postdoc in Biopolis

[DeReKKK]

Does anyone know what it is like working as a postdoc fellow in Biopolis?

I would like to know more about working environment, culture, working hours and if there is any politics? Thanks.

[hi]

yes been there, done that
email me puffy1479@yahoo.com and we can talk

[Kiwi 2]

Biopolis is made up of lots of seperate companies. You can't really generalise about working conditions etc.

The company I work for offers pretty good packages for postdocs. I don't think the same could be said for the government run companies though.

[DeReKKK]

Thanks, Kiwi2. May I know what is your working hours in your company? Are your supervisors very demanding?

[hi]

There are basically govt run institutions in Biopolis and private ones (big pharma). The govt ones roughly pay (first postdoc) about 3500 plus housing allowance, though may be slightly difference between institute
The pharma pay i think between 5-6K, no housing - that is only based on one that i know of.
Working hours, it's science it's going to depend on your supervisor. Officially my hours were 8.30-6, but of course it's science so weekends came into it but then it wasn't so rigid on being in on time . In the one industry company i know of it was the same i think or maybe 9-6.
Politics, again, it will depend on the lab. The govt institute i was at in my opinion had a strange method of promoting people - hiring people with similar experience into very different levels. There seemed to be some bias against women - and that wasn't just my observation.
My email is above....there's one institute i wouldn't recommend working at but i'm not naming them here. And i also know there are certain labs within one industry biotech to be avoided. So if you want further details email me.

[hi]

just a comment on working environment
forgot to add in my last post

there are many labs, some are run by australians/americans/europeans, some are local/chinse run.
Within these labs there will be a mix of expat and locals - the mix is varied.

[DeReKKK]

Hi, could I have your email address please?

[hi]

my address which is in the 2nd post is puffy1479@yahoo.com

[Kiwi 2]

Sorry-didn't notice your message! The postdocs hours seem reasonably relaxed. Most people get here around 9 and unless they have a long experiment running head off before 6. A few do experiments on the weekends but not really whole days. As someone else said though, I think it depends on your supervisior to a large extent.