phd biotechnology salary in uk

• PhD Salary in UK – Explained
• Funding a PhD

What Are PhD Salaries?

The average cost of undertaking a PhD in the UK is approximately £20,000 per academic year for UK students and £40,000 for international students. To help offset the cost of this, many students question whether undertaking a doctorate comes with a PhD salary.

The salary of a PhD student is governed by three factors: whether they’re assisting in undergraduate teaching, assisting in research, or have secured a PhD with a stipend. Depending on which of the three categories a student falls within, they will receive an income during their studies, however, the amount will differ by a substantial amount.

To help show you how you can fund your postgraduate degree and how much you can expect to earn whilst doing so, carry on reading below.

Types of PhD Salaries

There are three types of PhD degree salaries:

• Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs) . In exchange for a salary, you’ll be required to assist in the delivery of one or more courses over a number of years. This includes, but is not limited to, marking student tutorials, supervising lab experiments and providing support to undergraduates during office hours. Besides this, you may have to teach a small section of the course itself. You can discover more about GTAs on King’s College London’s website.
• Research Assistantships (RAs) . In exchange for a salary, you assist a departmental professor with their research. In the ideal scenario, the professor you work with should also be your PhD supervisor and the research you’re asked to support with relates to your own doctoral project.
• Stipend via Studentship: A stipend is a non-repayable grant provided to doctoral students to help support their studies. A studentship covers a student’s tuition fees whilst a stipend covers a PhD student’s living costs. This includes outgoings such as rent, food, bills and basic travel. Unlike Graduate Teaching or Research Assistantships, stipends rarely have duties attached to them. The only expectation of receiving a stipend will be that you maintain continuous progress within your degree.

It’s worth noting these earning opportunities can be also be combined. For example, it’s possible to be a research assistant whilst also committing time to teach undergraduate students.

Average PhD Salary in UK

The average PhD student salary for teaching assistantships will vary depending on the level of responsibility you’re taking. However, to provide figures, past doctoral students have reported receiving approx. £10/hr for marking tutorials, £15/hr for leading laboratory sessions and up to £20/hr for leading undergraduate classes and tutorials.

The actual amount you can earn from teaching assistance will depend on the rate your department offers and the hours you can realistically take on. If you’re on a Graduate Teaching Assistantship programme, they will require you to dedicate a set number of hours per week. If you’re not on a GTA but would still like to earn an income through this scheme, you will likely need to commit several hours per week consistently. Although this can be a great way to earn whilst you study, you need to make sure you manage your time effectively as to not become overwhelmed by taking on an additional commitment.

The average salary for research assistantships will vary depending on the field of the doctoral degree you are enrolled in. Usually, these positions pay between £25,000 to £30,000 per year, however, it’s possible to come across positions which sit slightly outside of this. As a general rule of thumb, STEM assistors are paid more than non-STEM assistors.

In the UK, PhD students can receive a stipend which varies between £15,000 and £18,000 per annum. As part of the studentship your stipend is provided under, your tuition fees will also be paid for. UK tuition fees will vary between universities but are approximately £4,500 per year for doctoral courses starting in 2021/22 as per the UKRI recommendations .

Although £15,000 to £18,000 per year is the typical range for a stipend, some can be far greater than this. For example, Wellcome Trust , a research-charity based in London, offers an annual stipend of up to £23,300 and £26,000 for doctoral students located outside and within London, respectively.

Are PhD Salaries Taxed?

PhD stipends are tax free. Therefore, you don’t need to pay any income tax nor do you need to make any national insurance contributions. This means you’ll keep all the money you receive from an annual stipend. However, this is not the case for Research Assistants.

In the UK, Research Assistants are employed as university staff members and are paid a direct salary as opposed to a stipend. As a result, it will require you to pay tax on your earnings and make national insurance contributions.

To put this into perspective, for the 2019/20 UK tax year, you’re required to pay a 20% tax on any income above £12,500 but less than £50,000. You’re also required to make national insurance contributions of 12% of your weekly earnings over £166 but less than £962. This means that an annual Research Assistantship salary of £30,000 will equate to a take-home salary of £23,938 per year.

How to Get a PhD Stipend

To find research positions which offer stipends, we recommend you search our PhD database and filter by ‘funded’ positions.

