Have it on very good authority that Pfizer is cutting some insane numbers on December 1st. 40 percent across the board in France, 50 percent in Italy, 30ish percent in Germany.

Jump ship if you can.

I’m researching companies in the Bay Area. Has anyone here worked at Denali Therapeutics, or has any insight into what it’s like to work there?

Based on Glassdoor, Denali is generally viewed as a scientifically strong, mission-driven company with intelligent, collaborative colleagues and opportunities for professional development. However, employee reviews from 2024–2026 raise concerns about high workloads, work-life balance, communication from senior leadership, and career advancement. This seems to be on par with other companies in the region.

With that said, I would like more insights regarding the company and its culture. How does it compare to similar companies?

Applying to Vertex opening. Was wondering if Vertex uses software to monitor employee productivity. Was told several times during interviews that everyone works intensely there including nights and weekends regularly. I’m used to setting my own hours and having flexibility for picking up my kids and then catching up later in the evening.

TL;DR: About a year ago, I posted my thoughts after 1.5 years unemployed (previous post). I landed a government role unrelated to biotech. It might seem anticlimactic, but the role uses skills from my previous biotech roles. I'm sharing my experience in hopes at least one person finds it useful, moves on, and lands the role they've longed for.

Disclaimer: By no means is everything here correct. This is my opinion and my conclusions from my own observations. After rereading my last post, I presented some claims as fact when they were really conclusions from my experience. I won't lean on my old post, because I want this to reflect my current mindset. Questions about it can go in that thread.

Reflections on the last post

I was surprised by the traction. I was frustrated with the system and wanted to vent. I connected with some great people through that post. Thank you to those who reached out with guidance and support, and thank you all, even for the negative comments. That engagement is the unspoken need of the unemployed.

What changed

Mental state first. Since September 2025, I took a long mental break and traveled for about a month, then came back in October with a clear, stable mind. Your mental state needs to be positive, realistic, and relaxed. Don't doubt yourself. I'm not saying take long breaks, but don't burn out either. Rather than applying quickly and sporadically, treat it like a full-time job: take your lunch, take breaks, take weekends off.

The spreadsheet. Around March I had a revelation. I'd always heard about tracking applications in Excel and never did it because I thought it was unnecessary extra work. My opinion changed. The sheet became my home. Monday through Friday I went to my local college and got to work, and I was consistent for once. I became robotic and stopped overthinking specific jobs, because the truth is the application process doesn't make sense. The jobs I was confident about ghosted me, and the ones I wrote off called me back. It's unpredictable, so treat it like a chore, do it, and move on.

The pivot. I considered government positions at every level: federal, state, county, city. The main driver was job stability, for obvious reasons. I thought hard about my connections and applied at friends' and family's companies, not long shots, and in industries outside biotech where my skills were still competitive. Side note: during this gap I was also in the application process of becoming part of the FBI, but ultimately decided not to pursue it. It shows how open I was. Really think about your long-term career goals. At 30, now 31, I'm very sure about what I want professionally.

The offer. I applied around June or July, and my start date is early November. The federal process is very bureaucratic and long. Nonetheless, I'm excited to start. After talking to colleagues, I'm afraid that with the rise of AI, my speculation is the job market will stay like this and progressively get worse. The plan is to excel in this new role and eventually move toward science and healthcare agencies like the FDA, NIH, USPTO, or USDA. Instead of being on the private side, I'll be part of the government sector.

