Career prospects Clinical research – alumna reports on entry opportunities and future prospects
A meaningful job in a dynamic field with attractive earning opportunities and good prospects for professional development – all this makes clinical research an interesting career field. The 140 listeners from various scientific disciplines who attended a lecture by Dr Sabine Richter in November 2024 agreed. The Heidelberg alumna, who worked in clinical research for more than 30 years, reported on the various phases of drug development and presented career prospects.
‘Launching Your Career in Clinical Research: Entry-Level Roles and Future Opportunities for Graduates’ was the title of Sabine Richter's lecture, which was organised by Heidelberg University's heiSKILLS Career Service at the end of 2024. The students, doctoral candidates and graduates who accepted the invitation learned from the experienced molecular biologist how clinical trials are conducted, which departments are involved and what their respective responsibilities are. In addition, Sabine Richter addressed the critical role of drug safety both in individual clinical trials and in the broader drug development process. She concluded her presentation with information on current job opportunities in Germany in the field of clinical research.
Sabine Richter studied biology at Ruperto Carola in the 1970s/80s and obtained her doctorate at the Heidelberg Centre for Molecular Biology (ZMBH) in 1988. She then worked in clinical research for more than 30 years and held management positions at international research companies such as PAREXEL and PRA Health Sciences. She also taught drug safety as an associate lecturer on the Master's programme in Pharmaceutical Medicine at the University of Duisburg-Essen. Since last year, she has been advising students, employees and researchers who are looking for support on their academic, professional or private path as part of HAI's mentoring programme.
The lecture took place as part of the “Career Perspectives” series of events organised by the Career Services of heiSKILLS, the Competence and Language Centre at Heidelberg University. In this series, alumnae and alumni talk about their first steps in their careers, give valuable tips and are available for personal dialogue afterwards. Information on everyday working life, employers and internship and career opportunities in the respective professional fields will also be discussed.