Besides this, you can also secure a studentship from UK Research Councils or directly from your university as a scholarship. Independent organisations, such as charities and research trusts, and innovative firms within your industry also offer funding. You can read our PhD studentship guide to see how these work or our Where to find a PhD guide for further ideas.

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

How to Get a Research Assistantship PhD

Unfortunately, research assistantships opportunities aren’t as common to come across compared to PhD stipends. Besides this, when they are available, they’re predominantly in STEM subjects such as computer science and engineering. The reason for this is these subjects usually have access to greater research grants and have a greater volume of practical work available.

To find a research assistantship, we recommend that you contact the university departments who host the courses you’re interested in directly. This is because research assistantships help professors with their research, and while they may require help, they may not be openly advertising for it. They may, therefore, be able to create a role for you within their department or put you into contact with one of their colleagues who already has an open position.

International Students

It’s worth noting that international students will have a harder time securing a funded PhD position than UK ‘home’ students will. This is largely because there are usually fewer funding opportunities available to international students, which as a result also attract significant competition.

Besides this, if you’re an international student studying in the UK you will most likely than not be on a Tier 4 visa. Although a Tier 4 visa will allow you to work to earn an additional income alongside any studentship you may have, there will be certain restrictions on what you can and can’t do. For example, during term-time, you won’t be allowed to work more than 20 hours per week. For a full list of restrictions, please refer to the government website.

Browse PhDs Now

Join thousands of students.

Join thousands of other students and stay up to date with the latest PhD programmes, funding opportunities and advice.

Scientist I - Biotech Salary in the United Kingdom

• United States

• United Kingdom

How much does a Scientist I - Biotech make in the United Kingdom? The average Scientist I - Biotech salary in the United Kingdom is £45,449 as of March 12, 2021, but the range typically falls between £36,529 and £54,635 . Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession. With more global market data that allows you to price your jobs around the world and compare job salaries across countries and cities on real-time compensation data, Salary.com helps you to determine your exact pay target.

Employers: Find Surveys For This Job

Employers: Price Your Company Jobs

Employees: Submit Your Salary Data

Salary.com provides trusted global salary data in over 100 countries to organizations like yours to attract and retain top talent. Our data covers more than 25,000 unique job titles over 8,000 organizations.

See it in Action

• Brighton and Hove

What does a Scientist I - Biotech do?

Are you an hr manager or compensation specialist.

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

• Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
• Job and employee pricing reports
• Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

About United Kingdom

Scientist i - biotech pay difference by cities, similar jobs to scientist i - biotech in the united kingdom, scientist i - biotech salary by global country, browse related job categories with scientist i - biotech, understand the base salary paid range for a scientist i - biotech in the united kingdom, average base salary.

Core compensation

Scientist I - Biotech Frequently Asked Questions in the United Kingdom

• Log in
• Site search

Biotechnologist

Biotechnologists use their knowledge of biological science and technology to create and develop innovative products designed to improve the quality of human life

As a biotechnologist you'll study the chemical, genetic and physical attributes of cells, tissues and organisms in order to develop new technologies, processes and products that will address some of the biggest problems facing society.

The role involves manipulating living organisms or their components to design or enhance vaccines, medicines, energy efficiency or food productivity and safety.

You will usually specialise in one area of biotechnology, such as:

• biochemistry - microbiology, forensics, plant science and medicine
• cancer studies - detection and treatment
• genetics - detecting heredity, genetic variation and DNA repair
• molecular biology - DNA, RNA and protein synthesis function
• microbial sciences - antibiotic-resistant bacteria and improving fermentation
• pharmacology - drug action on biological systems
• stem cell research - modification and regenerative medicine
• virology - viruses and viral diseases.

You can find work at biotechnology and other commercial companies, research or higher education institutions, government laboratories and hospitals.

Job titles vary and won't always be advertised as biotechnologist. Other job titles include research assistant, genomic technologist, flow technologist and bioprocessing engineer. If the position involves using live organisms and biomolecular processes within a biotechnological discipline, it's likely to be a biotechnologist role.

Types of biotechnologist

Biotechnologists can be found in a range of industries including pharmaceuticals, healthcare, biofuels, agriculture, conservation, animal husbandry and food production.

