Life Sciences
What are the Life Sciences?
The most basic definition of life sciences is the study of living organisms and their processes. The life sciences industry comprises companies operating in the research, development and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology-based food and medicines, medical devices, biomedical technologies, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, food processing, and other products that improve the lives of organisms. (credit: Scilife)
$162b
Global Market Size
(2023)
(2023)
$7b
VC funding into life sciences start-ups
97.4k
Job Openings by 2028
$110k
Average salary of life sciences professionals as of 2024
Life Sciences Pathways
Questions to Consider
- Are you interested in the intersection of biology and technology?
- Are you open to keep learning new technologies every few months and willing to keep up with the fast pace of the life sciences world?
- Could you see yourself enjoying research in a clinical environment?
- Are you interested in learning about how life works at the molecular level?
Top Life Sciences Careers
- Lab Technologist: Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians collect samples and perform tests to analyze body fluids, tissue, and other substances.
- Biotechnologist: Biotechnologists combine biology, the science of living things, with technology. They research and develop the use of biology to solve problems in areas such as health care, the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, agriculture, food production and environmental protection.
- Bioinformatician: Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that develops methods and software tools for understanding biological data. As an interdisciplinary field of science, bioinformatics combines computer science, statistics, mathematics, and engineering to study and process biological data.
Top Life Sciences Companies
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
- Laboratory Corp. of America
- Pfizer Inc.
- Quest Diagnostic
Related Sectors/Fields of Study
- Biology
- Microbiology/Molecular Genetics
- Ecology
- Medicine
- Pharmaceuticals
- Medical Devices
- Biotechnology
Next Frontier Industry Roadmap:
Life Sciences
Want to start a career in Life Sciences but don't know where to begin? Start here!
- Do your research
Make sure you're well-versed in the basics. What are the Life Sciences? What's driving it? Who are the innovators? What types of Life Sciences jobs exist? What are the major Life Sciences companies? If you're interested in a specific company, be sure to learn about its culture and values. This can make a huge difference in your job search!
2. Hone your "soft" skills
- Critical thinking: The amount of data and the tools available to extract and analyze that data are ever-growing, thus making critical thinking skills a must.
- Empathy: Despite AI growing more and more sophisticated by the day, empathy in the life sciences industry will continue to be an immensely important trait to have as it pertains to medicine, patients, and beyond.
- Solid communication: As is the same in any science, Life Sciences has a particularly strong need for effective communication and interpersonal skills. Biospace says it best: "As personalized medicine grows and affects healthcare, the drug industry, the insurance industry and a fair amount of the retail industry...we are going to have a growing need for people with the skills to place all that data into context, interpret it, and communicate it to specific audiences."
3. Learn the essentials
A bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, life science, pharmacy, or computer science will provide the ideal foundation for your life sciences career. You should also:
- Have a strong background in mathematics
- Hone your research & analytical skills
4. Build your portfolio
Illustrate your aptitude and impress prospective employers by making sure your Life Sciences portfolio includes any research and/or lab experience, as well as any instances of results analysis, regulatory compliance, or data collection. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date with your latest experiences and accomplishments and optimized using our Base 11 LinkedIn Optimization Guide.
5. Gain hands-on experience
Apply for Internships in the Life Sciences or related industries, such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, or even agriculture. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals is one of the largest life sciences companies in the world, and also happens to be a Base 11 Game Changer partner. Learn more about their mission and opportunities here!
6. Engage your community
Cultivate your network with a Base 11 community of like-minded individuals that you can connect with today using the community feature built right into this platform! We have a thriving community of students, early-career adults, and professionals on our discussion forums who can share insights, give advice, and help you on your STEM journey.
A Day in the Life of a
Life Sciences Professional
Hear from scientists at Regeneron about how they built their careers, what a day on the job was like at one of the largest life sciences companies in the world during a global pandemic, and how to be successful in your own STEM pursuits! Featuring Research Specialist Stephanie Giodarno, Associate Manager at Regeneron Genetics Center Dr. Jason Mighty, Sr. Precision Medicine Associate Janelle Colón, and the Director of Social Impact Potoula Stavropoulos.
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Featured Life Sciences Partner
Regeneron is a leading biotechnology company that invents life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases. Founded and led for nearly 35 years by physician-scientists, their unique ability to repeatedly and consistently translate science into medicine has led to nine FDA-approved treatments and numerous product candidates in development, nearly all of which were homegrown in their laboratories. Their medicines and pipeline are designed to help patients with eye diseases, allergic and inflammatory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, pain, hematologic diseases, infectious diseases and rare diseases.
Additional Resources
Jobs & Internships
Exclusive opportunities including academic and professional internships as well as jobs from our Next Frontier Partners
Courses & Training
Free and discounted courses and training programs designed to accelerate members into the STEM career of their dreams
Innovation Challenges
Solve real-world problems posed by top companies in STEM and earn cash prizes as well as potential employment opportunities
Related Videos
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Regeneron Scientist Live Q&A
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DNA Diversity Innovation Challenge
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Life Sciences Panel
Hear from a panel of scientists from Regeneron and Thermo Fisher Scientific recorded at the 2021 Next Frontier Conference & EXPO.
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Put it to the Test Innovation Challenge Winners
Xin Wen, Jialin Ke, and Kimani Williams talk about their winning submissions to Thermo Fisher Scientific's Innovation Challenge.
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