Name: Marcus Berndt (he/him)
PhD: Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 2022
What was your main area of research?
I studied synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. I looked at how hippocampal synapses change following a salient experience by utilizing in vivo and ex vivo electrophysiology coupled with genetic tools to label and visualize neural activity in behaving rodents. Specifically recording cellular and synaptic activity of glutamate receptors in CA1 pyramidal cells.
What is your current job?
I am a Medical Science Liaison for Teva Pharmaceuticals.
I share clinical data with medical providers in therapeutic areas of interest as well as gather feedback and insights regarding clinical practice relevant to company medical strategy.
I love meeting with people, talking about science, and having a very flexible schedule.
How did you find this position? What were the career steps you took to get to where you are now?
I found this position through an "alternative careers" student organization in graduate school.
PhD graduate ➡️ postdoctoral fellow ➡️ Medical Science Liaison
Why did you decide to not pursue a career in academia?
It was a relatively easy decision as I joined a brand new lab in grad school and quickly saw the stress and reality of starting up a lab at a top-tier research university. I realized I did not want to delay my career progression further and learned about other options, such as consulting, science policy, and eventually landing on MSL.
What advice do you have for someone getting their PhD and looking to pursue a career outside of academia?
I had to be very proactive in learning about other career options as my desire to leave academia was met with disappointment by my PI. The school career organization was very helpful in sharing some information about career options, but it was up to me to reach out and schedule countless informational interviews with people, through mostly LinkedIn, and learn about their careers. This helped me prioritize my job search and allowed me to have a good understanding of what the job was going to be like before even interviewing. Breaking in and convincing the hiring manager that, even without experience, you have a great understanding of the role is critical for them to feel comfortable hiring someone new to industry. My manager told me they like to hire PhDs because it really stands for "poor, hungry, and determined" so try to use that to your advantage.
Are there any components of your identity you would like to share, including how they have impacted your journey?
Being an international student placed additional hurdles to getting hired but mention that later in the interview process after they want you. "Do not lead with your costs".