Examples of activities you might undertake include:

• environmental - detecting and controlling pollution and contamination in the environment, industrial waste, and agricultural chemicals, creating renewable energy and designing biodegradable materials to reduce humanity's ecological footprint
• medical and health - using live organisms or biomolecular processes to develop and improve treatments and drugs, identify inherited diseases, cure certain disorders, and even lead to organ regeneration
• industrial - using cloning and enzyme production to preserve and enhance the taste in food and drink, and developing enzymes to remove stains from clothing at lower washing temperatures
• agricultural biotechnology - improving animal feed and genetically modifying crops to increase resistance to pests and improve productivity
• biofuels - using organic compounds to reduce the cost of bio-refining reagents and put biofuels on an equal footing with fossil fuels, and creating chemicals from renewable biomass to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• marine and aquatic biotechnology - increasing the yields of farmed fish and designing disease-resistant strains of oysters and vaccines against certain viruses that can infect fish.

Responsibilities

Your day-to-day activities will depend on your area of specialism, the sector you work in and the type of employer you work for.

However, you'll typically need to:

• create, conduct and monitor experiments using live organisms or biomolecular processes in a laboratory setting to solve problems, improve processes and develop new products
• use scientific knowledge to follow different methodologies to achieve results
• perform data analysis on your experiments and interpret findings to support scientific investigations
• record and disseminate results accurately in reports and via presentations
• set up, maintain and operate standard laboratory equipment and computers
• work independently and collaboratively with other scientists
• work to health, safety and environmental regulations and meet quality standards
• keep up to date with new advances in biotechnology to develop new techniques, products or practices.
• The starting salary for graduates generally falls between £19,000 and £24,000.
• The salary for experienced (over five years' experience) biotechnologists can be between £25,000 and £50,000.
• Salaries in highly experienced roles (ten or more years) with additional responsibilities can rise to £60,000.

Your salary will vary depending on your area of focus and the industry you're working in. Salaries tend to be higher in large companies within the private commercial sector, particularly at senior level.

Income figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

A standard working week is usually between 35 and 40 hours. You may need to work shifts, nights and weekends if conducting experiments that need continuous monitoring.

What to expect

• Work is often carried out in modern laboratories at hospitals, industrial lab units, factories or universities. You'll typically be working in sterile conditions and will need to wear protective clothing, such as a lab coat and safety glasses.
• You'll usually conduct experiments individually but will sometimes work collaboratively to achieve a common goal. Sharing information with your supervisor and colleagues is typical, and you may also need to attend conference calls or international conferences and produce research papers.
• Expect to use a range of standard and highly-specialised laboratory equipment and computerised machines to produce results, at times to a short deadline.
• Biotechnologist opportunities are available across the UK, but particularly in the biotech golden triangle of London, Oxford, and Cambridge, as well as in Scotland. There are, however, new biotech hubs emerging elsewhere in the UK in places such as Bristol. Opportunities are also available overseas, particularly in the USA.
• You may need to travel to enhance your knowledge and understanding of a specific technique or procedure.

Qualifications

You'll typically need an organic science degree, usually a 2:1 or above, to get into biotechnology. The following subjects are particularly useful:

• biochemistry
• biological sciences
• biology (crop and plant science, environmental)
• biomedical engineering
• biomedical science
• biotechnology
• chemistry or chemical engineering
• microbiology
• molecular biology
• pharmacology.

It may also be possible to enter the career with a level 6 laboratory scientist degree apprenticeship. Search find an apprenticeship .

Some employers will also ask for a postgraduate qualification such as a Masters or PhD. A PhD is particularly important if you want to follow a career in research. Another option is to take an integrated Masters degree (usually four years or five in Scotland), followed by a PhD.

Search postgraduate courses in biotechnology .

Employers may expect you to have some knowledge of the specific area of biotechnology you want to go into, like the food and drink industry. You'll usually receive specific training on the job, but will need to have laboratory skills and some experience of working in a lab.

Some large pharmaceutical and medical companies offer structured graduate training programmes, and some employers may support you to complete a postgraduate qualification. Competition is strong for a place on a training scheme.

You'll need to have:

• an aptitude for bioscience
• an enquiring mind and the ability to work with abstract concepts
• organisational and planning skills with the ability to plan ahead while delivering to deadline
• problem-solving skills
• good hand-eye coordination and the ability to use technical equipment with accuracy
• excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• the ability to analyse and interpret statistical and technical data
• patience, and the ability to work methodically and meticulously when following scientific techniques and company procedures
• the ability to work well as both part of a team and independently
• good computer skills to record data and write scientific reports
• a creative and innovative approach to work
• excellent attention to detail.

