Drug Developers

Employers

There are 5,310 medical scientists and 5,970 biochemists and biophysicists employed in pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing in the United States. Although pharmaceutical companies are scattered throughout the continental United States, the industry is geographically concentrated in the Mid-Atlantic States (New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania) and on the West Coast in California. A handful of companies can also be found in Massachusetts, Illinois, and North Carolina. California and Massachusetts have the largest number of biotechnology companies.

The majority of drug research and development professionals work for private industry. They are employed by large pharmaceutical companies and small, start-up biotechnology companies. Some also find employment in government research jobs or as teachers for research-based college programs. Some scientists are self-employed as consultants or independent contractors.

Starting Out

Science (http://www.sciencemag.org), PharmTech (http://www.pharmtech.com), and other publications feature ads for research and development professionals. Many pharmaceutical and biotech companies list job openings on their Web sites. You can also contact the executives of pharmaceutical companies who make hiring decisions and ask them for advice, without asking directly about individual job openings. Many executives are willing to speak briefly to people starting out in the profession, and they may remember your name when you submit a resume. Use LinkedIn to connect with these executives, as well as with scientists and recruiters.