Top 5 Best Countries for Life Science Researchers – Salary, Funding & Quality of Life
Rachana is a college student who was always very fascinated by flowers and plants. One day after college, she decided to buy herself a Button rose plant while returning to her PG. She kept it in her window where sunlight is abundant, and started watering the plant daily, thinking it would nourish it and help the plant to grow. But soon after 2 weeks, the plant begins to wilt. Not knowing the cause, she thought it was due to a shortage of water and kept pouring more water, and eventually, the plant died by the end of the third week.
Now imagine yourself as that plant, and your dream career “Researcher” as its seed. Just like the seed requires the right soil, temperature, an accurate amount of water, and proper sunlight to grow, your dreams also require an adequate environment.
Despite having the right passion and efforts, your dream to become a good Life Science researcher can die. Just like the plant, your dreams need the right Institution, strong funding, and a healthy work-life balance, which is more than your efforts and hard work.
In this article, we will be discussing the 5 Best Countries for Life Science Researchers, where resources, a good quality of life, and abundant opportunities for you to become a Life Science researcher.
The Top 5 Best Countries for Life Science
The United States of America-
Apart from the Statue of Liberty, the US is also internationally known for its Top-tier universities (MIT, Harvard, Stanford), advanced technologies, and an excellent career infrastructure. It is one of the Best Countries for Life Science Researchers because it has set a golden standard for international students to build a career in the US, which attracts them from all around the globe. Below are some roles, employers, and salaries in the US.
Roles and Salary
| ROLE | EMPLOYERS | AVERAGE SALARY |
| Research Scientist | NIH, Harvard, Pfizer | $70,000 – $100,000 |
| Clinical Research Associate(CRA) | Johnson & Johnson, IQVIA | $65,000 – $90,000 |
| Bioinformatics Scientist | Board Institute, Amgen | $90,000 – $140,000+ |
| Regulatory Affairs Specialist | FDA, Biotech, and Pharma companies | $80,000 – $100,000 |
| Principal Investigator | NIH, Universities | $110,000 – $150,000+ |
Funding-
- Government- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) are US government body that supports research based on biomedical & public health research, and other interdisciplinary fields. R01 / R21 Research Grants and Research Grants (PI-level) are for international students.
- Institutional- Harvard Graduate Fellowship, seed grants (Harvard University), Research Assistantships, MIT Biology Fellowships (MIT), etc.
- Private organization- Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, American Heart Association (AHA), L’Oréal USA For Women in Science.
Quality of life
The cost of living is moderate to high, depending on the location. The high salaries from organizations come with long working hours in labs ( 50-60 hrs/ week), but it also provides advanced healthcare, clean & safe campuses with diverse networking opportunities in scientific communities, good transportation, and their institutions emphasize mental health and wellness.
The United Kingdom
The UK is also listed among the Best Countries for Life Science Researchers because of its renowned research centers, like Francis Crick, Wellcome Sanger, and Institutes like Oxford, Cambridge, etc, for PhD, Postdoc, and teaching positions. The country has a rich science community with a long history of medicine and innovations. Its academic foundation is strong, with rich research funding by the government,
Roles and Salary
| ROLE | EMPLOYERS | AVERAGE SALARY |
| Research Scientist | Oxford, GSK, Imperial College | $50,000-$65,000 |
| Clinical Research Associate ( CRA) | NHS, AstraZeneca, CROs | $45,000-$60,000 |
| Bioinformatics Scientist | Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust | $55,000-$70,000 |
| Regulatory Affairs Specialist | MHRA, med-tech firms | $50,000-$70,000 |
| Principal Investigator | Cambridge, University College London | $70,000-$85,000 |
Funding-
- Government- UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which includes the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).
- Institutional- Seed /Start-up Grants, International PhD Scholarships, Fellowships Top-up.
- European Union & International- Horizon Europe, NSF.
- Private Funders- Wellcome Trust, Cancer Research UK, British Heart Foundation.
Quality of life
Top-notch opportunities with flexibility, mandatory annual leaves, hybrid mode of work in both the private and public sectors, with working hours mostly 45 hrs/ week, but for some positions it might exceed 50 hrs. The weather is mostly cloudy and rainy, but it has excellent public transport, safe & vibrant cities, and free healthcare (NHS) for students and researchers. The Postdoc and some new researchers may face fluctuations in national funding.
Germany
It is one of the significant hubs for Life Science graduates with a magnified research landscape. It is counted as one of the Best Countries for Life Science Researchers to build a career, with opportunities in stable healthcare sectors. It holds a leading position in Europe in biotechnology.