Work experience

Try to secure work experience in a laboratory or research setting as this will significantly improve your chances of finding full-time employment. Although large companies tend to advertise formal opportunities, you'll need to make targeted speculative applications to small and medium-sized companies or research units to find out about opportunities. You can also get some experience through work shadowing or insight days and internships.

An industrial placement year can be particularly useful and will help you develop your lab skills as well as a network of contacts.

While any lab experience will be a great help to your career prospects, try to gain experience relevant to your field of interest to enhance your application.

Experience that develops your commercial awareness is also looked on favourably as many employers are keen to employ biotechnologists with an understanding of business.

Find out more about the different kinds of  work experience and internships  that are available.

Large private biotech companies tend to advertise positions with a focus on medical, pharmaceutical and biochemical disciplines, while small and medium-sized enterprises often advertise positions using a different job title.

Jobs are available with:

• biotechnology and genetic engineering firms
• food and drink manufacturers
• environmental and conservation (sewage and waste treatment, fuel, pollutant degradation) companies
• government and charity research institutes
• horticulture and agriculture organisations (food and drink science)
• NHS and private hospitals
• pharmaceutical and chemical companies
• private clinical research companies (genetics, disease detection, therapy, etc.)
• universities and research institutions.

Look for job vacancies at:

• Chemistry World Jobs
• Foodman jobs
• New Scientist Jobs
• UK Bioindustry Association

Specialist recruitment agencies such as CK Group and SRG also advertise vacancies.

Professional development

You'll usually have a general induction, which includes health and safety training and, in some cases, control of substances hazardous to health (COSHH) regulations training. You're also likely to receive specific on-the-job training to develop essential biotechnological techniques.

You may join a structured graduate training programme, which can take one to three years to complete. Some employers might financially support part-time study for postgraduate qualifications.

You'll be encouraged to undertake continuing professional development (CPD) such as attending conferences and workshops to enhance your technical skills and understanding.

Membership of a professional organisation relevant to your area of specialism is also useful. Membership provides access to training, funding and research opportunities in various areas of biotechnology. Relevant bodies include:

• Biochemical Society
• Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS)
• Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST)
• Institute of Science & Technology (IST)
• Royal Society of Biology (RSB)

You can also work towards chartership of a relevant professional body and professional registration with the Science Council .

Career prospects

It's possible with experience to progress to a senior scientist position and then into a supervisory or management position. Opportunities for career progression vary depending on the type and size of company you work for, your area of specialism, and your qualifications and skills. You may need to move company in order to move up the career ladder.

Taking additional professional or academic qualifications can increase your career prospects. If you're following a career in academia, it's important to get your research published in journals related to your area of expertise. Securing funding for research projects will also help your career prospects.

With experience, there are opportunities to take on freelance or advisory work. You could also choose to move into another area of an organisation, for example in business development, production, information and data technology, or into a regulatory role.

Alternatively, some biotechnologists move into related careers such as patent attorney, scientific writing and journalism, or into quality assurance management, sales and marketing.

How would you rate this page?

On a scale where 1 is dislike and 5 is like

• Dislike 1 unhappy-very
• Like 5 happy-very

Thank you for rating the page

• Top Colleges
• Top Courses
• Entrance Exams
• Admission 2024
• Study Abroad
• Study in Canada
• Study in UK
• Study in USA
• Study in Australia
• Study in Germany
• IELTS Material
• Scholarships
• Sarkari Exam
• Visual Stories
• Write a review
• Login/ Register
• Login / Register

PhD Biotechnology Jobs, Scope, Salary in India

Updated on - Jan 4, 2023

PhD Biotechnology jobs are available in both the public sector and as well as in the private sector. There are a lot of career options after PhD Biotechnology, they can work as a Professor, Assistant Researcher, Biochemist, Microbiologist, Medical Scientist, Biomedical Engineer, Product Strategies, etc. Thus, the PhD Biotechnology scope has increased in demand.

Career Prospects and Job Scope for PhD in Biotechnology

Career prospects for a doctorate degree holder in biotechnology may vary greatly. PhD Biotechnology jobs in India depend on the respective specialization and demand. Job opportunities for PhD Biotechnology are diversified into different sectors. PhD Biotechnology course is a research-based doctoral course that revolves around topics like Biological Chemistry, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Analytical Techniques and Bioinformatics.

