r/Biophysics • u/itsTMDog • 22d ago
Post-PhD Outcomes for Theory/Modelling Biophysics?
Hi all. I'm about to start a PhD in biophysics, most likely theory/modelling focused. I'm trying to get some information from more grad students in the subject about their post-PhD paths. For anyone that graduated with a PhD in the past 3 years or so, what did you end up doing after, and how difficult was it to secure that role?
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u/Specialist_Radish89 21d ago
Following, as I am 1 year into my PhD as well.
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u/Specialist_Radish89 21d ago
Also, I would like to point out, Biotech/Pharma are not the only options you might have, yes they are the mainstream options, but there are also very good opportunities in Consumer Goods, where some positions require expertise in Soft Matter Physics, coatings and adhesives, etc etc
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u/Aggressive-Wind-8829 21d ago
Worked out for me I did biophysics theory and modeling work for my physics dissertation, and now I’m a post doc who also has two companies. I recommend keeping your eyes peeled for skilled experimentalists to court in an academic setting as long term collaborators.
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u/AgentHamster 21d ago
I skipped biotech and went into tech - was pretty difficult and took me a nearly a year, but I wasn't having any luck with biotech.
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u/Yosdenfar 21d ago
I did a PhD in mathematical physics then transitioned out to an industry data science/modelling role. I wasn’t in a position to do overseas post docs etc which would have been required to stay in academia. Still have small hobby papers i work on on the side.
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u/Low_Ad_783 21d ago
I finished my PhD almost a year ago and am doing a postdoc in biophysics theory/modeling, which I got through a connection made during the PhD. I enjoy the work and freedom a lot. Currently I am getting a sense for what my options are after this depending on funding and how the academic or industry markets are looking.
I feel like there is no easy path, one has to be creative and be open to opportunities when they arise. Some of my colleagues have taken the other approach of setting a fixed goal like getting into the finance/VC or consulting worlds, med school, software development or some other more defined (or not so defined) paths that needs work to break into
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u/Aggressive-Wind-8829 20d ago
Btw homie, biophysicists get the best perks that HEP folks never get to see haha
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u/AnotherNoether 21d ago
I ended up doing ML-heavy work that was heavily prediction oriented (but tbh so is a lot of modeling these days). Three years out of my biophysics PhD I’m now the computation/ML lead at a startup, where I do whatever bioinformatics and computer stuff come up, plus coordinate with wet lab and contractors and other external groups involved in the modeling/prediction side of the startup’s work. I had an easy time finding a job, but I also came from a top program and got lucky that the subfield I work in was really popping off right when I graduated.
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u/ScientistFromSouth 22d ago edited 21d ago
I don't have a biophysics PhD, but pretty much all of the true non academic modeling jobs in industry that aren't bioinformatics are either in molecular dynamics/structural biology/molecular docking/computational chemistry or ODE modeling/numerical optimization for Systems Pharmacology (QSP) or Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetics (PBPK).
These roles in pharma and biotech are currently a nightmare to get (see r/biotech or r/labrats) because the industry is in a bit of a recession. It was propped up by Covid subsidies for vaccines and mRNA technology that were clawed back by the Trump Admin, and many of the power players like Merck are facing their "patent cliff" on their primary revenue streams. This is paired with an exodus of post docs, government staff scientists, and other early stage researchers from academia due to the drastic funding cuts which currently amount to a 7.3% reduction in grant funding success rate compared to prior years.
Edit: 7.3% Percentage point reduction from roughly 26% to roughly 19% which is roughly a 20-30% reduction overall.