François Renevey, PhD - Medical Advisor/Clinical Research Scientist Oncology

Francois Renevey, PhD - Medical Advisor/Clinical Research Scientist Oncology

 Where are you from, and what is your educational background? Where did you study?

I was born in the canton of Fribourg. I studied biology at the university in Lausanne. I went on to pursue a biomedical master's degree and a Ph.D. in immunology, all in Lausanne.

Why did you decide to pursue the Ph.D./Post-doc journey?

I loved my studies in biology. I was, and still am, passionate about molecular and cellular biology in general. I quickly developed a real interest in immunology and oncology, two closely related disciplines. After my Master's work, I realized that I really enjoyed designing experiments and interpreting the results to generate new hypotheses. I enjoyed my Master's work and was given the opportunity to continue this project in immunology as a Ph.D. student.

It is often said that the Ph.D. is a marathon, not a sprint race. What are your thoughts about it?

Yes, you learn the term "resilience"! But as I enjoyed my Ph.D., I didn't feel it was an endless marathon but rather an adventure with many challenges. I was more frustrated at the end when it was time to wrap up this chapter and my research project (I failed to publish my story). But in the end, I'm really glad I did it.

When did you decide that you didn’t want to pursue an academic career? Was it before starting your Ph.D. journey or during your Ph.D. studies (at the start, mid, at the end, or after)?

Before starting my thesis, I had already looked at a few possibilities outside academia. As I was really enjoying my thesis, I also imagined that perhaps an academic career might be an option for me. However, I soon realized that this was going to be difficult (or impossible) due to several factors (working abroad for a few years, lack of potential publications in major scientific journals, and above all a huge career uncertainty that I found unacceptable after having spent so much time studying and working in a complex field). The combination of the insecurity of an academic career and my family made me realize that it wasn't for me in the long term. About halfway through my thesis, it was obvious to me that I wasn't going to continue after my Ph.D. I started actively looking into it a year before the end of my thesis. I obtained a training position for a FAMH in immunology at the HUG, which was to start a year after the end of my thesis. But I had an opportunity in the pharmaceutical industry before starting this training… so I turned down the position at HUG. The choice was made based on the fact that there are more opportunities to develop a career (or change your career) in the pharmaceutical industry.

When did you transition into the industry?

After the defense of my thesis, I spent 6 months on a post-doc (to try to finish a paper and also wait for my FAMH training or to find something else). I was hired by my first company 6 months after the beginning of my post-doc, so I left my position at the university.

What is your current position? What were your previous job(s) (if this is not your first job in private)?

I am currently a medical advisor in oncology and hematology for Switzerland. I started in the summer of 2021. Before that, I was a sales representative also in oncology for another pharmaceutical company for approximately 2 years.

Is your job related to what you have done during your Ph.D./Post-doc?

It's mainly related to my field of study: medical and cellular biology (immunology and cancer). As mentioned above, I work in oncology and hematology. Therefore, you need a strong knowledge in immunology, molecular biology, and oncology. However, my current job is not directly related to my thesis topic (too specific and focused on one research question: my thesis was about IgA-secreting plasma cells in the intestinal lamina propria). For me, my Ph.D. was more about training my soft skills: organization, prioritization, resilience, identifying problems and solving them. 

Which aspects do you like the most about your job?

It's very varied. My activities/tasks change throughout the week/month with different objectives, targets, priorities, etc., depending on the product's life cycle (in clinical trial, prelaunch, market launch, and later). You can discuss marketing, drug access, science, data, and clinical trials sometimes during the same day. The fact that I am the owner of my projects means that I can work quite independently, which I like, but at the same time, I interact and collaborate with many different departments (medical, marketing, access) on different projects. You also have the opportunity to discuss with experts in the field and learn from them.

How has your work-life balance changed since moving to the industry?

It's quite similar. There's no big difference for me except maybe the opportunity to work from home now. But I have to say that the biggest stresses I've had to deal with have been in my current job because the consequences are more serious and/or often involve other people than just myself.

How did you adapt to the cultural and operational differences between academia and industry?

There are way more rules in the pharmaceutical industry. It doesn’t mean that you have no freedom, but it is a highly regulated environment, especially when your role involves interactions with external parties (physicians, medical organizations, etc.). It took me some time to understand this new environment. Some companies have more rules than others or different ones, so you need to adapt a bit every time.

The best way to learn: ask questions to senior colleagues and/or supervisors.

Were there any new skills or knowledge areas you had to develop for your role in the industry?

