Biotech Career Coach

Carina Clingman
  • 4.9 (9)
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The Biotech Career Coach Podcast helps scientists and biotech professionals take control of their careers. Hosted by Carina Clingman, PhD, a veteran recruiter in the biotech industry, the show turns the confusing parts of the job search into clear, practical steps. Carina has recruited for biotech and medical device companies, run outplacement for teams hit by layoffs, and coached scientists across the industry into the roles they wanted. She brings that recruiter's eye to every episode. Some weeks are solo deep dives job search and career strategy. Others are chats with biotech leaders and scientists who share how they built their careers. Either way, you leave with something you can use this week. This is for you if you are a scientist trying to break into industry, a biotech professional navigating a layoff, or someone ready for the next move and tired of guessing what recruiters actually want. Want more than the podcast? Join the Biotech Career Coach Skool community, where Carina works on your resume, cover letter, and job search with you, plus tools built to get you hired. Start here: https://www.skool.com/biotech-career-coach/about

  1. Jul 17

    Your Job Search Is a Marketing Campaign for You

    Your job search is a marketing campaign, and you are the product. In this episode, biotech career coach Carina Clingman shows you how to build a resume and cover letter that get past the software and win the six second scan. This is seminar one of a three part series Carina teaches for her outplacement career transition clients. She takes you inside a recruiter's applicant tracking system, where a single biotech role can draw 400 applicants, and shows how she narrows that pile down to the ten people worth a conversation. You will see why tailoring and keyword mirroring decide whether a human ever reads your resume at all. What you will learn: Why a resume is a marketing document, not a career archive or a CVThe four things every resume needs to survive the six second scanHow recruiters use Boolean and reverse keyword searches to cut applicantsHow to mirror a job description so a recruiter reads you as one of usThe five professional highlights that work like a movie trailer for your experienceWhere to place degrees, publications, and skills for the most impactThe T style cover letter hiring managers love and the three questions it must answer By the end you will treat every resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn message as a marketing message with one job, to make a hiring manager care about you. Watch for parts two and three, on LinkedIn and interviews, in the coming weeks. Want Carina to build your resume and cover letter with you? Join the Biotech Career Coach Skool community and get access to the brand new Biotech Career Coach app. Join here: Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources: Join our Skool Community Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn! Stay connected with us: 🌐 Website 📱 Facebook 📷 Instagram 💼 LinkedIn 00:00 You are the Chief Marketing Officer of your own job search 04:25 Inside a recruiter's inbox with 400 applicants 06:30 How Boolean and reverse keyword searches cut your resume 07:30 Build your resume like a persuasive essay 09:02 The above the fold rule and mirroring the job description 11:30 Five professional highlights that work like a movie trailer 13:26 Where to put degrees, publications, and skills 16:39 The T style cover letter and the three questions it answers 19:00 Opening a cover letter with a personal story 22:19 What is coming in parts two and three

    Your Job Search Is a Marketing Campaign for You

  2. May 22

    From Pipettes to Python: How to Break Into Computational Biology

    Most bench scientists think breaking into computational biology means going back to school. Dean Lee proves otherwise. Dean went from neuroscience PhD student at Harvard to Principal Computational Biologist at Novartis by teaching himself to analyze scRNA-seq data in stolen scraps of time alongside his bench job, and now he helps thousands of scientists make the same move through his online community Dean's List. In this episode, Dean and Carina break down exactly what it takes to build real computational biology credibility without another degree, without quitting your job, and without waiting for someone to hand you permission. You'll learn: Why Coursera certificates don't move hiring managers and what actually doesHow to find public biological data and build your first comp bio project this weekThe reproducibility strategy: why re-analyzing a published Nature paper is an industry skill and your best portfolio move at the same timeHow to pitch yourself as a funded intern through the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center to break into small biotech startupsThe state of entry-level comp bio hiring in 2026 and where the openings actually areHow to frame volunteer work and self-directed projects on your resume so hiring managers take them seriously Whether you've been thinking about this pivot for years or you're just starting to wonder if it's possible, this conversation gives you the roadmap. RNA-Seq and ScRNA-Seq CoursesHow to become a computational biologist in a year The Big Challenge... With Dean LeeDean's ListLink In with Dean! Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources: Join our Skool Community Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn! Stay connected with us: 🌐 Website 📱 Facebook 📷 Instagram 💼 LinkedIn 00:00 Dean Lee's path from Harvard neuroscience to computational biologist at Novartis 04:00 The volunteer scRNA-seq project that launched Dean's career pivot 07:30 Why hiring managers ignore certificates and look only for project work 12:00 How reproducing published research builds irrefutable portfolio proof 21:30 The MLSC funded intern hack for breaking into biotech startups 26:30 The 2026 comp bio job market and where entry-level roles actually exist 30:00 How to transition into computational biology within your current company 33:00 Operational AI vs scientific AI and what it means for your comp bio career

