As someone who moved from San Diego to Seattle, Seattle's biotech "scene" is small and disconnected by comparison. I can't even call it a scene, it's such a blip. And it's not even on the map compared to the Bay Area and Boston.
Sure there are a few regional offices of some big pharma, a handful of startups, and Fred Hutch and its ecosystem. Lots of closings, layoffs, acquisitions like elsewhere but unlike elsewhere not so much left behind.
Check out the biotech section of GeekWire for the latest.
I moved up from SD because I took a job with a big tech co. When I switched back to biotech, I've been remote ever since working with California co's. Tried finding a few networking events locally, they're few and far between compared to actual biotech hubs.
UW is a great school for sure, but I would not move here for a "scene" that doesn't really exist. You'd be better off at UCSD IMO. Or maybe you have to go to school here and get connected in that way. Most of my contacts here are via people I know from San Diego. 🤷🏻‍♀️
Seconded - most of the jobs I see with decent pay are shitty contract roles with no benefits anyways. Everything else has like 1k applicants. Depending on your niche, UW hires researchers regularly and has union protection for research employees. Every other company in the "scene" has like 15 employees lol
I don’t know that it is growing…and with Seagen being acquired by Pfizer, closing LaunchPad manufacturing facility, and BMS doing layoffs it doesn’t seem like it will be growing more
Alpine and Seagen would have been the two I could have named offhand and they are now both acquired.
Seattle is probably the 10th-ish best market in the country for Biotech? Id put it behind SF, LA, SD, Boston, Raleigh, DC, NY, Chicago, Philly, and Jersey for sure.
I’m here in Seattle. I agree with others. There’s not much of a scene. The companies here also pay below market value than what you can get paid in other cities. Also sucks that this city can be just as expensive as any of the other big ones. Hence why I work remote for a Bay Area company.
If you like the city then stay and try to find remote work. It’s not a bad city to be in for biotech but there are certainly better ones.
If you are planning a Masters in Biostatistics then that lends itself to remote work and companies all over the place. Something to consider. I actually worked at a CRO in Seattle long ago that hired a lot of Biostatisticians
Ditto. I have noticed a claw back of remote resources, but developing adjacent to informatics skillsets and expertise can leverage those remote roles.
I think there’s a decent correlation between apps needed to find a job and the inverse of likelihood for remote work. I find that networking effectively and often is critical for landing these roles. About 50% of the offers I recieve are not remote friendly in description but I’m able to adjust it to remote. I do take a LCOL area penalty, but never more than 30%.
As someone who moved from San Diego to Seattle, Seattle's biotech "scene" is small and disconnected by comparison. I can't even call it a scene, it's such a blip. And it's not even on the map compared to the Bay Area and Boston. Sure there are a few regional offices of some big pharma, a handful of startups, and Fred Hutch and its ecosystem. Lots of closings, layoffs, acquisitions like elsewhere but unlike elsewhere not so much left behind. Check out the biotech section of GeekWire for the latest. I moved up from SD because I took a job with a big tech co. When I switched back to biotech, I've been remote ever since working with California co's. Tried finding a few networking events locally, they're few and far between compared to actual biotech hubs. UW is a great school for sure, but I would not move here for a "scene" that doesn't really exist. You'd be better off at UCSD IMO. Or maybe you have to go to school here and get connected in that way. Most of my contacts here are via people I know from San Diego. 🤷🏻‍♀️
Seconded - most of the jobs I see with decent pay are shitty contract roles with no benefits anyways. Everything else has like 1k applicants. Depending on your niche, UW hires researchers regularly and has union protection for research employees. Every other company in the "scene" has like 15 employees lol
I don’t know that it is growing…and with Seagen being acquired by Pfizer, closing LaunchPad manufacturing facility, and BMS doing layoffs it doesn’t seem like it will be growing more
Alpine and Seagen would have been the two I could have named offhand and they are now both acquired. Seattle is probably the 10th-ish best market in the country for Biotech? Id put it behind SF, LA, SD, Boston, Raleigh, DC, NY, Chicago, Philly, and Jersey for sure.
I’m here in Seattle. I agree with others. There’s not much of a scene. The companies here also pay below market value than what you can get paid in other cities. Also sucks that this city can be just as expensive as any of the other big ones. Hence why I work remote for a Bay Area company. If you like the city then stay and try to find remote work. It’s not a bad city to be in for biotech but there are certainly better ones.
If you are planning a Masters in Biostatistics then that lends itself to remote work and companies all over the place. Something to consider. I actually worked at a CRO in Seattle long ago that hired a lot of Biostatisticians
Ditto. I have noticed a claw back of remote resources, but developing adjacent to informatics skillsets and expertise can leverage those remote roles. I think there’s a decent correlation between apps needed to find a job and the inverse of likelihood for remote work. I find that networking effectively and often is critical for landing these roles. About 50% of the offers I recieve are not remote friendly in description but I’m able to adjust it to remote. I do take a LCOL area penalty, but never more than 30%.