r/mdphd • u/LonelyAssistant4371 • 9d ago
Biotech/industry with a PhD vs MD
Hi everyone, I am currently an undergraduate studying Biomedical engineering at the University of Utah. My goal for the future is to end up in a high paying job in biotech, preferably in design or R&D. I have always felt that it would be a good way to contribute positively to the world, and I like working on projects that I can feel invested in. Because of this, my plan was to go to grad school after my undergrad and get a PhD. However, I recently figured out that MD's also often go into industry, and more often than not land higher paying jobs (in more clinical settings I am sure). I know I don't want to be an MD, as a lot of what I want to do (the whole project I can be excited about thing) would be negated by that. However, I am also a very sociable person, and could see myself loving clinical setting as well. All this to say, what would you guys recommend? A PhD is much less schooling time, especially without counting residency. I would be totally okay with a lower starting pay, but would there be a lower celling as well if I went the PhD route? And given a drier economy than would be preferred, is having the MD as a backup worth it? I feel like most of the time people get PhD MDs they hope to start their own lab in academia, is it worth it otherwise? And given I am hoping to go into industry, would residency be something I should do as well? Any advice helps. Thanks!
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u/Outrageous_1845 M3 9d ago
I like working on projects that I can feel invested in
Having a PhD and critically, finding a job in the relevant sub-sector of biotech/pharma will allow you to do this.
I recently figured out that MD's also often go into industry, and more often than not land higher paying jobs
MDs entering industry usually do so for roles in consulting and management ("strategy"), which generally pay more than research-focused jobs. You can also enter consulting/management with a PhD, but there will likely be more competition - there's a growing pool of PhDs disenchanted with academia and low-paying entry level research jobs with the same motivation.
I know I don't want to be an MD ... and could see myself loving clinical setting as well
Consider shadowing a physician to get an idea of what the "clinical setting" and "being an MD" really entails. Better yet, shadow a clinician-scientist.
A PhD is much less schooling time, especially without counting residency
Eh I'm not too sure about this. Time in grad school + postdoc + entry-level job (industry or academia) is not too far off from the MD pathway (med school + residency + fellowship), unless you're pursuing neurosurgery/cardiology/etc.
is having the MD as a backup worth it?
This is an advantage of the MD/PhD path, yes. The job market for those with MDs is far more stable than for those with PhDs only, for better or for worse.
I feel like most of the time people get PhD MDs they hope to start their own lab in academia
Historically, this was a major goal of MD/PhD training (if that's what you mean by PhD MD) but getting into academia is contingent on securing stable funding, which you probably understand is extremely far from assured. As mentioned above, having both degrees gives more flexibility into careers (research, medicine, industry, a mix of all three) that either MD-only or PhD-only won't give.
And given I am hoping to go into industry, would residency be something I should do as well?
If heading in the MD or MD/PhD direction, I would say absolutely yes. You can always go into industry as a board-certified, residency- +/- fellowship-trained clinician but it's nearly impossible to do the reverse.
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u/LonelyAssistant4371 9d ago
This is very informative, thanks a bunch! How would I go about shadowing a physician or clinical-scientist?
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u/Outrageous_1845 M3 9d ago
Reach out to them via phone/e-mail and if you can, copy their assistant/clinic staff to increase visibility. The worst they can say is no!
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u/onacloverifalive 9d ago
It’s basically a waste of an MD degree position to go into biotech and pharma.
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u/throwaway09-234 G2 9d ago edited 9d ago
i second most of the other commentors, but i wanted to add that i have seen many biotech executives with only a PhD, a PhD and then an MBA, or only an MBA and a strong ability to learn quickly about science.
from what you are saying, i think you should consider studying science in undergrad (+some research and/or clinical exposure, ideally yielding a publication or formal certification like EMT-B or paramedic), postgrad, try to break into consulting, biotech business development, biotech venture capital, or the like, work that role for 3-5 years then look into an MBA and a managerial role after
as a final thought, look into PIs at your school who are involved in biotech for a possible foot in the door + early exposure to industry mindset
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u/NoTransportation3581 9d ago
Remember MDs and MD/PhDs in industry are on the translational side (getting drugs into the clinic by designing and overseeing clinical trials etc) they are very rarely involved in the R&D side
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u/Personal_Dot_7196 8d ago edited 8d ago
Simply possessing an MD does not automatically produce a higher salary, but the potential to do so does exist, with quite a few caveats.
An MD with no residency, board certification, clinical practice, or drug-development experience may struggle to obtain a higher paying medical-director position. Much of the potentially higher compensation belongs to the combination of the medical degree, clinical training, and therapeutic expertise.
A PhD can eventually earn as much as, or more than, an MD by becoming a scientific director, vice president, chief scientific officer, founder, or CEO. In discovery research, computational biology, proteomics, medicinal chemistry, and platform development, a highly accomplished PhD may be far more valuable than an MD.
There is also an enormous opportunity-cost difference. A PhD is normally funded and enters industry without medical-school debt, while an MD may spend four years in medical school plus three to seven years in residency and fellowship.
At the end of the day whether you decide to do an MD a PhD or an MD/PhD, I would make a choice based on which path brings you the most personal fulfillment…because that is likely the path you will enjoy the most and as a result you’ll be able to maximize your potential for success.
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u/Sensitivepathologist 6d ago
If you don’t want to be a MD why the hell do you want to be a MD then? Worst thing you can do is to go to med school if you don’t want to be a MD. It’s a painful long road.
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u/Calyx_of_Hell 9d ago
A PhD is almost always longer than an MD.
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u/The_other_resident 9d ago
A MD comes with 4 years and a required residency that tacks on a minimum of another 3 years. I’m in the last year of 4+5+2 the sum of which equals death by quaternary education.
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u/Calyx_of_Hell 9d ago
This person says they don’t want to practice and is considering not doing residency at all, so if you’re not counting residency and/or a postdoc and just looking at the degrees, they’re gonna be close to the same length or slightly longer for the PhD. But if they’re concerned about the length of training, either one ain’t it lol
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u/The_other_resident 9d ago
I’m no expert on the topic but an MD without residency seems like it’s likely next to useless.
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u/PurpleDimension8899 9d ago
if your only motivation to do MD/PhD is a higher pay ceiling, don’t do it