Medical Science Liaison Talked to Several in the Industry

Name: Inès Hugonneau-Beaufet (she/her)

PhD: Molecular Biology, Sorbonne Université, 2023

What was your main area of research?

I studied the peptidoglycan of bacteria and changes in its structure depending on development mode (planktonic or biofilm).

What is your current job?

I am a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) for Idorsia Pharmaceuticals in France. I am located in the southwest of France, based in Bordeaux.

I am a field-based expert who builds relationships with healthcare professionals (HCPs) to share scientific information, support clinical research, and gather medical insights. MSLs bridge the gap between the company and the medical community, focusing on education, data exchange, and strategic input.

Key Responsibilities:

• Engage with KOLs and HCPs to provide scientific support and education

• Communicate complex medical data in a clear, objective, and non-promotional manner

• Support clinical research and investigator-initiated trials (IITs)

• Collect field insights to inform medical and commercial strategies

• Attend scientific conferences and represent the company in medical discussions

What is your favorite thing about your job?

I love the scientific stimulation associated with the need to be an expert in the therapeutic field and the variability and flexibility of the timetable.

What is the most important skill you developed or experience you had during your PhD that now helps you in your current position?

Presentation of complex data and adaptation to the audience concerned

How did you build the skills necessary for your current role?

I started developing the skills by contacting MSLs when I was looking for a job, then thanks to the onboarding process and the help of other team members once I was on the job. The learning process is constantly evolving!

How did you find this position? What were the career steps you took to get to where you are now?

LinkedIn

PharmD ➡️ PhD ➡️ MSL

If someone is interested in a similar role, what would you recommend they start doing now to prepare?

Work on gathering knowledge of the business, by getting information from as many MSLs as possible, with a wide range of backgrounds.

Why did you decide to not pursue a career in academia?

I knew this from my first year as a PhD student, given the working conditions and salary, the arduousness of the course, and the general atmosphere within the academic environment in which I was evolving.

What advice do you have for someone getting their PhD and looking to pursue a career outside of academia?

Don't limit yourself, don't be discouraged, a multitude of things are possible after a PhD!

Gather up all the cross-disciplinary knowledge you've acquired over the years, and you'll see that you can apply it everywhere in your future career, whatever that may be!

The road may be long (or it may be obvious), but in any case you'll be an immense added value for all your future colleagues and projects, so don't doubt and go for it!