    From Pipettes to Python: How to Break Into Computational Biology

  3. Apr 17

    AI Agents vs Skills vs Automations: What Every Bench Scientist Needs to Know

    AI agents, skills, and automations. You keep hearing these terms, but nobody has clearly explained what they mean for someone actually working in biotech. In this episode, Carina sits down with Stu Angus, founder of Scriptome.AI and an AI consultant who works with small biotech companies every day, to break down exactly what each of these tools is, when to use one over another, and why getting this wrong leads to a lot of wasted time. Stu has 15 years of experience in biotech R&D and business development. He now helps small biotechs bridge the AI adoption gap that has opened up between them and big pharma, and he built Pavlov GPS, a free searchable database of 500+ AI tools for biotech R&D. If you have felt pressure to add AI to your workflow but had no idea where to start, this episode is the clearest, most practical answer you will find. What you will learn in this episode: The real difference between an AI skill, an agent, and an automation, and when to use eachWhy small biotechs are getting left behind on AI adoption and what that means for your careerHow to tell if your workflow is a good candidate for an agent or if a simple skill would do the jobThe “AI Slop cannon” problem and how to avoid automating your way into a messHow a team of five agents can wake you up every morning with tailored job applications already draftedWhy Whisper Flow is the most underrated AI tool for bench scientists right nowHow Stu built Pavlov GPS starting from a spreadsheet, and how you can do the same with your own data Stu also weighs in on Copilot vs Claude, shares a spicy take on the most overhyped AI tool in biotech today, and tells us what he thinks every biotech professional will need to know how to do within five years. stu@scriptdo.ai Meet your AI team | NotionWispr Flow2026 Biotech AI Report | BenchlingThe Fast and the Curious — AI Upskilling for Biotech ScientistsPavlov-GPS | AI Tools Navigator for Biotech R&DScriptome.AI Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources: Join our Skool Community Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn! Stay connected with us: 🌐 Website 📱 Facebook 📷 Instagram 💼 LinkedIn 00:00 What the AI adoption gap in biotech actually means for your career 03:00 How small biotech companies are navigating board-level AI pressure with no roadmap 06:00 Big pharma vs small biotech and why the AI strategy divide is widening 07:30 Copilot vs Claude and how to advocate for the AI tools you need at work 12:00 How to develop a builder mindset and spot workflows worth automating 13:30 How a five-agent job search system handles company research and resume tailoring automatically 15:00 Agents vs skills vs automations defined for bench scientists with real examples 21:30 The slop cannon trap and how to avoid automating your way into low-quality output 27:00 What the Benchling 2026 AI report reveals about where AI is actually working in biotech R&D 29:30 How to build an AI tool from a spreadsheet using Pavlov GPS as a model

    AI Agents vs Skills vs Automations: What Every Bench Scientist Needs to Know

  4. Apr 3

    Win Over Every Interviewer (Even the Skeptics)

