Moving from academic lab experience to pharma/biotech in Ireland
Hi everyone,
I recently moved to Cork from Italy and I'm trying to understand the Irish pharmaceutical and biotech job market.
I have a Master's degree in Drug Discovery and a Bachelor's degree in Molecular Biology. During my Master's I completed a two-year laboratory internship, where I gained hands-on experience with cell culture, in vitro assays, and general laboratory practices in a research environment.
I'm particularly interested in roles involving cell culture, biotechnology, microbiology, laboratory support, or manufacturing in pharma/biotech companies.
I’m aware that my experience is mostly academic/research-oriented, and I’ve noticed that many job ads require GMP knowledge or previous industry experience. This is where I feel a bit unsure: I’m not always sure which roles are realistic for someone at my stage, or how to make the transition from academic lab experience into pharma/biotech industry roles.
Do companies in Ireland commonly hire entry-level graduates without previous GMP experience? Are there specific job titles I should focus on, or companies around Cork and nearby areas that are more open to training graduates?
Since arriving, I’ve applied for a few entry-level positions at Eurofins because some of the job descriptions mentioned that training is provided. Do you think it’s realistic for someone with my background to be invited for an interview? If so, how would you recommend preparing for that first interview? What kind of questions should I expect?
Also, if someone could suggest any good GMP course that I can complete in a few weeks, I would truly appreciate it.
If anyone is willing to give me some guidance, I’d be very grateful.
Thank you!