What I'd do if I were laid off tomorrow

**• Keep the layoff to myself.** It depends on your circle, but in my experience you become aware of who is envious or jealous of you. Your mindset is number one. The less emotion, the better. Put it aside and apply.
**• Build the Excel sheet on day one.** My strategy was almost dumb-proof, and I believed it was only a matter of time before I got hired. It's heavily dependent on your resume, experience, and education, so be realistic and as objective as possible. What helped me was putting myself in the HR/HM's shoes and asking whether I'd hire myself.
**• Make a target list and start early.** I started at 8 AM. When following up on a job, I noticed people were more responsive early. Also, note that it isn’t necessary to follow up to each role. Use your best judgement. The underlying theme is to be efficient and not waste time. I thought back to when I was working and always checked my email first thing in the morning, so I figured they do too. Scheduling an email to send at a specific time is a super useful function. I stopped using LinkedIn because everyone uses it and not every job posting appears there. I built a list of target companies and prioritized it by how deep/strong my connections were and likelihood of landing the role, starting with where my parents worked and close friends, then outward. I hyperlinked each careers page in the sheet with the right filters already set and sorted by most recent, so every morning I saw fresh postings and could apply the same day. I did everything in my power to increase visibility.
**• Be realistic about fit.** We know we can do the jobs, but what counts is how we look on paper. At this level everyone is capable and has a degree and some years of experience, so what sets you apart? I'd say it's your soft skills and charisma, to a point. Your resume shows your hard skills and the interview shows your soft skills.
**• Use timeline and qualifications as the filter.** If I didn't have the years of experience a posting listed, I didn't apply. Postings often describe the perfect candidate, so you can try your luck, but I was done wasting time. I only applied where the qualifications matched what I had on paper. There are exceptions, which is why I say take each job individually and don't use a checklist. Ask yourself if it objectively makes sense, and whether you can support everything your resume claims. On timing, if you stay consistent it won't matter much, but the longer a posting has been out, the worse your chances. My guess is it's an exponential decrease the longer the job has been posted, not a steady one.
**• Use AI.** I think it's still taboo to admit, because it's seen as cheating or unethical, but companies use it all the time and so do other applicants. If you feel it's wrong, understand that others don't, and you're competing against them. Learn how to prompt it. I told it my actual, specific experience so it knew my duties and skills, then gave it the job description and my resume. I broke the task into parts because it gets clunky when you ask for too much at once. I'd suggest paying for the subscription. I'd prompt "tailor these bullet points to this job posting," and eventually I had preset resumes for each job function across industries. Please don't blindly accept its suggestions. You're the final reviewer, and it's okay to disagree with it. Don't underestimate your judgment. The upfront work pays dividends. Same idea for cover letters. Each job is different. It's tedious, but the results speak for themselves.

What I think is underestimated about the application process

**• Fill out every section** of the application, even if it repeats your resume. Some HR folks are judgmental, and a complete application versus a blank one makes an impression. In my experience some companies screen those fields instead of your resume, and my speculation is that some systems score applicants and having something written there helps. Even "N/A" is better than blank. It's tedious, but the application process caters to the companies. We can cry about it all day or accept it and move on.
**• Think about how the process works.** How big is the company (startup, semi-established, big pharma)? That tells you how competitive the job is and how systemic HR will be, meaning whether a person is likely to read your application. With the rise of AI and automation, tailoring is nearly inevitable. ATS filters, HR picks a handful, and it goes to the hiring manager. If you reach the HM, your resume is ATS-compatible and HR saw a fit. That’s a key finding. Your resume works. I treat the HM as a brand new screening. Your resume has to be simple enough for HR to follow and detailed enough to show your skills to the HM. Get that balance right and you'll increase your chances.
**• Tailor it.** It isn't a one-size-fits-all resume. HR may wonder why you're applying outside your field. Use that to your advantage, and sometimes a cover letter doesn't hurt. However, don’t waste too much time on one job. The last thing you want is spending a lot of time on one application for you to be rejected in less than 10 seconds. Use your best judgement.

What I wish HR did

I wish HR were as transparent as we applicants are. It would be helpful if HR explained the actual process so us applicants don't get discouraged. When we get rejected, we naturally assume it’s us when it could very well be other reasons outside of our control. It almost feels like HR treats the application process as some sort of trade secret. Part of it is systemic, but I think the department actually plays a big role in it as well. Imagine suddenly having a huge list of potential candidates to pick from. You'd feel powerful too.

Final thoughts

People often blame us for not landing a position, or are skeptical of the unemployed. Ignore them. There may be some truth in it, but it's far from one-sided. I'm writing this because I would have wanted it. The people who comment negatively have likely never been through this. Those who have, understand. It's extremely tough, and you aren't alone. Just as there are skeptics, there are those who will see past your gap and not label and view you as such.