    Are you walking into biotech panel interviews and talking to every person the same way? That approach can cost you the offer, even if your science is solid. In this episode, Carina Clingman and returning guest Stacey Tannenbaum, PhD break down how to build rapport with each type of interviewer you'll meet on a panel day, from the VP who hasn't read your CV to the peer scientist who feels threatened by what you bring to the table. In this episode, you'll learn how to: Talk to senior leaders about strategic impact instead of getting stuck in technical detailsShow hiring managers you want this specific role, not just any job, and why that distinction is the number one thing they evaluateRecognize the three reasons peer interviewers become skeptics: fear of change, territorial expertise, and feeling intimidated by what they don't understandUse empathy, curiosity, and "I need your help" to turn resistant colleagues into alliesFrame your science in terms that matter to cross-functional interviewers from other departmentsAsk better questions at every stage to make interviews feel like a two-way conversationLeverage your hiring manager as an ally to get intel on difficult personalities before you walk in the roomUse presentation techniques like reading facial expressions, spotting "thought bubbles," and asking for feedback to build real connection during job talks Stacey has spent 20+ years leading teams in pharmacometrics at companies including Astellas, Metrum Research Group, and Novartis. She's sat on both sides of the interview table and now coaches scientists and technical professionals on communication and leadership through her consultancy, SJTPharm LLC. Whether you're preparing for your first biotech panel interview or your tenth, this episode gives you a practical playbook for winning over every person in the room. Connect with Stacey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacey-tannenbaum-phd-fisop/ Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources: Join our Skool Community Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn! Stay connected with us: 🌐 Website 📱 Facebook 📷 Instagram 💼 LinkedIn 00:00 How to build rapport with different interviewer types in biotech 01:30 Why panel interviews require you to context switch between personalities 02:30 Talking to senior leaders without getting stuck in the technical weeds 05:00 Showing strategic impact when you're two or three levels below the VP 06:00 Using the job description as your North Star for every interview conversation 08:00 How to stand out when every early career CV looks the same 09:00 Building rapport with the hiring manager from the first screening call 11:00 Why telling your career story beats reading your CV out loud 13:30 The number one reason hiring managers reject candidates after screening calls 16:30 Why interviews are like dates and how to interview the company back 19:30 Why peer scientists are actually the scariest people on the interview panel 21:00 Three reasons peer interviewers become skeptics in your interview 24:00 Using empathy and "I need your help" to break down resistance 28:00 The "I thought that too" technique for handling pushback without getting defensive 31:00 Leveraging your hiring manager as an ally and getting intel before interview day 33:00 Planting questions and finding allies during your job talk 35:30 Reading the room and calling out thought bubbles in small group presentations 37:00 How to ask for feedback after a presentation the right way (Adam Grant method) 39:00 Building rapport with cross-functional and culture carrier interviewers 43:30 Translating your science into language that matters to other disciplines

    Win Over Every Interviewer (Even the Skeptics)

