Science Related Jobs Gather Here

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Sci got so many majors, which one u guys refering to? Some r much higher in demand than others and can gain employment in wide range of sector (both relevant and irrelevant to the course)

Anyone work for a Chinese company before?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Graduated NTU CHEM 2014, working in unrelated stat board, started out 3.4k

Also graduated from NTU chem 2014, working in ministry, started 3.8k

Fascinating. OP ask about science related job and all we see is a bunch of sci major coming in to say how much they earn in other industry. and that is related how?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Fascinating. OP ask about science related job and all we see is a bunch of sci major coming in to say how much they earn in other industry. and that is related how?

That in itself is a proxy on the science industry in Singapore. If science majors are all going into industries outside of science, it just shows how bad these industries are, in terms of career development and remuneration.

Afterall, as science majors, it is only logical for us to be able to analyse situations and take the best option where possible.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

That in itself is a proxy on the science industry in Singapore. If science majors are all going into industries outside of science, it just shows how bad these industries are, in terms of career development and remuneration.

Afterall, as science majors, it is only logical for us to be able to analyse situations and take the best option where possible.

Except the science industry are paying well. Pharmaceutical pays good high starting pay and have good progression. Most people are just not interested because its mostly repetitive lab work. Researchers are paid darn well. Physics and maths are in super high demand especially for those good in stats and other analytical methods due to the sudden interest in big data.

Going to the government sector is the dumbest thing you can do as any graduate unless you are a scholar. If you are not on the scholar tread, your performance does not matter as you can never exceed a certain rank and pay. It is for those without ambition or drive to work and just want a iron rice bowl to work till they grow old.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Except the science industry are paying well. Pharmaceutical pays good high starting pay and have good progression. Most people are just not interested because its mostly repetitive lab work. Researchers are paid darn well. Physics and maths are in super high demand especially for those good in stats and other analytical methods due to the sudden interest in big data.

Going to the government sector is the dumbest thing you can do as any graduate unless you are a scholar. If you are not on the scholar tread, your performance does not matter as you can never exceed a certain rank and pay. It is for those without ambition or drive to work and just want a iron rice bowl to work till they grow old.

What kind of good progression are you talking about? If you are talking about lab work, it is impossible to progress beyond a certain limit if you do not have a PhD as well. While certain pharma may have high starting pay, it is only to attract people in. The salary will not go beyond the limit once you've reached there. Lets face it, huge chunks of money goes into research (not your salary mind) and those corporate dudes. Not to lab researchers (even those with PhD).

From what I've heard, fresh PhD probably can get $7 - 9k for good pharma, but that is only if your area of research is what they are looking for. And unless you are able to create value, don't expect your salary to increase any higher.

On the part about joining government, it is true if you are not a scholar, you will not reach the certain "rank" and pay. However, that rank and pay is like what, $20 - $50k a month? That means even if you are not a scholar, it is highly possible to reach $15 - $20k a month if you are a good performer within 15 - 20 years. Plus your starting salary is higher than market, and you have quite a fair bit of bonus. The intrinsic factor for the better of Singapore is also satisfying.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

What kind of good progression are you talking about? If you are talking about lab work, it is impossible to progress beyond a certain limit if you do not have a PhD as well. While certain pharma may have high starting pay, it is only to attract people in. The salary will not go beyond the limit once you've reached there. Lets face it, huge chunks of money goes into research (not your salary mind) and those corporate dudes. Not to lab researchers (even those with PhD).

From what I've heard, fresh PhD probably can get $7 - 9k for good pharma, but that is only if your area of research is what they are looking for. And unless you are able to create value, don't expect your salary to increase any higher.

On the part about joining government, it is true if you are not a scholar, you will not reach the certain "rank" and pay. However, that rank and pay is like what, $20 - $50k a month? That means even if you are not a scholar, it is highly possible to reach $15 - $20k a month if you are a good performer within 15 - 20 years. Plus your starting salary is higher than market, and you have quite a fair bit of bonus. The intrinsic factor for the better of Singapore is also satisfying.

