Expected science salaries in HK? (molecular biology, life science, biochem, biotech)

[MyCsPiTTa]

HK is more of a financial hub rather than a science one. Because of this, the opportunities in science are relatively hard to come by

Yes, that is obviously true. I knew it when I came here but was maybe a little blinded by the fact I had a free place to stay for a couple of months, and probably had illusions of slightly higher salaries than is the reality. Thanks for your PM, I will reply also.

er2; yes, I had a job interview out at the HKIB in science park. Apart from the unis it is probably the only place to find science jobs here, but even then, biology doesn't feature as heavily as physics and electronics.

[MovingIn07]

As far as "opportunities" go, it depends on what you mean... but I don't feel I was ever in science for the prestige of publishing and climbing the ranks of academia - I just wanted an interesting, secure career that gives me a reasonably good living standard. So far, I can't say I, or anyone else I know, has found it in research. It's just too undervalued.

You have just outlined exactly why I, with my degree in Natural Science specialising in Genetics, am now a consultant specialising in the Energy industry! At the end of the day, the utopian view I entered university with (curing cancer) gave way to the practicalities of making a living. Good luck.

[Myrona]

You have just outlined exactly why I, with my degree in Natural Science specialising in Genetics, am now a consultant specialising in the Energy industry! At the end of the day, the utopian view I entered university with (curing cancer) gave way to the practicalities of making a living. Good luck.

How does one go from Genetics to Energy?

[MovingIn07]

How does one go from Genetics to Energy?

It's a funny story actually .... There I was, in the Careers Centre, looking for "Cambridge University Press" because I thought that perhaps I might like publishing.. anyway, I didn't realise I had finished with this advert and turned the page and started reading about the next firm... which was the next in alphabetical order ... turned out to be an energy company and it sounded really interesting. So I applied, got the job, and the rest, as they say, is history.....15 years later still enjoying it. And a heck of a lot better paid than research. (Or publishing, for that matter!).

[MyCsPiTTa]

Haha, maybe you should be in sales - it must have talken some smooooth talking to get that job!

[MovingIn07]

Haha, maybe you should be in sales - it must have talken some smooooth talking to get that job!

Not really - we are talking about the UK some 20 years ago. It was pretty normal then (and I'm not sure it has changed in the UK!) for graduates to get jobs that were completely unrelated to their degrees. Look at all the classics grads in banking, for example !

Same is not true of Australia or NZ (the only other places I know anything about) - over there, you study some related subject ....

Just a different mindset. No idea how this compares to the USA or HK

[hullexile]

Not really - we are talking about the UK some 20 years ago. It was pretty normal then (and I'm not sure it has changed in the UK!) for graduates to get jobs that were completely unrelated to their degrees. Look at all the classics grads in banking, for example !

Same is not true of Australia or NZ (the only other places I know anything about) - over there, you study some related subject ....

Just a different mindset. No idea how this compares to the USA or HK

Still think this mindset applies in the UK (except for some specialist areas) where a degree is seen more about training the mind than acquiring specific knowledge. My first degree was in economics, can't remember a thing from that course.

[juzfair]

MyCsPiTTa, I'm a biological scientist in HK, worked for some years already. You can pm me if needed.

But for my advice, it's not fun, even nearly hell to work in HK as a scientist.

[JL77407]

I am surprised no one mentions Europe-Switzerland is where some of the biggest pharmaceutical companies are based.
But this industry like the rest fof the world is facing headwinds,I know the US ones are axing their straight chemists and opting for biochemists.
How about India ?They speak English

[MyCsPiTTa]

But this industry like the rest fof the world is facing headwinds,I know the US ones are axing their straight chemists and opting for biochemists.

Ha, sweet - my M.Sc. major is Biochemistry.

I know the U.S. is one of the few places that can afford to do science but I was always under the impression that competition was very fierce over there, and, of course, harder to get a visa etc into. More of a good place to do a post-doc than a working career. I could be wrong though...

I imagine the european countries are even harder to get work entry into but, once again, I don't really know.

India? Hmm... now we're REALLY talking of a place I know nothing about!