USA to UK - industry jobs

[alanwr]

Was hoping someone could help me out with a few questions.

I'm a US qualified pharmacist who is about to finish up a fellowship in clinical research at an academic institute in the states. I'm originally from the UK and really want to get back. The fellowship I'm doing is preparing me for either a clinical scientist position in industry or a medical science liaison position.

Does anyone know if these types of positions are occupied by pharmacists in the UK/ EU, or is it primarily PhDs or physicians? I've tried searching for MSL jobs on monster etc but this position doesn't even seem to exist in the UK. Is it known by another name? I've contacted some recruiters via email but they don't respond. Any info, tips, or advice anyone out there can give me on the sort of jobs that are available would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

[johnep]

Industry? What industry? All gone to India, China, South Africa, and Eastern Europe.
johnep

[alanwr]

Guess its yet another of college, and then one of working for peanuts for me then, just so I can work in Boots.

Seriously, is it that bad? What about these medical science liaison positions? Know anything about them?

[johnep]

Jobs in Medical Legislation, Marketing and Sales still available. Pharma cuurently appointing pharmacists as PCT liason officers in an attempt to prove clinical/cost effectiveness.
johnep

[alanwr]

Thanks man. Dunno what PCT liaison's are but it sounds similar to what they call, 'medical science liaisons' here in the US.

Don't suppose you know of any good recruiters that specialise in this field, do you? Or a newspaper/ magazine where these sort of positions might be advertised e.g. new scientist, etc?

Thanks again.

[johnep]

New Scientist would be one. Pharmaceutical Jounal pjonline would be another.
johnep

[Nik]

The fellowship I'm doing is preparing me for either a clinical scientist position in industry or a medical science liaison position.

What exactly would you do as a medical science liasion ? Could help someone on here match up the job spec.

[p-rog]

What exactly would you do as a medical science liasion ? Could help someone on here match up the job spec.

Educate physicians, health care administrators, etc. about the drugs your company has on the market. You generally focus/specialize on therapeutics of one particular class or disease state. As far as I can tell, it's kind of like being a drug rep, except here in the US MSL's are not allowed to provide unsolicited information to the other health care providers about their drugs. I'm sure they find their loopholes however.

[p-rog]

Was hoping someone could help me out with a few questions.

I'm a US qualified pharmacist who is about to finish up a fellowship in clinical research at an academic institute in the states. I'm originally from the UK and really want to get back. The fellowship I'm doing is preparing me for either a clinical scientist position in industry or a medical science liaison position.

Just out of curiosity, where are you doing your fellowship? Also, are you looking to go back to the UK only because of personal preference, or is the poor industry job market in the US also part of the reason? I'm a third year pharm student in a US school and I'm strongly considering doing a clinical research fellowship when I graduate in two years so I'm just curious.

[Nik]

One of my relatives used to work as a drug rep for Roche, now for AZ. Her experience is that big pharma are cutting down the size of their salesforce to try and pump the money saved into R and D. To still have a job as a drug rep in this country would require you to be the best of the best.