Labwork does not require PhD, and progress in the labwork direction does not require you to have PhD. Researching would benefit from PhD and masters. Nonetheless almost all pharma company will be willing to sponsor your further education in return for a small bond. Ergo, with industry experience, you are able to get your master/PhD even if you do not qualify now and is a direction of growth for you in the company.

Management post in pharma all command pretty high pay similar to other industry, which should be what you are comparing to for top performer. A MX9 in civil service is 10-15k, and they comprise of only 1.2% of the civil service. Think about that, you must be top what, 2-3% at most, to qualify for 10-15k a month. So no, it is not highly possible to reach 15-20k pm even if you are a good performer. Cause A, civil service don't care about performance, and B, the pay is not that high anyway. And that is after years of work. Any management/senior management in pharma or any industry will top that easily.

And pharma is for the betterment of the whole world through providing healthcare, if you want to talk about value of work.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Labwork does not require PhD, and progress in the labwork direction does not require you to have PhD. Researching would benefit from PhD and masters. Nonetheless almost all pharma company will be willing to sponsor your further education in return for a small bond. Ergo, with industry experience, you are able to get your master/PhD even if you do not qualify now and is a direction of growth for you in the company.

Management post in pharma all command pretty high pay similar to other industry, which should be what you are comparing to for top performer. A MX9 in civil service is 10-15k, and they comprise of only 1.2% of the civil service. Think about that, you must be top what, 2-3% at most, to qualify for 10-15k a month. So no, it is not highly possible to reach 15-20k pm even if you are a good performer. Cause A, civil service don't care about performance, and B, the pay is not that high anyway. And that is after years of work. Any management/senior management in pharma or any industry will top that easily.

And pharma is for the betterment of the whole world through providing healthcare, if you want to talk about value of work.

I never say labwork requires PhD. I merely stated to rise up through the ranks doing labwork, you will require PhD. Almost all people who wish to do Masters/PhD will be able to get sponsorship easily from the Universities (if their Bachelor's result ain't that bad), so there's no need to get sponsorship from the companies. Unless we are talking about MBA and the likes (beyond research degrees).

It is very possible to hit MX9 even if you are a non-scholar, before you retire. I know many who are already MX10 before 10 years, all of them non-scholars. So yes, it is realistically possible to reach 10-15k a month for all graduates who grind their way up in the government. The only differentiating factor is the time required for you to reach that bracket.

I would assume it is harder for any personnel working in the lab to ever cross over and climb up the corporate ladder, where the big bucks lie. I have no doubt that if you ever reach management level, your salary will be much more than those who are in the government service. But the question is, can you make it? Compared to those in the civil service.. well it seems easier.

And if you do work in pharma and healthcare industries (private), you will know that bottom line profit comes first. There is no such thing as betterment of the world through healthcare. That is marketing crap for branding only. You know as well as I do how big pharma listens to their board of directors.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I never say labwork requires PhD. I merely stated to rise up through the ranks doing labwork, you will require PhD. Almost all people who wish to do Masters/PhD will be able to get sponsorship easily from the Universities (if their Bachelor's result ain't that bad), so there's no need to get sponsorship from the companies. Unless we are talking about MBA and the likes (beyond research degrees).

It is very possible to hit MX9 even if you are a non-scholar, before you retire. I know many who are already MX10 before 10 years, all of them non-scholars. So yes, it is realistically possible to reach 10-15k a month for all graduates who grind their way up in the government. The only differentiating factor is the time required for you to reach that bracket.

I would assume it is harder for any personnel working in the lab to ever cross over and climb up the corporate ladder, where the big bucks lie. I have no doubt that if you ever reach management level, your salary will be much more than those who are in the government service. But the question is, can you make it? Compared to those in the civil service.. well it seems easier.

