29yo Molecular Biologist (Greece/Germany MSc) feeling completely stuck. Need career/life advice on relocation vs. changing fields.
Hello everyone! I am in need of some serious advice.
I am a 29-year-old living in Greece. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology/Genetics from a Greek university and an MSc from Germany (completed in 2024). In between my studies, I worked in a diagnostic lab in Greece for 3 years during the COVID-19 pandemic. Combined with my university labs, I actually have plenty of hands-on experience.
A bit of context: My family consists only of my mother (who is a teacher) and me. I have no relatives, acquaintances, or connections in the scientific field to talk to, even about minor things. Because I was quite an introvert during university, I didn’t build a network or make friends in the field. I also didn't do summer schools, extra projects, or internships. I cannot discuss this with anyone and, more importantly, I have no one to ask for their real experience. It feels like almost everyone lies and says they did everything on their own, but then I later find out that they actually live with their “uncle” or have family help.
Right now, I am completely stuck and weighing my options:
Option A: Working in Greece
- My hometown: I live in a small town and there are absolutely no open positions in my profession here.
- Remote work: I’ve been trying to find remote biology roles, but I can't find anything.
- Relocating locally: I've thought about moving to Athens or Thessaloniki, BUT the rents are so high right now that I don't think I could survive on a starting salary on my own. Does this mean I'm forced to stay in my hometown?
Option B: Going Abroad
- PhDs: During my Master’s, I was offered 2 PhD positions in two different labs, and I know those offers are still valid. However, almost all of my university lab experiences so far were in highly toxic environments. Mentally, I am not ready to dive back into academia anytime soon. Plus, the rent crisis abroad is also a huge issue.
- Industry work abroad: Trying to find a corporate/industry job abroad feels like a massive risk due to high rent costs and having absolutely zero acquaintances or safety net in a foreign country.
Option C: Continuing Studies (Pivoting Fields)
Even though I have good degrees, I am struggling so much to find work that I am considering going back to school for a second degree to guarantee employment:
6. Medicine: This would require relocation, dealing with rent again, and another 5–6 years of education.
7. Nursing: Not available in my hometown, but I could commute there every day by bus. It would take about 3–4 years.
8. Speech-Language Pathology: This is available right in my hometown (3 years of education) and would allow me to stay put.
I understand that the final decision is mine, but I have no one to bounce ideas off of or ask about their real-world experiences.
Has anyone faced a similar dilemma in bio-sciences? Any insight, reality checks, or advice would mean the world to me. Thank you.