[Impulse Lecture] – Perspectives in industry and academia

Young researchers often have a dream: a scientific career at a high-level international institution, being member of international scientific boards, being a prestigious outstanding scientist, doing excellent science – only for few of them this dream will come true...

Young researchers normally have a more concrete idea on the perspectives in academia than in industry due to the fact that they know at least part of the academic environment. Research in academia is focused and financially supported more and more towards interdisciplinary cross-cutting projects in excellence centers. Being part of these project teams or involved in international projects like EU-projects improves a lot of skills besides scientific expertise and is considered as one milestone for scientific career in academia.

As is mostly the case young researchers have only vague ideas on the perspectives in industry with regard to the broad spectrum of professional fields which are options for young scientists. Using the example of a mid-sized phyto-pharmaceutical company, attractive departments, functions and positions with their key tasks will be illustrated. Examples for jobs in R&D and in operations, but also in regulatory affairs, medical marketing, in project management and at the interface between departments will be outlined. The implementation of the respective key tasks, what does this mean in practice – “... what's your daily work?” will be touched. Besides formal requirements related to professional expertise, core competencies e.g. communication skills, joined-up thinking, ability to work in a team or solution-oriented approach to work, will be addressed.