Back in grad school, the philosophy was "pay it forward." Those who succeeded more than likely had support at some point in their careers, and paying it forward was their way of showing thanks. The alumni from my school are so supportive, so in a way I'm holding myself to that. This is my paying it forward. Feel free to message me. I've only touched the surface and could honestly write a small novel about this.

one list of research, lab and science internships pulled from company job boards:

https://github.com/mehek-builds/Hiring-Now/blob/main/lists/science-research-internships.md

- 166 internships at 105 US companies

- 48 posted in the last week

- 65 at employers with a visa sponsorship record

rebuilt every monday.

comment which area you're looking for (clinical, process development, computational) and i'll send you a list for it.

Very interesting post from Dave Ricks Oct 14 on X--- what do we think? Lilly spinning it as a public health concern about the most powerful metabolic agent ever developed.

Lilly stock is up 4 %

Trying to negotiate for an increase in comp this year; any other Novartis folks know when the comp discussions actually happen / are supposed to be finalized by? I know that in December of last year I got a note with salary band and where I fell (vs peers in the group).

Thanks!

Hi all, I’m a grad student who landed a zoom interview for a co-op position at a startup company that I’m pretty psyched about.

I’m wondering what should I wear, is business casual enough? Should I wear a blazer? I don’t have a suit so that’s out of the question. It has been so long since I’ve been officially interviewed and am over thinking everything.

I’m F btw

Are there any hiring managers here looking for a junior clinical scientist? I am a BS with almost 20 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry with many publications under my belt. I have extensive translational pharmacology experience and worked my way up from Associate to Associate Director level in the preclinical space. I recently made the transition to clinical science but my company was acquired and I was affected by the reorganization. There are a lot of positions out there but more Director/AD level. In clinical science, I am more of a senior manager level, I know I can function as an AD but with little experience on paper, my resume will just get passed up. I am also pursuing a masters in clinical research.

I’m asking here because as you all might know, the market is bleak and I’m feeling down. I know with only a bachelor’s degree my chances are even lower. I can only get my foot in the door at companies through my reputation in my local market. However, my local market is a very popular area so now I’m competing with others nationally. I’m ranting/rambling, I know! I’m just trying to do what I can that is within my control.

Thanks for listening.

Do you see variant scientist also doing some wet lab work? Or possibly having a secondary role (like assay development, validation, ect) that allows for a hybrid wet and dry lab involvment? I am interested in variant analysis but I do think continuing some bench work would help diversify the job and maintain my lab skills.

I am PhD schoalr working in the interface of computational biology, ML and food safety. I want to use my skills to real world problems and get to know how the corporate stuff works since I want to join the big tech company after my PhD

Hey everyone,

I’m an early-career virologist currently working as a Research Associate in translational drug discovery. I hold an M.Sc. in Clinical Virology and an undergraduate background in Biochemistry, Genetics, and Microbiology.

Over the past couple of years, my work has focused primarily on preclinical antiviral evaluation, molecular assays, and working in high-containment facilities. I’m currently exploring my next career move and would really appreciate advice from folks in industry, CROs, or translational academic institutes on where this skill profile fits best.

Core Technical & Research Experience:

• Biosafety Containment: Substantial hands-on experience in BSL-2 and BSL-3 containment handling pathogenic respiratory viruses, vector-borne pathogens, and neurotropic models (e.g., Rabies CVS-11).
• In Vitro Antiviral Screening: Experience screening small molecules and novel chemical entities via phenotypic assays, viral inhibition assays, plaque reduction/TCID50, and cell viability/cytotoxicity profiling (MTT, luminescence assays).
• Molecular & Cell Biology: Mammalian primary/continuous cell culture maintenance, viral replicon systems, RT-qPCR, nucleic acid extraction, ELISA, and standard protein/immunoassays.
• Translational Output: Co-authored peer-reviewed research evaluating repurposed and novel small-molecule candidates against respiratory and neglected viral targets.

What I’m Looking For:

Research Associate II / Senior RA / Scientist I roles in Antiviral Discovery, High-Throughput Screening, Preclinical Virology, or Vaccine Development. Open to industry (biotech, pharma, CROs), research institutes, or structured research fellowships/pre-doctoral roles.

