The year 2010 began with a high level of fundraising from venture capital funds of companies in the life sciences field, notes Ilana Achimair, CEO of Jobinfo
A special survey conducted by the Jobinfo company ahead of ILSI-Biomed Israel Week 2011, which will open in Tel Aviv on May 23, 2011, reports that in the first quarter of 2011 there was a 45% increase in demand for workers in the field of life sciences, which was manifested mainly in the pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Jobinfo specializes in placement in the field of high-tech, finance and biomed.
According to Ilana Achimair, CEO of Jobinfo, in the first quarter of this year there was a noticeable increase - of over 60% - in the demand for quality assurance personnel at all job levels (responsible for meeting international quality standards and streamlining processes), including senior positions in the life sciences. Between the first quarter of 2011 and the corresponding quarter in 2010, there was even a 20% increase in the demand for mechanical engineers who deal mainly with the development stages and leading the development from the concept stage to the final product of medical devices. In the pharmaceutical sector, there was a 20% increase in demand for biologists engaged in research and development.
The year 2010 began with a high level of fundraising from venture capital funds of companies in the field of life sciences, notes Achimair. "In summary of 2010, the life sciences sector (biotech and medical equipment together) accounted for 28% of all investments in dollar terms. Although this is less than the total investments in 2009 (33% of all investments), it is certainly an impressive figure. It should always be taken into account that the field of life sciences requires long-term developments and processes, which depend on complex clinical trials and approvals from global health associations in order to reach the product marketing stage, which still does not guarantee the company's success."
There are no changes in salary levels
"The salary trends in the field of life sciences are very stable, we have not seen any movement or changes in the last two years," says Achimair. "We have not seen massive personnel recruitments over the years, but, at the same time, during the year of the crisis we did not witness mass layoffs. This stability also affects wage levels in the industry. A quality assurance manager earns 10-13 thousand shekels in a first position and between 25-30 thousand shekels when he brings with him more than 5 years of experience. A beginning biologist earns between 6-12 thousand shekels and can reach 25-35 thousand shekels when he has more than 5 years of experience.
It must be remembered that this is an audience that enters the labor market with advanced degrees at Phd level, with work experience in laboratories, and usually without work experience in industry," says Achimair. "Mechanical engineers can start working as undergraduate students, and gain experience in various companies, both medical device companies. As a bachelor's degree graduate the salary levels are 10-13 thousand shekels and as a team leader they can reach 21-24 thousand shekels", concludes Achimair.
The "ILSI - Biomed Israel 2011" week will be held between May 23 and 25 at the David Intercontinental and Dan Panorama hotels in Tel Aviv.
2 תגובות
Strongly Agree
The wording is manipulative and provocative. When it is written that a biologist can reach a salary of 25-35,000 NIS after 5 years of experience, the impression is created that an average biologist earns around 25,000 NIS after 5 years of work after a PHD, and if he is good, he will reach 35,000 NIS.
From acquaintances with quite a few friends who work in the industry, there are very few biologists who reach 25,000 NIS a month, not to mention 30,000 NIS. The vast majority barely scratch half of that, even many years after completing their Ph.D.
True, there are some biologists who earn a salary at the mentioned height, but they are definitely a negligible minority. Usually these are engineers who work in companies that develop medical devices who receive the high salaries.
Such writing only causes great frustration among the absolute majority of biologists (the poor ones) who earn salaries of 12-18,000 NIS even many years after the doctorate.