Our students complete their doctoral studies fully prepared for a variety of career options.
Employment Resources
MIT Resources
Career Seminar Series
During the January
Independent Activities Period (IAP), the Biology Department sponsors a series of seminars on Life After MIT: Taking the Next Step in Academic Research or Non-Academic Career Paths. Seminars have featured speakers from both within and outside MIT. Past seminars have included:
- Academic Research
- Writing a Thesis and Choosing a Post-Doc Lab
- Writing a Postdoctoral fellowship
- Applying for a Junior Faculty position
- Demystifying the RO1 Grant Writing Process
- Balancing Family and Science
- Non-Academic Career Paths
- Career in Industry
- Patent Law
- Scientific Publishing
- Biotech
- Biomedical Ventures on the Internet
- Administrative Jobs in Science
- Teaching at a Liberal Arts College
Learn More About the Career Seminar Series
MIT Certificate Programs
MIT and related job listings
External job listings and career development resources
Postdoctoral fellowships
View the list of common sources of
funding for postdoctoral researchers.
MIT Career Development Office
MIT GECD offers one-on-one advising, CV review, mock interviews, information about global careers, and MIT alumni job statistics.
Careers in biotech
The
MIT Biotech Group offers events and activities that connect MIT students to the local biotech industry, including lectures, panels, and networking events.
7.930 Research Experiences in BioPharma is open to students after prelims, and offers 10-hour-per-week internships in local companies plus classroom lectures.
The annual Biology Graduate Student Council (BGSC) retreat offers networking opportunities to gradate students to meet scientists in biotech and Pharma jobs.
MIT is also a member of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, and students can receive information and attend many events for free.
If you’re interested in starting a company, check out resources posted by SYNAPSE and Biomedstartup, which is an IAP opportunity to learn about commercialization of research findings.
Careers in consulting
The
MIT Consulting Club helps graduate students learn about and prepare for careers in consulting.
View Job and Internship Listings (login required)
What do our students do after graduation?
Alumni statistics for students graduating between 2004 and 2014 (as of 2014)
The majority of our graduates pursue careers as scientists in academia or industry. Approximately:
- 31% are involved in post-doctoral training
- 18% work in the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry
- 11% hold academic positions equivalent to Assistant or Associate Professor
- 10% are research scientists
Other students use their degree in non-research professions:
- 13% in business or law
- 6% in medicine
- 11% other, including education, communication, and policy
Academic careers
- Historically, 30-40% of our graduates have gone on to academic faculty positions or equivalent positions at research institutions after completing postdoctoral training.
- Our alumni are on the faculty at more than 50 universities around the world that include many top-ranked research institutions.
Non-research careers
We are proud of the variety of ways that our recent graduates are using their training to benefit society in non-research careers such as:
- Science educators at the high school or college level
- Opportunities as science writers or editors or work in science government policy
- Careers in patent law, consulting, or business
The MIT Earned Doctoral Survey also provides information about paths pursued by Biology graduate students right after they obtain their degrees.
