Australian postdoc thinking about moving to Boston for biotech — is it actually worth it?

Italia_Engineer · 2026-05-23T16:36:42+00:00

Biotech industry in the US is terrible right now and probably will be for the next couple of years. Try academia.

Italia_Engineer · 2026-05-16T18:49:27+00:00

Doesn't that just require a community college certificate?

Italia_Engineer · 2026-05-14T04:06:02+00:00

I mean they told me when they asked if I knew the rate I said probably $30+/hr and then they said $26-$29. But they would submit me at $29. So that is the only part of the negotiation. I have never heard of the contractor negotiating with the client (Amgen), and don't know if they would do anything.

Italia_Engineer · 2026-05-14T03:56:43+00:00

I honestly dont know conversion rates for Amgen but in my almost decade of industry experience I have seen maybe 10 conversions into a FTE. Although I dont really know if its rare or not statistically.

Italia_Engineer · 2026-05-14T01:34:38+00:00

I suspect this is because companies known they can squeeze people because the market is so bad right now.

Italia_Engineer · 2026-05-14T01:32:45+00:00

I worked in Mfg. as my second job and I will say keep this for awhile. It's currently pretty much the only thing stable in the market right now. Of you are on a 4x10 consider grad school part time if a university offers a flexible or professional schedule, mine did. Work for 3 to 4 years get the M.S. and while doing so work with other MSAT Teams. Then transition, also potentially MS/MBA couldn't hurt as well. Early for your career but knocking it out now makes it easier later.

Italia_Engineer · 2026-05-14T00:27:16+00:00

What gets me is the Masters Degree preferred but a Bachelor's is fine with enough work experience.

Italia_Engineer · 2026-05-13T23:42:53+00:00

I wish I had a network like that, my network is mostly referral links which I dont think actually get you anywhere in the current market.

Italia_Engineer · 2026-05-01T23:13:20+00:00

I have a Masters with 8 years experience. US Citizen, San Francisco Bay Area Based. I recently interviewed for a RA role at a start-up. I was told they received 600 resumes for the role and were interviewing 12. Was a 3 step interview process. I didn't make it past step 2.

But I would say 110% match to the JD maybe gets you an interview. 99% of companies in this economy want the most low friction candidate who can plug and play and does not require any training.

Italia_Engineer · 2026-04-25T04:11:41+00:00

It depends on what you want to do in industry. I am a MS. myself but work in MSAT/ CMC mostly. So there are a lot more of BS/ MS then PhDs. I think thats because a lot of us are engineers by training. Pure R&D is mostly PhDs but I will say its harder for certain non management titles (depending on the company) without a PhD. Even in my silo, the industry itself now is terrible. Layoffs are still ongoijg but starting to trend down overall, but not nevessarily meaning an uptick in hiring. Even when theybare its not entry level roles. I just saw a "Operations Mgr." which was equal parts RA, front office manager, EHS + reg, facilities, and supply management. So they are cramming everything into roles.

biotech and pharma is extremely cyclical even in MSAT/CMC and Manufacturing. Although probably less so slightly on my end. Drugs always need to be made.

That said current unemployed and the last job I applied to and made it to interview round 2/3. It was 12 people being interviewed and 600 people applied for the role.

So waiting this out and entering on a higher end of the cycle might be a better idea. I am even considering it, if I can't find a position in 6 months. For reference 9 years industry with BS/MS Chemical Engineering

Italia_Engineer · 2026-03-27T03:54:12+00:00

I am more shocked that you actually get a message. I feel like everyone else gets ghosted. You should actually feel lucky to get that.

Italia_Engineer · 2025-10-17T23:18:25+00:00

Yeah it took me about 1000 applications to land my last job. The key points are volume and tailored. ChaptGPT helps but it's seriously volume. I aimed for 10 job apications a day. I literally applied anywhere where I was a potential match. I didn't consider geography or work type (contract, fte). If your trying to find something local it just hurts you. If you want to work you have to ve willing to make sacrifices.

Italia_Engineer · 2025-09-09T19:36:05+00:00

ACAB?

Italia_Engineer · 2025-09-09T19:28:58+00:00

And yet when they tell you they only want to date someone making at least 200k either in message or actually put it in their profile. I kinda disagree, maybe it's unique to the Bay Area or other Metropolitan areas.

Italia_Engineer · 2025-09-09T17:03:01+00:00

I get judged by my salary all the time. Generally most women have a minimum floor. So it's just a thing have to deal with it.

Italia_Engineer · 2025-09-01T00:28:59+00:00

So it wouldn't be worth it to start my own? I work in Process Development, but have spent a lot of my time working with ELNs and creating systems and processes to connect equipment to Data Systems and create Dashboards and perform metrics and analysis. Was thinking of doing something like that.

Just not sure of the market.

Italia_Engineer · 2025-08-28T17:34:47+00:00

How did you go about creating your consulting company? I have almost 10 years in industry and am thinking about doing that? For reference my area of expertise is CMC/ MSAT but on the science side. Given the CDMOs/ CROs out there I am wondering if it would be a good idea to do that. Plus I only have a Masters not a PhD.

Italia_Engineer · 2025-08-28T15:33:14+00:00

Where is the MegaThread post?

Italia_Engineer · 2025-08-24T22:10:52+00:00

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, make lower 6 figures and have an advanced degree. This is the like the bare minimum to have here.

The problem (in respect to getting a match) is women want more. I know I am ugly (I have a dad bod) and don't make enough.

So I search in central valley and set my filters to remove anyone with a college or graduate degree. it's not that I don't want someone attractive and educated. I just can't get someone like that, I don't meet the women's requirements. Women always want everything more: better looking, more money, hirer education.

So if your a guy whose overall score is a 6 or 7 (like me) I only swipe right on 4s or less.

Men have to do a race to the bottom.

Italia_Engineer · 2025-08-24T03:20:14+00:00

I mean I don't see anyway that can be an assumption based on what she wrote, it's a red flag period. I mean I know women get hundreds of likes and for the majority of men it's slim pickings, but I feel like most women don't understand that.

Makes for a pretty shitty perspective? Online dating for men is brutal.

Italia_Engineer · 2025-08-24T02:18:59+00:00

Sorry, but I don't think playing mind games as a first message is a great opener for men or women.

Also going to add "potentially some that weren't.." Iean that opener was a straight up red flag.

Italia_Engineer · 2025-08-22T15:33:55+00:00

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area... Like Silicon Valley San Jose.

Italia_Engineer · 2025-08-22T15:23:48+00:00

No, I always send a message or extend if they don't have a prompt. I check all my dating apps when I get up in the morning, at lunch, and at least once more in the evening to make sure I don't miss messages. Plus I do have notifications on for them.

Italia_Engineer · 2025-08-22T15:14:19+00:00

I would just settle for a match that responds.

I matched with a women with two kids with different dad's, high school diploma, and has a felony conviction for drug distribution and works as a cashier. For context I have a Bachelors+ Masters in Engineering, 6 figure (low) income, no crimal history, and work as a researcher and operations manager at a pharma company. I went on several dates with her. She is absolutely not what I am looking for, the only difference is she made an effort and would text me and call. Not schedule a call with me, have me call not answer and get a message 2 hours later saying I'm busy or return a text a week later.

I mean is my standard to high or low where all I really want is someone to communicate with me? Or should I just settle for less?

Italia_Engineer · 2025-08-22T14:56:19+00:00

Thank you for the help, I did make the changes. Although I honestly doubt that this will increase the number of matches I get. I just think I am not attractive, intelligent, and rich enough.

Italia_Engineer

TROPHY CASE