't as linear or straight like those from other people who have their Ph. D. with 27 or 28, you can imagine.

Unfortunately things haven't got easier since I finished my Bachelor. I started the Master, had to go on a vacation semester die to sickness, when the second semester started and right now I can't continue, due to an extreme financial pressure from German authorities (it's a long story, but exceptionally not directly my fault. Lots of bad luck). I almost have no chance and I have to start working, improve my financial situation, make a deal with the authorities and I don't know, maybe with good luck I will have the chance to finish the necessary courses at university later in my life and get the opportunity to work on a project somewhere, where I can write my master thesis and get at least some payment to pay my basic bills. I know with every year I work and earn money it will be less likely that I am going to go back to uni. I also have to admit living like a student, with really little money, decreases my life quality progressively. It's hard watching everybody my age, investing money, buying flats etc. I could do that for years, but I really don't want it anymore.

What do you think, how do you estimate my current situation and the situation within the working field. I am interested working in Germany, but also would go abroad. Do you think I even have a chance with a bachelor or do I have to accept a job for laboratory staff without a university degree to get a Job? I think also about applying in the cannabis industry. In a few days Germany will legalize cannabis for recreational use. Particularly, I have an eye on companies which produce extras due to the fact that I have work experience in a similar field.

I am looking forward to your opinions and experiences. Please be honest. Not hurting my feeling doesn't help me right know, unfortunately.

Thank you all.

PS: I only speak German and English. German at native speaker level of course, I have always been good with words and my English is okay I guess. I think I understand everything, besides a few words sometimes and I can articulate myself fluently, spoken and written form, not perfectly, but I am satisfied. I consume probably 70 to 80% of my media in English anyway, not German.

Hii, i was just wondering where could i find some online courses about neuropsychopatology, biochemistry, cell biology, byophisics, that give certificates accepted worldwide? Thx a lot

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Hey, guys,

Tim here. I work in biotech as MLE. We've recently had an issue. We're building proprietary ML models that we want to give access to (API, not full-access to actual models) to other companies and charge for their billing.

Have any of you encountered something similar? How did you do it?

Obviously, we can spin out GKE or Compute Engine and deploy the model, but API and billing?!?

I'm a Brazilian biotechnologist and I want to start using PPM in research, but I could only find it for 700 dollars, here I saw researchers talking about PPM prediction because it's not expensive, so it would help me a lot if someone who used the product could provide indications of suppliers or if this is really the market price.

A colleague has a pool of lentivirus with 309 guide RNAs (3 guides x 100 relevant genes + 9 non-targeting guides). You’re excited because with this lenti pool, you can conduct a pooled screen to measure 300x more data per well. Design a screen with your HEK293T-Cas9-bsd+GeneX-zeo+ cell line to better understand which genes stabilize and destabilize expression of Gene X. You may use any and all methods to empower this high-throughput, pooled screen (read: not an arrayed screen), but must start with this lentiviral guide RNA pool. What are some of the limitations of your screen?

Hello everyone, I am in a dilemma on what masters should I pursue. I am about to finish my bachelor's in Biomedicine and I would love to broaden my knowledge so I can have better/more career options in different industries. Unfortunately, I did not have a lot of chemistry from my bachelor's but I have strong foundations from high school and most importantly, a passion for the subject (initially I wanted to study chemistry). Which of these masters would you think would you choose and why? Thank you in advance.

Please help

This is a question of personal interest, I have no experience in the field itself, but is there a universally recognized code of ethics within the Biotechnology career field?

I have heard of the field of bioethics, but I am referring more to a concrete framework for how this type of research should be conducted.

If not, I would assume people conform to medical guidelines right?

Hi everyone, i have a bachelors degree in biochemistry and now im in the first year of an biotechnology masters.

Problem is: its so boring. Food biotech, environment biotech, biorreators... I really hate this.

I always liked do study biochemistry related to health but now im in a complete different field and i dont like this.

With this being said my questions are:

1. With a biotech masters, what can you do involving health?
2. How much is the difference in salary between industry and academia?

My elder sister (32) soon after her post graduation in biotechnology, completed an internship for Rapid test kit Manufacturing. She did the same job afterwards for few years. Unfortunately due to certain serious life circumstances, she had to take a huge career break of 3 years.

Meanwhile she worked on some out of industry jobs like a cashier in supermarket etc. Now that her situation have stabilised, she wishes to work for the job she liked again. Rapid test kit manufacturer and product development.

However, her application is getting rejected by every company she is applying to. How can she get out of this situation and secure a job for the mentioned role again?

Since I was a child, I have been afraid of death. I remember that at the age of 6, I thought we were immortal, until my brother explained the reality to me. Since that day, I wanted to change the life of humans.

Now, at 16 years old, I have developed some ideas about it. I know many will doubt the possibility of achieving immortality, but I believe it is possible if we explore new avenues. Although I admit that some of my ideas may sound crazy.

I remember a movie called "Chappie" where a robot manages to transfer its consciousness to another body to avoid death. This made me reflect on the possibility of doing the same in real life. However, after researching, I discovered that it is not as simple as it seems.

One of my ideas is to develop a vaccine that modifies human DNA to stop aging, inspired by organisms like the immortal jellyfish Turritopsis dohrnii and long-lived turtles. I also considered the possibility of a capsule where people can sleep for long periods to avoid aging.

I know these concepts may sound fantastical, but I believe it is important to explore all possibilities. I am willing to do everything possible to make my dream of human immortality a reality, even considering the help of others and fundraising.

I do not force anyone to donate, but if someone wants to support my cause, they can do so through my PayPal account. I appreciate any support and understanding I may receive on this journey towards realizing my dream.

Note: I want to emphasize that I am not very intelligent, but I am doing my best with your help. Together, I hope we can make this a reality. Thank you!

Hello everyone,

I used to be a lab technician working for a diagnostics lab where I was assigned to process samples for PCR on a daily basis. I’ve been spending the last two years learning software engineering and I am proud to present a tool that may assist you in creating paperwork for PCR.

Introducing PCRprep

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https://preview.redd.it/jlbi8zibrzmc1.png?width=500&format=png&auto=webp&s=ce7142c953c0a721414ed3735815d1dbc70966f2

Should you find any of these questions a concern of yours:

• Do you perform PCR on a daily basis and spend hours on creating paperwork?
• Do you process hundreds of samples a week and run multiple assays?
• Are you tired of calculating your master mixes every time?
• Have you accidently used an expired reagent and had to redo the entire process?
• Do you find it difficult to manage inventory (such as primers) and tend to run out of stock?

If so, I encourage you try today at pcrprep.com (link is in my bio).

PCRprep is a free tool to use and because it is still new (I’m the only developer/founder) I’d greatly appreciate all the feedback in order to develop a better product.

At the end of the day, this is a business I hope to get some traction on, but will ultimately depend on the value I can bring to each user.

I posted about the settlement already but since they approved the deadline and it is tomorrow already, I decided to post it again.

So, as you remember, there was a mess during the COVID, when the Humanigen was accused of misrepresenting the effectiveness of the lenzilumab for COVID-19 treatment.

The trouble began when the FDA rejected lenzilumab for COVID-19 use and, after this, Humanigen revealed that it did not perform as expected in the ACTIV-5/BET-B study.

All these caused a huge $HGEN drops and there was a lawsuit which is now resolved with a settlement. Humanigen has recently agreed to pay $3M for the old investors. So, if you were damaged somehow, you can file for it here. Hope it'll help!