The most common PhD Biotechnology jobs that hire scholars are:

• Microbiologist
• Medical Scientist
• Biomedical Engineer
• Product Strategies

Areas of Recruitment for PhD in Biotechnology

PhD Biotechnology course scope offers a degree-based education that can help to set up a career in various areas of biotechnology. The course is mainly a specialization course for those aspiring to study the theory and roots of Biotechnology and also practice it for its true value. Thus, the scope after PhD in Biotechnology is continuously rising.

• Colleges & Universities
• Medical Research Centers
• Agriculture Sector
• Pharmaceutical Industry
• Medical Firms
• Education Departments
• Local Research Centers

Salary Packages for PhD Biotechnology

According to PayScale, a PhD Biotechnology salary in India is around INR 3 - 15 LPA. The salary of the scholars depends upon the level of education, grades and skills acquired.

Some of the common job profiles with average salaries are:

Source: PayScale

PhD Biotechnology Salary Abroad

Graduates of the programme can choose from a variety of jobs that come with competitive pay and benefits from multinational corporations. These offers range from lodging advantages to travel outside of the pay package. Several of the roles and responsibilities, as well as the compensation packages, are listed below:

Career Scope of PhD Biotechnology 

After completing the PhD biotechnology programme, candidates can choose from a range of professions. Students have the option of finding employment or continuing their education after finishing the course. The scope of the PhD Biotechnology programme is rapidly growing and will most likely keep growing in the near future. PhD Biotechnology graduates are qualified to work in a variety of fields in both the public and private sectors.

Career Options after PhD Biotechnology

An advanced degree in biotechnology opens up a wide range of opportunities and career paths. Students have the option of working or continuing their education. It all depends on the student's goals for the future, including whether they want to pursue employment or more education. Students have the capacity to choose based on their interests and knowledge. Some of the most popular post-Ph.D. career options in education include the ones listed below:

• Research Scientist: Research scientists are in charge of planning, carrying out, and analysing data from carefully monitored laboratory investigations, experiments, and trials.
• Research Associate: A research associate gathers, arranges, and synthesises data for decision-makers in the company's sales and trading function at an investment bank, asset management company, or other financial services company.
• Quality Control Analyst: To ensure that the final product of a manufacturing process satisfies predetermined quality or safety standards, quality control (QC) analysts inspect or test it. The conclusion of this quality check guarantees that the finished item is secure for distribution or sale.
• Biotechnologists: In order to create new technologies, procedures, and products that will tackle some of the most pressing societal issues, biotechnologists will research the chemical, genetic, and physical characteristics of cells, tissues, and organisms.

Government Jobs for PhD in Biotechnology Scholars

PhD in Biotechnology career scope even extends into the government sector in different departments. According to PayScale, the salary of Biotechnology scholars in India ranges around INR 3 - 15 LPA. Some government jobs with salaries are:

Private Jobs for PhD Biotechnology Scholars

PhD Biotechnology scope in India extends job opportunities in the private sector for scholars. The average salary according to Glassdoor is around INR 3.5 LPA.

Source: Glassdoor

Job Opportunities Abroad for PhD in Biotechnology Scholars

The jobs for PhD Biotechnology Scholars are not just available in India but are also available abroad. Scholars might not have to go for higher education to increase their chances of getting a job abroad. They can find jobs in areas like the Education Department, Medical Research Centers, Biology Labs, Pharmaceutical Industry, Agriculture Sector, etc.

Top Companies For Graduates

Check the list below for the top recruiters that hire scholars:

• Colleges and Universities
• Medical Labs
• Pharmaceutical Companies
• Agricultural Companies

Best Countries For Graduates

Below is the list of top countries offering job opportunities to scholars:

• Netherlands
• New Zealand

Various Career Designations Abroad for Scholars

Job profiles that attract graduates to work abroad:

• Product Strategy Manager
• Drug Designer
• Medical Coder

Famous PhD Biotechnology Scholars

PhD in Biotechnology courses are for those aspirants who are passionate about Science and want to take up Biotechnology professionally in the future. The course offers a degree-based education that helps them set up a career in various areas of Biotechnology. Some famous professors around the world are:

• David S. Adams
• Kari L. Clase
• Thomas Koval
• Stephen Miller
• Pamela Weathers

Get Free Scholarship worth 25000 INR