Careers in Life sciences

Life science jobs
With a BSc in Life Sciences you can find jobs in the private and public sector. At research institutes, hospitals and health agencies. Or at life sciences companies, like biotech and pharmaceutical firms. The kind of work? Researching diseases. Designing new drugs. Working as a product or marketing specialist. Or focusing on quality assurance. Here are some life science jobs you could pursue:
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Research Assistant
As a research assistant, you work in fundamental or applied research. Your job? To provide support in the lab to more senior researchers. Where? At a university or in the commercial sector. You can grow into positions of more responsibility and leadership if you choose the commercial sector. Want to progress in the academic world? Then you would pursue a master or PhD first.
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Assay Development Scientist
Assay development is a procedure in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Basically, it’s testing how an organism or organic sample reacts to a drug or biochemical. The aim? To identify and characterize potential new drug molecules. As an assay development scientist, you work with a team of scientists in a lab.
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Technical Sales Specialist
As a technical sales specialist you build relationships with clients. How? Through cold-calling, visiting clients, going to network events. The market for technical products and services is global. So you’ll be working in an internationally oriented environment.
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Junior Project Leader / Lab Manager
In this position you run short to medium-length projects. Your tasks? To communicate with the lab technicians. Contribute innovative ideas. Communicate with management. About anything from quality assurance to financial issues. Where? At a pharmaceutical, biotech or other life science company.
From HAN graduate to research technician
After graduating from HAN’s Life Sciences program in 2023, Romanian alumna Cristina Bursuc faced a challenging job search. Nine months later, she landed her dream role in RNA research at Lemba Therapeutics. She shares how internships, perseverance and building a life in the Netherlands helped shape her path from student to research professional.

The next step after graduating
So you’ve graduated with a BSc in Life Sciences. The next step? Finding work in the life sciences industry is simple. Just use HAN’s alumni network to connect with a wide range of companies and research institutes across the globe. Of our graduates, 97% find work within a year. So you’ll have no trouble finding the right Life Science job for you.

An MSc in Life Sciences?
Are you ambitious? Looking for a higher qualification? Want to work in a position with more responsibility? With your BSc, you can join any number of MSc Life Sciences programs in the Netherlands or abroad.
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Master in Molecular Life Sciences
This degree is offered by HAN University of Applied Sciences.
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Master in Biomedical Sciences (pre-master program required)
Offered by the Radboud University. The university is based in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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Master in Biomolecular Sciences (pre-master program required)
This degree is offered by the VU Amsterdam.
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Master in Biomolecular Sciences (pre-master program required)
This degree is offered by the VU Amsterdam.
Admission & Finances
All about the admission requirements, scholarschips and tuition fees. And how to apply.