Roles and Salary
| ROLES | EMPLOYERS | AVERAGE SALARY |
| Research Scientist | Max Planck, Bayer | $ 50,000-$70,000 |
| Clinical Research Associate (CRA) | Merck Group, Boehringer Ingelheim | $45,000- $ 60,000 |
| Bioinformatics Scientist | EMBL, DKFZ | $50,000-$70,000 |
| Regulatory Affairs Specialist | BfArM, Bayer | $45,000-$65,000 |
| Principal Investigator | Universities, Helmholtz Centers | $70,000-$90,000 |
Funding-
- Government- DFG(German Research Foundation), BMBF- Federal Ministry of Education and Research, DAAD- German Academic Exchange Service, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
- Institutional- Max Planck Society, Helmholtz Association, Leibniz Association (Leibniz-DAAD Research Fellowship ( international postdocs).
- European Union Funds- Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks, Postdoctoral Fellowships, etc.
Quality of life
A good work-life balance is provided in Germany with fixed working hours and regulating overtime, and some work councils give protection to employees’ rights, and affordable and efficient public transport. They also provide a strong healthcare system for the public with a lower cost of living than in other countries. To communicate with locals, one must learn the German language, but in most of the institutes and other organizations, English is mostly used.
Switzerland
Switzerland is known for its phenomenal natural beauty, like the Alps, lakes, and forests. It is also one of the Best Countries for Life Science Researchers with the finest institutes like ETH Zurich, EPFL, and the Friedrich Miescher etc, and is home to a group of top multinational Pharma companies like Novartis, Roche, and Syngenta.
Roles and Salary
| ROLES | EMPLOYERS | AVERAGE SALARY |
| Research Scientist | Novartis, ETH Zurich | $80,000-$100,000 |
| Clinical Research Associate (CRA) | Roche, Lonza, Medtronic | $75,000- $95,000 |
| Bioinformatics Scientist | Swiss Bioinformatics Institute, EPFL | $90,000-$110,000 |
| Regulatory Affairs Scientist | Swissmedic, Biotech companies | $85,000-$105,000 |
| Principal Investigator | ETH Zurich, University of Basel | $110,000-$150,000 |
Funding-
- Government- SNSF ( Swiss National Science Foundation).
- Institutional- ETH Zurich, EPFL, University of Zurich (UZH), FMI, SIB, etc.
- European Union Funds and International- MSCA, European Research Council (ERC), EMBO, etc.
Quality of life
Switzerland ranks in the Top 5 countries globally in providing a quality of life to its citizens. They have 4 national languages, but they usually use English at workplaces. They offer a high salary, and the cost of living is quite high but they have a healthy work-life balance as they have generous vacations and paid leaves, excellent healthcare, affordable and efficient transport, and public services.
Sweden
It is famous for its scenic beauty, innovative designs of wood and textiles, rich history, and the highest number of atheist population. It comes under one of the Best Countries for Life Science Researchers because its Robust research and development provides a supportive environment to grow, and has a strong, skilled workforce.
Roles and Salary
| ROLES | EMPLOYERS | AVERAGE SALARY |
| Research Scientist | AstraZeneca, Karolinska, Lund University, etc. | $ 45,000- $65,000 |
| Clinical Research Associate(CRA) | Sahlgrenska University, CROs, etc. | $42,000- $58,000 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | SciLifeLab, Uppsala, Genovis, etc. | $55,000- $70,000 |
| Regulatory Affairs Specialist | Swedish MPA, Pharma & Medtech companies, etc. | $50,000- $65,000 |
| Principal Investigator | Academic hospitals, Karolinska, etc. | $70,000-$ 85,000 |
Funding-
- Government- Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsradet, VR), Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF), Formas, Vinnova, and ALF (Academic-Healthcare Funding).
- Institutional- Karolinska Institutet, Uppsala University, Lund University, SciLifeLab (Stockholm/Uppsala).
- European Union Funding and International – MSCA, Horizon Europe, ERC, EIT Health, EMBO, HFSP (Human Frontier), NIH, etc.
Quality of life
It ranks the top 10 countries in providing a high quality of life to citizens, with a good work-life balance that permits generous paid leaves, paid vacations, and fixed working hours (40 hrs/week). The cost of living depends on the city, it can be from moderate to high, with a modest salary, but it provides a high-quality healthcare system that is publicly funded, low crime rates, strong laws to protect the citizens, safe and clean environment.
We often feel stuck in our lives, thinking our efforts are not enough, but what if it is not you but the environment you are trying to pull yourself up for every single day? It requires the right kind of environment for a person to thrive in their field. So, choosing the right country for your dream job role is a crucial step because it is not only about the career infrastructure and funding to support your dream, but also the roles available with a good salary and the right quality of life that will make you bloom and balance your work-life.