No new skills, the most important skills in academia are also valid and useful in a medical affairs department of a pharmaceutical company (soft skills): problem-solving skills, presentation skills, the capacity to learn new things/stay up to date in a highly dynamic environment, collaboration with colleagues from different backgrounds, and most importantly organization/prioritization of your tasks and projects.

In terms of scientific knowledge, I have to learn and stay up to date regularly. New therapies, new indications of a product, new competitors arrive regularly, so I have to like to stay informed and share information.

How difficult was it to gain the required knowledge when you first started your job(s)?

In terms of scientific knowledge, it, of course, takes some time, but it was not the major challenge for me. For the rest (rules/compliance/processes), it's a bit uncomfortable at first not being able to do anything on your own because you don't know the processes, the rules, who to contact, but it gets better quickly! I was lost for a few months, but with patience, it comes. (and I am still learning!).

What was your experience concerning the transition into the industry? What were some of the challenges you faced during your transition?

When I was still a student, there were fewer groups, workshops, and events to promote the connection between the industry and the students. That's improved quite a bit, I think. What was difficult at the beginning of the job search was simply to understand how these firms are organized, what they do, what the opportunities are, and what the names of the positions mean... what is the difference between MSL, Medical Advisor, Clinical Research Scientist/Associate, Regulatory Affairs Specialist, and others? Then I struggled to get my first interview because it is often asked to speak 3 languages and have prior experiences in the field. I had to find the right opportunity (and also get lucky).

What helped you before the transition (career events, workshops, contacting people on LinkedIn, friends)?

Discussions with students who made it to different positions in the industry but not only. It was very important to me to compare different experiences and professional careers... since I knew nothing about the industry, I had a rather false idea of what a job entailed. I idealized some and had a negative idea of others... therefore, I tried to exchange with people working in very different fields. I took part in career events and workshops and got in touch with students on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a must, as we often receive notifications of new opportunities from the industry and headhunters...

According to you, which are the personal/soft skills that are mostly needed to undergo a successful transition into the industry?

I would say:

• Be able to communicate efficiently/sell (yourself, projects, ideas).

• Know how to organize and prioritize your projects.

• Be able to work alone but also in a group with people whose backgrounds are very different from yours.

• Be proactive in suggesting ideas and making decisions.

• Be aware of your weaknesses and try to work on them.

• For Switzerland, if you speak German, it is a big plus!

In your case, which personal/soft skills helped you during your transition into the industry?

Communication, presentation skills, knowledge in the requested medical field (oncology), it is also important to understand the culture in pharmaceutical companies in order to adapt your CV, motivation letter, interviews, etc.

What advice made the difference in your professional development?

• Be curious about possibilities you didn't think existed: take some time to get informed as soon as possible.

• If you want something (more responsibilities, opportunities, etc.), ask/speak up.

• Be nice to people… you never know what will happen in 2-3 years and cultivate your network.

What aspects of your academic studies helped you during your transition into the industry (PPT presentation, public speaking, teaching, scientific project management, teamwork, multitasking, etc.)?

Absolutely all the points listed in this question... I will say that as scientists, we tend to forget it (or we don't want to admit it...) but we also learn to sell projects, ideas, and data. We learn to argue too. And this is highly valuable everywhere. Finally, in academia, we mostly work as a team with our peers with whom we share the same goals, visions. In many industry positions, we work with much more varied personalities/backgrounds, in my opinion.

It is also said that networking plays an important role in transitioning into the industry. Was it the case for you?

Yes, it is true, but I remember being really stressed when I was working to make the transition to the industry because I knew absolutely no one, and still... I managed to do it... so that shouldn't discourage people. Today, LinkedIn is a really great tool for making contacts and complementing the connections we can make during live workshops...

Did you do one or multiple internships, traineeships, BNF projects, in the private sector after your Ph.D. studies or Postdoc before being hired for a more “permanent” job in this sector? If yes, was it via the unemployment program?

No.

Which advice would you give to Ph.D.s and postdocs who are willing to look for opportunities outside research academia or in the industry? 

• Be curious about possibilities you didn't think existed: take time to get informed. Exchange with people working in your field of interest but also in another domain.

• It is totally fine if you don’t start with your dream job! You will learn a lot and create your network.

If you could go back, would you change anything about your career path?

Nothing, I am currently happy with the decisions I made (so far…). I am glad I had the opportunity to lead a research project during my Ph.D., to experience a field-based job as a sales representative, and happy I had the opportunity to transition into the medical affairs. I hope I will have the chance to experience many other things in the future!

François’ LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/françois-renevey/