Job Responsibilities
Conduct product safety assessments for genetically modified
crops. Write protocols, standard operating produres, and study
reports for submission to the EPA and other regulatory
organizations for various global markets. Design and run
experiments, and coordinate the scheduling of activities with
internal auditers and the Regulatory Affairs Sponsor. The amount
of laboratory work and writing will vary seasonally, because data
is generated after crops are harvested and samples are prepared
for analysis. After experimental results are collected, reports
and audit findings consume a bulk of your time. You can expect
to work at least 50 hours per week.
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Job Requirements
Entry positions typically require a minimum of a bachelor's
degree, but most employees either hold a Ph.D. or multiple
master's degrees. A number of research positions are routine and
assembly-line in nature. An associate's degree in biotechnology
would be sufficient to perform this type of work, but Monsanto is
Ph.D. heavy, so many employees end up in positions below their
training level. Despite the fact that no Ph.D. program in
science requires coursework in management or business, most
managers are recruited from the Ph.D. pool.
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Uppers
One of the best things about being a researcher is the variability of daily
tasks. You aren't typically strapped to a desk all day. Your activities are
broken up by conducting work in the lab and performing administrative tasks, like
writing.
Another plus is the respect and image that most people give you when you tell
them that you are a scientist. The reality is that most scientists are little
more than factory workers with a degree.
Larger companies are a great place to gain experience, because there are a
number of people to coach and train you until you can master the duties
independently. However, this can also be a negagtive. The roles of people
within a large company are usually so specific, that it is difficult to gain
experience with all aspects of a project.
Research tends to have some level of independence. Since you are buzzing around
a lot, you typically don't have someone looking over your shoulder all day long.
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Downers
Research tends to be a deadend career path in terms of salary and
responsibility. A few people with a Ph.D. find their way into
management, but that also takes them away from the science that
they love and the eight years of academic training that prepared
them to be scientists.
Moving from one department to another to gain new experience or
training was almost impossible at Monsanto. Many people
fortunate enough to break out of their pigeon hole, had to do so
by leaving the company.
Monsanto is unique in that there are very few biotech companies
working with GMO products, especially in agriculture. While this
makes the projects interesting and cutting-edge, it also makes
your experience very specialized. Eventhough the laboratory
skills and methods are identical to those used in the
pharmaceutical industry, many recruiters will split hairs and not
recognize biotech experience as relevant to a pharmaceutical
job. If you loose your job at Monsanto, you will most likely
have to start your career path over again.
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Lifestyle
Research is not a nine to five job. Many experiments and even routine protein
purifications require baby sitting. You may find yourself going to work in the
middle of the night or on weekends. Due to the level of independence in research
jobs, this schedule doesn't seem to be too bothersome. You are given target
deadlines to meet, so the choice to work weekends or nights seems to be your own
choice. The reality may be that some of the deadlines were unreasonable and you
must work such a schedule to meet them. Monsanto is also known for putting a lot
of pressure on you to meet deadlines and then extending the deadlines after
you've already worked through the holidays and lost your wife.
Monsanto is good at recognizing people for small contributions. Tending to a
broken freezer may gain you a $100 gift certificate. But, hard work and
sacrifice won't earn you any brownie points when it comes to bonuses, raises,
promotions, or job security.
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Compensation
Monsanto Company is a good company to work for as a direct
employee. The benefits are excellent, but the base salaries fall
between what you would make in academic research and what
pharmaceutical companies pay. Unfortunetly, like many companies
today, they abuse the option to hire contract labor. Contract
employees have been known to serve the company for more than ten
years without any benefits and a salary that is typically 25%
less than the base salary of their direct hire counterparts.
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Advice to Jobseekers
Research can be fun and interesting. It is a good option for
young people, but don't spend too much time in one place. I've
enjoyed all of the jobs that I've had in the past, but those
chapters were only good for me at a particular time in my life.
Minimum wage jobs can be fun, but you can't enjoy the benefits of
a family if you can't support one. Research pays better than
minium wage, but if you are seeking an upward career path, you
should continue your education while working as a researcher.
The best plan to remain employable would be to earn your graduate
degree in a different area, like business administration. You
can always go back for that doctorate degree in science after
you've secured your future.
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