How PhDs Become Medical Science Liaisons (And What Happens To Their Salaries)

Let’s start here:

A career as a medical science liaison (MSL) is very lucrative.

Now, you have to understand that after they transition into industry, PhDs will see a huge bump in salary. But even so, medical science liaisons are special cases.

Payscale indicates that medical science liaisons with entry-level experience can expect an average base salary of $116K.

This is a high-demand position, yes. 

But you are going to be paid well.

According to the Bureau of Labor, all medical science positions in general are seeing a growth rate of 8% – that’s extremely fast for industry.

Other countries might have different titles for medical science liaisons, like “medical associate.” No matter what you call it, this is a very popular position for PhDs. Not to mention the networking opportunities…

98% of medical science liaisons manage relationships with key opinion leaders (KOLs) in industry.

This is a standard part of the job, and a key opinion leader (a leading medical doctor/researcher) is a professional contact you want to have.

Are you looking for a job that allows you to stay close to science?

How about a job with a lot of opportunities to travel around the country?

Medical science liaisons get these perks and a lot more. STEM PhDs should take the time to learn about this industry role – and what it takes to succeed in the MSL career track.

Here are a few key points to get straight about medical science liaisons.

1. What medical science liaisons do (and a misconception).

A Medical Science Liaison works in one of these or similar fields:

• Pharmaceuticals
• Biotechnology
• Medical devices

MSLs interact heavily with personnel from hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, universities, and similar institutions.

The core responsibility of this job is to ensure the proper use of medical products. 

MSLs are expert scientific consultants. They have broad business acumen in the medical field. There’s one misconception to correct: 

Medical science liaisons are not salespeople.

They’re not even permitted to discuss drug prices when interacting with other medical professionals.

Instead, they teach clients about the scientific aspects of medicine and other products.

Medical science liaisons focus on science education and building relationships with key opinion leaders – that’s the big takeaway.

2. Clinical experience isn’t required, but it could get you hired.

PhDs might assume they can’t be medical science liaisons because they lack clinical experience. This seems like a reasonable assumption, right? Formerly, medical science liaisons were mostly MDs or pharmacology experts. But now, PhDs have surpassed them. 

Many of the biggest pharmaceutical companies hire medical science liaisons with no clinical experience.

As time goes on, medical product scrutiny increases – more stringent regulatory guidelines are instated. With more focus on scientific evidence for drugs and treatments, there’s a rising demand for medical science liaisons with strong scientific backgrounds. (Like STEM PhDs!)

As a PhD, you’re a doctor of learning – you can learn about any drug, treatment, or medical device.

You’re already able to have high-level scientific discussions with key opinion leaders. This is not to say that clinical experience isn’t useful – it’s highly useful in both acquiring and navigating the job.

In fact, a PhD combined with clinical research experience is the best possible preparation for a medical science liaison role.

Of course, if this career is what you want, don’t let medical inexperience stop you.

The relevant clinical experience can be gained by any resourceful PhD who puts forth their best effort.

3. MSLs network with highly important industry figures (KOLs).

As a medical science liaison, most of your time will be spent supporting key opinion leaders. These are usually medical professionals of some kind who will prescribe drugs, employ treatments, or use medical devices produced by your company.

A medical science liaison needs to have highly technical, science-based conversations with these leaders. 

The ability to have these conversations represents a talent, and it’s part of why you, as a PhD, can be hired into a role like this much faster than anybody else.

The other aspect of medical science liaison/KOL relationships is feedback. That’s why there is still a bit of marketing involved in the job.

You’ll take KOL feedback to your company and relay any insights you have:

• What do the KOLs think of the product?
• Is the product being used effectively?
• What do MDs report about their results with target patients?
• Can the product be refined?
• How difficult is it to teach KOLs to use the product?

So while it’s true that you’ll be having in-depth conversations and conducting scientific presentations, your PhD represents a surplus of training in these things.

4. No clinical business acumen? You will struggle as an MSL.

Business acumen is basically an awareness of your particular field. As a medical science liaison, this will be a crucial component of your job. 

For example, drug timelines are foundational knowledge for all medical science liaisons. 

You’ll need to be aware of ongoing medical research, the current status of medical treatments, and how various medical devices operate.

In a way, MSLs are like traveling professors of the clinical world.

They teach and keep the professional world updated on medical progress. But ultimately, the full scope of your study will depend on your company. If you’re working for a pharmaceutical company, for example, awareness of drug timelines and functionality will be a priority.

And after that drug is on the market, you can expect to support it among your network of KOLs. Then you’ll provide assistance and answer questions.

In fact, most of the work is done by a medical science liaison after the product is available.

Expect to read about your product, set up informational interviews with relevant clinical personnel, and keep a network of other MSLs for information sharing.

5. A good MSL knows about regulations BEFORE they get hired.

Never ignore regulations.

A lot of medical companies have a regulatory affairs department. These departments keep track of company maintenance in terms of legal regulations.

Depending on your country, regulations-level injunctions prevent companies from:

• Bribing doctors to push a medication
• Issuing kickbacks
• Anything else that might go outside the bounds of good science

Medical science liaisons are a great way for companies to contact KOLs without trying to market their products.

A medical science liaison is meant to freely discuss the science of a product with KOLs and without any pressure to make sales.

Marketing is removed entirely from the purview of a medical science liaison’s job.

This helps to avoid bias—the kind that leads to unfair product promotions.

But you still need a thorough knowledge of the regulations. 

Familiarity with regulations will be a huge asset as you pursue work as an MSL.

In summary, here’s what medical science liaisons do (and what they don’t):

• They network with key opinion leaders
• They teach proper use of clinical products
• They travel and present on various scientific data
• They don’t sell products

Are you a PhD?

If so, have you seriously considered a career as a medical science liaison?

Tell me in a comment below.

To learn more about transitioning into industry, including how to gain instant access to industry career training videos, case studies, industry insider documents, a complete industry transition plan, and a private online job referral network for PhDs only, get on the waitlist for the Cheeky Scientist Association.