  5. Mar 13

    How Bench Scientists Are Getting Ahead With AI

    You keep hearing about AI, but nobody is telling you how it actually fits into a biotech career or a job search. That changes today. In this episode, Carina sits down with Heather Karner, a bench scientist with a background in RNA biology who works alongside machine learning researchers in the Bay Area. Heather is actively job searching and has quietly become the go-to AI resource for her lab and her network, not because she is a tech expert, but because she started experimenting and never stopped. Together they share the exact AI use cases they are running right now: a personalized daily brief that flagged Gilead and Eli Lilly RNA acquisitions before they hit LinkedIn, a literature review workflow built for scientists, how to use AI as a tireless teacher for coding and lab protocols, AI note taking that surfaced 10 action items from a 10-minute meeting, and how to turn a rambling brain dump into a clear, professional message. 🤖 Use Cases Covered in This Episode Heather's Use Cases: Personalized Daily Brief: Build a morning brief agent in Notion (using Claude Sonnet) that scans for job search signals: funding announcements, acquisitions, clinical trial updates, and new papers in your area of interest. Heather's brief flagged Gilead and Eli Lilly RNA-related acquisitions and a new AlphaFold Nature paper before it hit LinkedIn.Literature Review & Knowledge Management: Tools like Cheiron can do literature reviews, rank journals, and summarize papers in a clean interface built for biotech. Pair with Notion or NotebookLM for ongoing knowledge management.AI as a Tireless Teacher: Use your LLM to learn new things (coding, GitHub, lab protocols) without frustrating a real colleague. Ask it to do a session handoff when the context window gets long. Just ask your LLM to write a handoff prompt, paste it into a new chat, and keep going.AI Note Taking: Heather uses Notion's built-in AI note taker. After a 10-minute meeting, it surfaced 10 action items she had forgotten. Game changer for staying present and accountable.Brainstorming & Communication Clarity: Have your LLM critique your writing, don't just ask if it's good. Prompt it to assess from a specific perspective (e.g., "You are an editor at Cell..."). Great for cross-functional communication and helping scientists write for non-science audiences. Carina's Use Cases: Business Development / Job Search Brief: Similar to Heather's daily brief, but built on OpenClaw (advanced setup) to track funding announcements and generate LinkedIn networking target lists. Easily adaptable for job seekers tracking companies and building connections before roles are posted.PDF & Document Knowledge Base: Store all your protocols, papers, and references in Notion or NotebookLM (free with a Google account). Query across everything, generate slide decks, outlines, and even a podcast-style audio conversation about your documents.Use AI to Learn AI: Grab a YouTube transcript (free Chrome extensions can do this), paste it into your LLM, and ask it to teach you anything mentioned in the episode. Start with what you don't know. It'll find resources, explain concepts, and meet you at your level.Diplomatic Reply Drafting: Voice dump your real (snarky) frustration using Wispr Flow, then ask your LLM to translate it into a professional, diplomatic reply. Therapeutic and practical.Clarifying Your Own Story: If you're flustered, anxious, or telling a tangled story (career situation, job search frustration), brain dump via Wispr Flow and ask your LLM to help you find the clear, linear through-line before bringing it to coaching or a conversation. Grammarly: Free AI Writing Assistance - Free (and paid) writing assistant. Non-negotiable for job seekers. Every communication is part of your interview.Fathom AI Notetaker - Never Take Notes Again - Robust free AI note taker for Zoom, Meet, and Teams meetings.NotebookLM - Free Google tool for uploading PDFs, websites, and documents; query across them, generate podcasts, outlines, and slide decks.cheiron - AI-powered literature review and science knowledge platform built for biotech.Meet your AI team | Notion - All-in-one workspace with built-in AI, agents, and note taking. Try a free Business trial (includes Notion AI). ~$24/month after trial.Wispr Flow - Dictation tool that works in any text box, anywhere on your computer. Formats, corrects, and organizes as you speak. Life-changing. Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources: Join our Skool Community Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn! Stay connected with us: 🌐 Website 📱 Facebook 📷 Instagram 💼 LinkedIn 00:00 Why scientists resist AI and what happens when they finally try it 02:30 How Heather became the go-to AI resource for her lab and her network 05:00 Notion as your AI home base: one subscription, every major LLM 07:00 Building a daily brief that tracks job search signals before they hit LinkedIn 11:00 How funding announcements predict hiring and who to network with next 15:00 Literature review and knowledge management tools built for scientists 21:30 Using AI as a tireless teacher and the session handoff trick 27:00 AI note taking: how a 10-minute meeting surfaced 10 forgotten action items 33:30 Staying present in interviews and using transcripts to become a better communicator 38:00 Turning a frustrated voice dump into a diplomatic, professional reply

    How Bench Scientists Are Getting Ahead With AI

  6. Feb 26

    How Versatility Made Her the Scientist Every Team Wants | with Heer Shah, Gene Therapy Scientist

