<p>I am interested in hearing from anyone who has completed or is working on a MS or PSM in Biotechnology & Stem Cell Research or a related major, or anyone working in the biotech industry.</p>
<p>I am currently a Cytotechnologist working at a cancer hospital assisting with cancer diagnoses. I like my job and am paid very nicely, but there's not much room for advancement besides very rare openings for lab management in hospitals/private diagnostic labs. And I guess I've just gotten a little bored after 3 years and want to be in a field with more variety.</p>
<p>I would like to work in a biotech company that is doing cancer-related research. I've considered a PhD in Cancer Biology, but do not want to take on the 6-10 years of stress and a financially uncertain future with long hours. I want to continue in science but enjoy a normal life as well.</p>
<p>I would like to know what the overall stress level was in a Masters program. How was the job search when you graduated? How well do you enjoy your career in biotech with a Masters? Are you given appropriate professional respect? Do you work very long hours or an 8-5? Do you have an opportunity to advance to positions in team leadership or careers away from the lab bench? Do you regret not having a PhD?</p>
<p>I have done some research on positions within companies like Genentech in San Francisco. It seems like advancement with a masters is limited to Research Associate or sometimes Senior Research Associate with salaries of about $75,000-$90,000. Is this correct? </p>
<p>Is there anyone has experience in this type of position and would be willing to give some insights into what the daily routine and culture is like?</p>
<p>Also, any known scholarships/funding sources for PSM or did you just pay out of pocket?</p>
<p>Any information is greatly appreciated. :-)</p>
<p>In my experience most scientists with MS’s end up doing the same jobs as people with BS’s. A lot of the ads state BS or MS. The MS makes you a bit more attractive than just a BS but the salary is not much if any higher. A lot of the time they just count the MS as 2 years of experience. There is a lot of competition for the more attractive salaried jobs rather than the crappy permatemp jobs. You will likely end up in one of those eventually either at first or after a layoff. </p>
<p>The nicer jobs around here (Chicago) pay about $45-55k so perhaps $60k on the coasts. The permatemp jobs pay $30k (~$15/hour) to $45k without any benefits.</p>
<p>BTW the nicer jobs have huge competition. Typically, you need some very specialized and specific industry experience/expertise to obtain one. They will not train you. The reason they are not permatemp jobs is that they want someone so rare and specialized they cannot get anyone to work them as a permatemp.</p>
<p>Part of the reason is conditions are so bad that many chemists leave the field within 5 years of graduating and also since so many companies refuse to train anyone, noone is able to get the experience they are looking for so companies have created their own localized shortages and are starting to suffer for it.</p>
<p>
I certainly agree with you that it’s difficult to do much in science without experience or specialized training. That’s why I completed the program in Cytotechnology after my Bachelor’s. I couldn’t find anything decent with a Biology BS.</p>
<p>As I understand, the Professional Science Master’s is designed to remedy this by providing a year and a half of coursework and 6 months of internship with an industry partner in a very specific field (i.e. stem cell research, industrial microbiology, etc). Supposedly the programs are designed with the needs of potential employers in mind and in collaboration with industry.</p>
<p>I would be really curious to hear from someone who has completed one of these programs and that’s why I asked.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I believe (and hope) the field may be different in biotechnology with a Masters degree that provides specialized training. Unfortunately, a BS in any field provides such generalized knowledge that the graduate would understandably be all but useless to industry without a large investment in the person’s training. </p>
<p>Thanks sschoe2 for sharing your experiences. I’m curious, what is your specific field/degree? (if you don’t mind my asking)</p>
<p>My Master’s thesis dealt with protein biochemistry with work in molecular biology, culturing, and analytical chemistry in support of that. </p>
<p>Can they guarantee you an internship? A lot of companies are like what’s in it for me with internships. Also anything related to pharma or medical research I wouldn’t gamble on as the industry is collapsing and likely won’t recover for at least a decade if ever. They’d rather use foreign labor where they can run research like a third world sweatshop for low wages.</p>
Hello. I’m applying to a professional science masters in biotechnology program in Florida and have some of the same concerns as Cytotech. Would anyone care to share their wisdom? Cytotech, what are you doing now? Did you pursue this career path?
Please start a new thread, this one is 4 years oldand the OP has not posted again since then…