tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post1497030806645610522..comments2024-03-19T05:47:41.701-04:00Comments on Chemjobber: Our chemical mercenary future?Chemjobberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932113680515602275noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-21113211050066416822010-11-16T16:27:21.288-05:002010-11-16T16:27:21.288-05:00Of course, it's sad that this is even consider...Of course, it's sad that this is even considered cost-effective, especially if you're only there for three months, of which the first few weeks are spent reading SOPs etc making sure you're safe to work in the lab, so you only get about 500 hours worth of effective lab time, even without meetings etc. I don't know whether to be pleased that I managed to fail to get interview here or not :(Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-56311222573863802232010-11-16T12:47:36.691-05:002010-11-16T12:47:36.691-05:00Same with Lilly in UK, aka Kelly Sci. Same lab, sa...Same with Lilly in UK, aka Kelly Sci. Same lab, same projects, same chemists, different contracts, month-to-month basis. Who is desperate enough to go there? <br /><br />btw 35-40k for a group leader in the UK is about maximum one can get these days.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-75939330508338581352010-11-16T02:21:43.322-05:002010-11-16T02:21:43.322-05:00I think that Novartis in the UK has a similar cont...I think that Novartis in the UK has a similar contract type research group which endlessly turns over staff to keep costs down. You sometimes see group leader positions there advertised at about 30-35k per year (GBP), so about 50k USD for a temporary team leader position.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-46177543771693634042010-11-15T14:22:01.716-05:002010-11-15T14:22:01.716-05:00These contracts started to become very common in 2...These contracts started to become very common in 2006, now a friend only hires contract scientists. It reminds me of a sentence from Phil Greenspun's Women In Science essay: "The American academic scientist now earns less than an airplane mechanic, has the job security of a drummer in a boy band and works more hours than a Bolivian silver miner." It seems the academic culture is not the only place we see this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-69723067726409378162010-11-15T11:10:50.622-05:002010-11-15T11:10:50.622-05:00I saw these short term contract work adds recently...I saw these short term contract work adds recently - and I immediately decided that Vertex is not a company that I would like to work for in the future, even with a good offer. I am not desperate enough.milkshakehttp://orgprepdaily.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-9759090741625409092010-11-15T10:25:45.177-05:002010-11-15T10:25:45.177-05:00Don't forget the uber-evil LLY-Covance deal la...Don't forget the uber-evil LLY-Covance deal last year. Same building, same projects, same scientists, but your name tag now says Covance....Eka-siliconnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-43966509743140136992010-11-15T10:01:00.537-05:002010-11-15T10:01:00.537-05:00You get what you pay for.You get what you pay for.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-29003723462169898442010-11-15T09:13:14.919-05:002010-11-15T09:13:14.919-05:00Keep those resumes dusted off, people!
CJ: Didn&#...Keep those resumes dusted off, people!<br /><br />CJ: Didn't that ad for Vertex also mention that you'd be responsible for managing other scientists as well? So, the upshot, first day in lab: "Hi, I'm &^*%(*, I'll be your boss for the next, oh, 89 days"See Arr Ohnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-60417722763013569882010-11-15T08:43:54.448-05:002010-11-15T08:43:54.448-05:00It seems that nowadays, everything is a short term...It seems that nowadays, everything is a short term contract. My second job lasted almost 8 years in Big Pharma and it seems that now, just like everyone else, there is no security for the employee and no accountability from the employer. We all have to be ready jump ship at any moment. This is on top of an abyssmal employment market for chemists. How does this affect everyone's loyalty to one company when contracts are so short ? Not good.Brianhttp://www.pharmnbiofuel.comnoreply@blogger.com