Anyone out there who worked a few years *as a technician, not a grad student* in university research lab(s) and then got a job in industry (e.g. Trimeris, Alphavax, BD Bio...)? If so, what do you like and dislike about the change in culture?

6/11/2007 9:15:37 PM

expect to be working far more hours

6/25/2007 11:03:08 PM

I really think it depends
I used to work at BASF (as a "temp" for a year), but it was with insects and we did some pretty cool experiments... I had to come in on the weekend for a couple hours and was paid hourly, but it was busy at times, boring at others. Then I worked at labcorp, and I was kept busy all the time.. you had to account for every hour you were there and it was like a factory and not very interesting (altho the people were cool).
Now I work at UNC, and again, sometimes I twiddle my thumbs for weeks, some months I stay late almost every day. but I can take a class a semester for free, and I get more vacation time and its easy to take off whenever.

6/26/2007 12:32:32 PM