    Are you holding yourself back from biotech roles because you don't check every box on the job description? You're not alone, and it's costing you opportunities. In this career chat, Carina sits down with Heer Shah, a Scientist in cell and gene therapy at Ensoma, a Boston-based biotech developing precision gene therapies using synthetic viral vectors and gene editing technologies. Heer has over seven years of biotech experience spanning vaccines, AAV, lentiviral vectors, VLPs, and LNPs, with roles at Merck, Intellia Therapeutics, Ring Therapeutics, and Sana Biotechnology. Heer holds a Master's in Biotechnology from Northeastern University, where the co-op program launched a career built on hands-on industry experience from day one. Today, Heer does vector engineering and gene editing optimization for programs targeting sickle cell disease and immuno-oncology. Heer shares how foundational lab skills and a big-picture mindset opened doors at every stage, and what it really takes to build a long-term biotech career across multiple modalities. Key takeaways from this episode: Why job descriptions are wish lists, not checklists, and why hiring managers value learning ability over a perfect resume matchHow to position diverse experience across biotech modalities as a competitive advantageThe difference between specialists and integrators, and why companies need bothWhat it's like surviving multiple rounds of biotech layoffs and how to build career resilienceHow the Northeastern co-op program helped Heer explore different company sizes and career paths before committingWhy behavioral interview questions often matter more than technical onesHow international scientists can navigate visa pathways, including the National Interest WaiverThe career advice Heer wishes someone gave earlier: tell your story sooner Whether you're early in your biotech journey or navigating a career transition, this conversation is packed with practical advice on building transferable skills, staying adaptable, and landing roles you're excited about. Want scripts, practice drills, and feedback from peers in biotech? Join our Biotech Career Coach Skool community: https://www.skool.com/biotech-career-coach/about Connect with Heer on LinkedIn Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources: Join our Skool Community Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn! Stay connected with us: 🌐 Website 📱 Facebook 📷 Instagram 💼 LinkedIn 00:00 Meet Heer Shah, Scientist in cell and gene therapy at Ensoma 01:30 Why the Northeastern co-op program is a biotech career accelerator 03:00 How co-ops at Merck and small biotechs shaped early career decisions 04:30 Building transferable skills across vaccines, AAV, lentiviral, VLP, and LNP 06:30 Specialist versus integrator, two paths in biotech and why both matter 08:00 Why job descriptions are wish lists and you should stop self eliminating 09:00 What recruiters and hiring managers actually look for beyond the resume 12:00 A day in the life of a cell and gene therapy scientist 14:00 Staying motivated through long drug development timelines 15:30 How international scientists can plan careers around visa considerations 18:00 The National Interest Waiver, a green card path most people don't know about 21:30 Lightning round, best career decision, biggest regret, and advice for grad students

    How Versatility Made Her the Scientist Every Team Wants | with Heer Shah, Gene Therapy Scientist

  7. Jan 16

    Presentation Skills Can Make or Break Your Career

    Your technical skills might be perfect, but if you can't present them clearly, you won't get the job. Most scientists treat presentations like data dumps, and it costs them opportunities. In this episode, I sit down with Stacey Tannenbaum, PhD, a presentation skills consultant with over 25 years as an industry pharmacometrician and leader. Stacey has coached scientists across biotech to move beyond overly technical talks and become visible, credible communicators who actually advance their careers. What you'll learn: -Why job talks are completely different from conference presentations (and what hiring managers are really evaluating) -The biggest mistakes scientists make in presentations (dense slides, burying the lead, reading scripts, being monotone) -How to handle interruptions and questions you don't know the answer to without losing credibility -Practical techniques to add energy and clarity to technical presentations without dumbing down the science -Why your slides need to stand alone after you present them (and how to make that happen) -The one thing you must memorize before any high-stakes presentation -How to know when you're giving the audience too much technical detail versus the strategic insights they actually need Whether you're preparing for a job talk, presenting to leadership, or speaking at a conference, this episode will help you communicate your science in a way that opens doors instead of closing them. Join our Biotech Career Coach Skool community for scripts, practice drills, and feedback from peers navigating the same challenges Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources: Join our Skool Community Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn! Stay connected with us: 🌐 Website 📱 Facebook 📷 Instagram 💼 LinkedIn Watch another great interview with Stacey!MORE tips on communicating and presenting virtuallyStacey's tips on communicating via Zoom/VideoListen to another great podcast interview with Stacey!Connect With StaceyStacey's Website 01:00 What pharmacometrics is and why it's a career path worth knowing about 05:00 How networking and volunteering at conferences can profoundly change your career trajectory 08:30 Why asking for help as a new leader actually builds credibility instead of undermining it 12:30 The pivot from corporate pharmacometrics to consulting on presentation skills 17:00 Job talks are about you, not the science (what hiring managers are really evaluating) 20:30 How to handle interruptions and questions you don't know during a job talk 27:00 Common presentation mistakes that cost scientists job offers 33:00 Dense slides kill presentations (build content gradually or break it up) 38:30 Why your slides need a life outside of you (annotate with take-home messages) 43:00 Practice until you're bored, then memorize the first 30 seconds

