From PhD to Scientist
Shikha Sheth, Scientist II at Alltrna, shares her journey from a PhD in Cancer Biology to drug development in the biotech industry.
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👔 The Job 👔
Shikha Sheth works as a Scientist II at Alltrna in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the pharmacology and disease biology department. Her responsibilities include generating and characterizing disease models to test drug candidates and developing assays to quantify their efficacy.
Shikha appreciates the diversity of tasks in her role at a small startup, which keeps her learning and allows her to engage with different stages of the drug development process.
Best parts of the job:
Variety: Working on diverse projects keeps things interesting.
Learning: Gaining insights into early drug development.
🛣️ The Path 🛣️
Shikha found her position through LinkedIn, transitioning directly into industry after her PhD. Her career path demonstrates a clear progression within her organization, underscoring the opportunities for growth in biotech startups.
Key steps in her career journey:
PhD Graduate ➡️ Scientist I at Alltrna ➡️ Scientist II at Alltrna
Shikha's transition reflects her strategic focus on applying her hands-on expertise and leadership skills to contribute directly to patient-focused drug development.
🧠 The Decision 🧠
Shikha knew early in her PhD that academia wasn’t for her due to the lifestyle. She realized she could still enjoy hands-on lab work and mentoring while having a direct impact on patients through industry work. Her interest in the drug development process made her career choice clear.
💡 The Advice 💡
Personalize Your Application: Tailor your resume and cover letter for each job.
Leverage Your Network: Connect with peers who transitioned to industry and attend career panels.
Explore Options: Use coffee chats and career fairs to talk to people and learn about differences between pharma, mid-stage biotech, and startups to find your best fit.
Hey! Psst! The Pathfinders Newsletter can help with all of this :)
🔑 The Takeaway 🔑
Shikha's journey highlights the value of exploring career options early and leveraging your network when transitioning to industry.
By personalizing her applications and staying open to learning, she found a fulfilling role at a biotech startup where she contributes to drug development while continuing hands-on lab work.
Her story underscores the growth opportunities and diverse experiences that small startups can offer for PhDs.
Resource of the Week: ImaginePhD
ImaginePhD is a free platform designed primarily for Humanities and Social Sciences PhDs to facilitate self-reflection, career exploration, and planning. However, its incredible resources make it valuable for PhDs in any field!
What It Offers:
✨ Career Interest Assessment
Identify tasks you most and least enjoy in your daily work.
Use a nuanced scoring system to reflect your unique interests.
✨ Goal Setting and Individual Development Plan (IDP)
Define immediate, short-term, and long-term goals for your academic, personal, and professional journeys.
Create a personalized IDP using the "My Plan" tool, aligning your goals with a realistic timeline.
✨ Professional Resources
Access comprehensive tips and strategies for crafting professional documents and landing your ideal career.
Why I Recommend It
ImaginePhD is an exceptional tool for career exploration and personal development, packed with resources that empower PhDs from all fields — not just humanities and social sciences — to map out their career aspirations and achieve them.
As a Neuroscience PhD, I’ve personally benefited from the incredible information and guidance on this platform and hope it will support you on your own journey.
Happy career planning!
P.S.
🚨 New free resource alert 🚨
You don’t have to go through your transition out of academia alone.
Join an amazing, private community of career coaches, industry PhDs, and students/postdocs exploring career options. We would love to have you!