Careers in Immunology: Pathways and Opportunities
Explore diverse career paths in immunology, from academia to biotech and pharma, as well as contract research organizations (CROs). Discover the key differences between these sectors and find out how to pursue a successful career in the field of immunology.
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Hamilton Fulton Montgomery Boces Careers in Immunology Dominic Warrino, B.S., M.S., Ph.D. Senior Scientific Advisor Dominic.warrino@kcasbio.com
Introduction Education B.S. in Pre-Medicine/Biology from Stonehill College M.S. in Biochemistry/Biotechnology from U. of Massachusetts at Lowell Ph.D. in Immunology from U. of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Industry Experience Undergraduate Internship Cellcor, a Biotech company in Boston Cell processing Engineer I Cellcor o Promoted to Engineer II. Graduate student Internship Cellcor Research Scientist Cellcor Research Scientist Eligix, a Biotech company in Boston Senior Scientist Steck Laboratory in Omaha Senior Scientist IBT Laboratory a CRO (contract research organization) in Lenexa, KS and became Viracor-IBT in Lee Summit, MO Technical Advisor and Business Development Director KCAS in Shawnee, KS o Promoted to Senior Scientific Advisor 2 kcasbio.com
Careers in Immunology Academic (Universities and University Hospitals) Laboratory technician to laboratory manager o Multiple jobs that are laboratory based Technician I-III Scientists Laboratory manager o Limited positions that are none laboratory based Professor (typically requires a Ph.D.) o Principal Investigator/Research Fellow o Assistant Professor o Associate Professor o Professor Although I have three advanced degrees Academia was never my calling. 3 kcasbio.com
Careers in Immunology Biotech and Pharma Laboratory-based positions (Technician/Analyst, scientist, lab manager, director, vice president, and up to Chief Scientific Officer) o Non-Clinical (animal studies) o Clinical (human studies) Business development roles o Sales o Scientific Affairs/Technical Advisor Program Management Regulatory o o Quality Control Quality Assurance Scientific Liaison Scientific Writer 4 kcasbio.com
Careers in Immunology Contract Research Organizations (CROs) KCAS is a GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) Bioanalytical drug development CRO GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) CROs CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) CROs Like Biotech and Pharm Laboratory-based positions Business development roles Program Management Regulatory o Quality Control (QC) o Quality Assurance (QA) 5 kcasbio.com
Careers in Immunology Key differences between Biotech/Pharma and CROs Biotech/Pharma = RESEARCH, but less and less development CROs = DEVELOPMENT, but almost no research Surprisingly, hospitals (specifically those that are not affiliated with a University) do NOT have a lot of R&D Immunology career opportunities. Lots of lab technician and lab manager positions R&D typically not done in a hospital Biggest growth opportunities Immuno-Oncology (I-O) Gene/Cell Therapies Vaccines! 6 kcasbio.com
Careers in Immunology Job Requirements Academia graduate degrees are typically needed/required for advancement Publications Grants Industry graduate degrees nice to have but for the most part a B.S. is needed/required Experience and hands-on learning are the most applicable job requirements Publications 7 kcasbio.com
Careers in Immunology Job tasks in the Lab Scientists/Analysts/Technicians tasks are a combinations of planning, performing (or hands-on work), and documentation Planning and documentation utilizes both your math and English skills Hands-on work (bench work) requires good dexterity and sometime endurance Instrument calibration and maintenance Laboratory tasks and keeping things tidy Summarizing, concluding and then planning the next step 8 kcasbio.com
Careers in Immunology Job tasks outside of the lab Video/Phone conferences and emails Each of the positions below will be a little bit different, but the tasks are client interfacing o Business Development: Majority of tasks are communication with external clients o Program Management: Combination of external and internal o Scientific Liaison: Combination of external and internal Regulatory (QC/QA): Majority of tasks are reviewing of documentation and data Scientific Writer Tasks are straight forward 9 kcasbio.com
Careers in Immunology: What a day in the life looks like in the Immunology medical field? Lab base jobs Establish your hypothesis Get your documentation/paperwork ready Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Test Procedures (TPs) Ensure all needed materials are prepared and at proper temperature Perform the bench/wet work and document everything in the TP Tabulate the results Write your conclusions Discuss next steps It is a little bit like baking! Focus 10 kcasbio.com
Careers in Immunology: What a day in the life looks like in the Immunology medical field? Non-Lab base jobs will depend on the job Identify key deliverables Business Development - Proposal/Contracts Program Management Identification of client deliverables, track the deliverables, and ensure the scientists are meeting the deliverables QC/QA Must get the review done in a timely fashion without sacrificing quality Scientific Liaison Combination client tasks, data review, and writing Scientific Writer Self explanatory You need to own your calendar, or it will own you! Time management is critical, or you will waste the day on non-productive tasks 11 kcasbio.com
Careers in Immunology Patient Contacts It may surprise you, but Immunologists don t have a lot of contact with patients I have been in the Immunology field for 26 years and have made direct contact with two patients I have received letters and had videos sent to me, but patient confidentiality frequently restricts direct contact with patients Most medical doctors are not immunologists They learn immunology and understand it They do not perform immunological research and development Some do but that is typically and MD/Ph.D. 12 kcasbio.com
Careers in Immunology How has COVID changed things Lab based Supply chain delays We have adjusted to 3 different shifts to meet social distancing Temperature taken daily upon entry and must always wear mask Face shield and goggles are worn in bottle neck areas where social distancing can t be practiced Data tabulation, review of results, and discussions of conclusions and next steps are done via video conference from home 13 kcasbio.com
Careers in Immunology How has COVID changed things Non-Lab based No traveling No face-to-face business meeting All communication done by video, teleconference and/or email 14 kcasbio.com
Careers in Immunology Parting Thoughts Be fearless Respectfully challenge authority or experts Politely ask lots of questions You can ask anyone anything if you ask it the right way Ignore anyone who says You can t do that! Your not skilled/smart enough Have good work-life balance Work hard and play hard Push the rules and with permission break them! 15 kcasbio.com