    Presentation Skills Can Make or Break Your Career

  8. Jan 2

    Quick Momentum For Your 2026 Biotech Career Goals

    January brings fresh biotech hiring budgets, energized hiring managers, and real momentum after a tough 2025. If you've been waiting for the right time to level up your biotech career, this is it. In this episode, you'll discover: Why January is the best month to apply for biotech jobs after a slow DecemberHow the December Networking Challenge helped members grow their LinkedIn reach and profile visibilityThe Application Challenge launches January 6th with five days of live teaching to build daily job search habitsAn annual career planning session on January 12th to map your 2026 goalsA presentation skills workshop that can accelerate both job offers and promotionsA 10-week AI course to help you work smarter and meet employer expectations in 2026The Fire Horse approach to bringing bold, unstoppable energy to your career goals Whether you're job searching, seeking a promotion, or building new professional skills, this episode gives you the roadmap and momentum to make 2026 your breakthrough year. Join our Biotech Career Coach Skool community and start the year with structure, support, and a community that gets it. Learn more about the Collaboratory Career Hub community and access our free resources: Join our Skool Community Take the Free 7-day Interview Sprint Challenge Check out our sister podcast: Building Biotechs Send Carina a connection request on LinkedIn! Stay connected with us: 🌐 Website 📱 Facebook 📷 Instagram 💼 LinkedIn 00:00 Biotech hiring outlook for January 2026 and market momentum 00:30 Office updates and the community move to Skool platform 01:00 Seven Day Interview Accelerator and weekly Q&A with office hours 02:00 December networking challenge results and evergreen access 03:00 December interview challenges versus networking opportunities 04:00 January Application Challenge launch with five days of teaching 05:00 Annual planning session and presentation skills workshop details 06:00 Ten week AI course for automation and employer expectations 07:00 Fire Horse energy and setting bold intentions for career progress

    Quick Momentum For Your 2026 Biotech Career Goals
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4.9
out of 5
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About

The Biotech Career Coach Podcast helps scientists and biotech professionals take control of their careers. Hosted by Carina Clingman, PhD, a veteran recruiter in the biotech industry, the show turns the confusing parts of the job search into clear, practical steps. Carina has recruited for biotech and medical device companies, run outplacement for teams hit by layoffs, and coached scientists across the industry into the roles they wanted. She brings that recruiter's eye to every episode. Some weeks are solo deep dives job search and career strategy. Others are chats with biotech leaders and scientists who share how they built their careers. Either way, you leave with something you can use this week. This is for you if you are a scientist trying to break into industry, a biotech professional navigating a layoff, or someone ready for the next move and tired of guessing what recruiters actually want. Want more than the podcast? Join the Biotech Career Coach Skool community, where Carina works on your resume, cover letter, and job search with you, plus tools built to get you hired. Start here: https://www.skool.com/biotech-career-coach/about

Information

  • Creator
    Carina Clingman
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    63
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023 Collaboratory Career Hub
  • Show Website
    Biotech Career Coach

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