Career options for those seeking a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences. Sherif El Refai is a current PhD Pharmaceutical Sciences student at the University of Kentucky

1. Careers After A Phd in
Pharmaceutical
Sciences
Sherif El Refai

2. Introduction
• The field of pharmaceutical sciences contains a number of
specialties that can be broadly classified by their areas of
focus.
• Some disciplines concentrate on the discovery of new drugs,
others analyze how they work within the human body, and a
third group focuses on the best methods of delivering the
drugs to target areas.
• Scientists working in discovery might work at the molecular
level, identifying points in a cell's molecular structure where
drugs might act. Alternatively, they might investigate genetic
issues that drugs can treat.

3. Big Pharma
• Major employer of pharmaceutical scientists
• Use pharmaceutical scientists at all stages of research and
development process

4. Startups
• New researchers seek to market and monetize their research.
• Start-ups are high risk, high-reward

5. Consulting
• Many new biotach companies and academic research projetst
need the advice and mentoring of experienced players
• Income is not tied to a single client, making it a more stable
career choice

6. Government
• US Pharmacopeia and US FDA
• Used primarily in an oversight role, testing and verifying new
drugs

7. Academia
• A PhD is essential for a career in academia.
• Necessary for heading research projects or becoming a
tenured professor.
• Many universities now attempt to monetize their discoveries
by bringing them to market.

8. Income Potential
• 2012 Survey
• Average base salary : $138,400 a year w/ $22,800 bonus
• Top 25 percent: $171,300 a year w/ $30,000 bonus

9. Conclusion
Sherif El Refai is currently a PhD student at the University of
Kentucky specializing in Clinical and Experiemental Therapeutics
for Pharmacogenomics
For more information, visit :
PhD Career Options