Target locations: India (Open to relocation; I stay in Bengaluru)

Questions for the community:

1. For those running or working in infectious disease teams: which sectors/companies currently value hands-on BSL-3 and replicon/screening experience the most?
2. Are there specific biotech hubs or institutes you’d recommend keeping an eye on right now for wet-lab viral assay roles?
3. If anyone’s lab or group is currently hiring or has open headcount matching this profile, I’d be glad to connect over DM or share a de-anonymized CV/LinkedIn.

Thanks in advance for any insights!

Today I might be having my online PhD interview (which i applied) out of sheer peer pressure or passion at this point i don’t know.

I am doing my Master’s in one of the top research institutes in India and yes I am supposed to do PhD because that's what I had been told but i am so uncertain tbh.

I am also interested in the management side of things too. I am very interested in knowing how the research translates to commercial market and how the whole bio-business comes to play. I really want to work in something related to that field and i am still exploring but all of my peers are applying enthusiastically for PhD positions in India as well as Foreign countries because of how certain they are and this gives me a lot of pressure.

How do i figure out my path? I love science a lot and I am curious about a lot of things but i am not sure if I am ready to invest next 5-6 years chasing a question.

Please help me out.

Just wondering if anybody who got a first round interview from Eli Lilly for the VSF (Visiting Scientist Fellowship) program has heard anything back or if their interviewer told them the timeline and expectations for hearing something?

Hey, does anybody know how long it takes for jnj to respond? it has been a week since my interview and I still haven't gotten a response. For people who did get offers, how long did it take for them to contact you after the interviews?

I'm a senior-level PhD scientist. I recently received an offer from a small biotech startup in California with a very competitive compensation package. At the same time, I'm in the final stages of interviewing with a large pharmaceutical company, also in California. The expected compensation at big pharma would be noticeably lower than the startup offer.

The work at the startup is more interesting to me and aligns closely with my interests. I'm also excited about the opportunity to wear multiple hats and have more ownership over projects. On the other hand, big pharma offers more established career development opportunities and potentially better job stability.

I'm planning to finish the big pharma interview process before making a decision. Meanwhile, I'd love to hear from people who have worked at startups, especially those who have also worked in big pharma.

Was the experience worth the risk? How do you assess whether an early-stage biotech is financially healthy, and what are some warning signs that things might be going poorly? I'm also curious whether startup experience is generally viewed positively in case i want to transitioning to big pharma in the future.

——

Edit: another question: do you think it is worth to buy time to hope to get the big pharma offer given i already have the startup offer? The startup so far is more aligned with my interest, but I am also enticed with the potential stability the big pharma offer..

My marathon patients losing weight on these new drugs are dropping muscle mass faster than fat, and it shows in their gait analysis. They come in weak and frustrated, thinking their training is failing them. I track lean mass estimates in my practice, and the decline doesn't match normal training adaptation. The nutrition literature barely touches on what happens to highly active muscle under these drugs. Seems like a massive gap for a biotech angle that could drive a huge market. If someone formulated a GLP-1 variant that preserved muscle tissue during weight loss, the athletic demographic alone would be enormous. My rural NC clinic sees enough of this now to know it's a real problem. I'm not talking about bodybuilders trying to cut. These are people running forty-mile weeks who can't figure out why their legs feel dead. The clinical trials focus on sedentary obesity populations and ignore what happens when active people use these drugs for mild weight loss. Does anyone here know if pharma is exploring muscle preservation as a formulation target, or is the current thinking just to pair it with resistance training and call it solved? That approach is already failing my patients.

I applied to a full time position (Toronto, Canada) in mid September and when I checked on 09Oct, the application status has changed to “HR screening planned/in progress.” Now almost a week has passed, the status is still the same and no one has reached out.

This exact same thing happened to me before, where the “HR screening planned” status stayed for about a week, then it was changed back to hiring manager review, then I received the rejection email after another one week. No one reached out to me during the entire process.

Just wondering though, what exactly this status means