And if you do work in pharma and healthcare industries (private), you will know that bottom line profit comes first. There is no such thing as betterment of the world through healthcare. That is marketing crap for branding only. You know as well as I do how big pharma listens to their board of directors.

Which is my point. You don't need PhD to rise up the rank through labwork. PhD or master is not a requirement for labwork. Go look at the lead for the labs. Most or non of them have PhD. Experience is more important. Loads of people do not do their postgrad after graduation for a variety of reason, which is why they do labwork or basic research in the first place. Hence the sponsorship is a good way for progression if you ever want.

I am not saying it is impossible to reach, I'm just telling you that mx9 comprise of 1.2% of the civil service workforce. Yes, this is the stats released by the govt. So for every 100 person, there is around 1 mx9. Are you it is a matter of time before you will reach it.

Lab work is grunt work, a necessity to go into management role. There are tons of management opportunity moving through QC, QA or lab roles. Like I stated in the first post, civil service is for those without ambition and drive and just want a stable work life till the end. Which is exactly what you are describing, no risk, no worries, just slowly working towards your final ranking. Now of course if you are an average performer this might look like a tempting proposal but do realise what you are getting into before signing up.

Of course profit come first for a company. But the mere fact that they are providing medicine is creating a better world. imagine a world without antibiotics or basic simple cure for common diseases. If you want to go into schematics, civil services and stat board works for the PAP more than for Singapore, and is technically for the betterment of the elites than Singapore as a whole. But then I'll be digressing into politics.

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Which is my point. You don't need PhD to rise up the rank through labwork. PhD or master is not a requirement for labwork. Go look at the lead for the labs. Most or non of them have PhD. Experience is more important. Loads of people do not do their postgrad after graduation for a variety of reason, which is why they do labwork or basic research in the first place. Hence the sponsorship is a good way for progression if you ever want.

I am not saying it is impossible to reach, I'm just telling you that mx9 comprise of 1.2% of the civil service workforce. Yes, this is the stats released by the govt. So for every 100 person, there is around 1 mx9. Are you it is a matter of time before you will reach it.

Lab work is grunt work, a necessity to go into management role. There are tons of management opportunity moving through QC, QA or lab roles. Like I stated in the first post, civil service is for those without ambition and drive and just want a stable work life till the end. Which is exactly what you are describing, no risk, no worries, just slowly working towards your final ranking. Now of course if you are an average performer this might look like a tempting proposal but do realise what you are getting into before signing up.

Of course profit come first for a company. But the mere fact that they are providing medicine is creating a better world. imagine a world without antibiotics or basic simple cure for common diseases. If you want to go into schematics, civil services and stat board works for the PAP more than for Singapore, and is technically for the betterment of the elites than Singapore as a whole. But then I'll be digressing into politics.

Times are changing. Even as the non-graduates are now being combined together with graduates scheme, the data for officers reaching MX9 will change as well. That being said, it is a misconception that people who join the civil service are those without ambition and drive.

Providing medicine but at what cost? How much do they sell them? It is of no value if your medicine can cure illness, but only to those who can afford them. And that is the reality of almost all big pharma companies. If you truly want to talk about those research, I believe basic research are the ones who attempt to solve those simple problems, that truly benefit the world. But of course, basic research usually resides in IHLs and research institutes funded by government or VWO, and are not that fixated on B2B. In pharma, it is all about the value to translate to an actual product no?

Btw QC/QA and the likes are niche areas, and usually people who are into those tend to specialize in them for years. I doubt it is your everyday event that a person can be rotated around lab and onto management/corporate track. Makes absolutely no sense as these are roles that are specialised, and once you've trained them, you hardly want to take them off elsewhere.

You can say that the government seems to be working more for PAP, but that is only because PAP is the ruling party. In truth, the system is such that regardless of the ruling party, Singapore will continue to function as per normal. The system truly is for the benefit of Singapore. But as with politics, it is inevitable that certain mileage be squeezed for political brownies.