As a student at U.C. Berkeley Laurel Barchas helped CIRM draft our education portal. She put together a comprehensive curriculum to help high schools teach students about stem cells in a way that met all state and federal standards. But something funny happened on her way to her Ph.D.: she realized she had changed her mind about research, so she changed her career direction.  

Laurel recently wrote this blog about that experience for the new and improved website of the Student Society for Stem Cell Research (SSSCR) –

Stem cell parental advice—you can grow up to be anything!

I was one of those students who, since high school, knew I was destined for the lab. Throughout some of high school, and all of college and graduate school, I had internships or positions in amazing labs that warmly took me in and trained me how to be a scientist. I loved designing and carrying out experiments on my stem cells, presenting at lab meetings, writing theses, and teaching others about my work through undergraduate lectures and high school presentations. My participation in the Student Society for Stem Cell Research hugely supported all of my efforts; it even enabled me to get one of my first jobs as a contract curriculum writer (a project manager role) with the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, which launched my writing career.

Four years into my biology PhD program, it became clear that I didn’t want to do research anymore. I couldn’t handle the failure inherent in doing research. I couldn’t put in the time and focus needed to run big experiments—then repeat them over and over. Although I loved science, I wasn’t meant to be a career scientist like many of my colleagues. I was a science communicator. Realizing this, and taking into account my personal struggles, my advisers and I decided the best thing was to get a terminal master’s degree.**

Differentiation—finding the right path

I struggled for a while finding a job that suited me. I worked as an education consultant, writing materials directed at teachers and students. I worked as a marketing, communications and operations assistant for a real estate group. I looked for jobs as a teacher, curriculum developer, and science education program coordinator, but none felt quite right for me. Although I had extensive experience in school developing materials for teachers and giving presentations to students, and I knew education could be a rewarding career path, I wasn’t sure I wanted to be in the academic world anymore.

Finally, I found some listings looking for technical writers. I didn’t even know what that was then. Various biotech companies had their feelers out for entry level writers with advanced degrees in biology or STEM fields—and a master’s degree was just fine. It turns out I was a perfect fit. Surprisingly, many people in the “tech com” (technical communications) and “mar com” (marketing communications) departments at my company had a similar experience; they didn’t want careers in research or the medical professions, so they chose communications.

Life as a technical writer—feeling like a glial cell

As a technical writer at my company, I have many responsibilities beyond writing and editing user manuals, application notes, and diagrams. Tech writers are much like glial cells that hold everything together. I manage each project from start to finish and work on technical documentation and marketing materials with scientists, designers, marketers, coders, product managers, and other writers. I often have major creative input on content, design, and campaign development. I enjoy starting with simple ideas and building clear, engaging content. It feels like solving a puzzle.

I’ve written articles on iPSC‑derived beta cells for a drug discovery publication and created web portals. I’ve also helped develop booth panels and printed materials for conferences like the International Society for Stem Cell Research.

Most importantly (to me)

I’ve stayed in stem cell research and regenerative medicine. I write for that product and service line and use my experience to present tools that support basic, translational, and clinical research.

I love my job. It pays well, offers regular hours, and gives me a strong sense of teamwork. It’s fast‑paced, and I work on something new every day. I get to learn and write about advances from R&D teams worldwide. The job fits me well, and I can see myself doing it long term. Also…I get to live in Silicon Valley. Pros: great food, culture, people. Cons: cost of living, traffic.

I hope my experience encourages you. There is a space for you in this field. This is the first post in a series on regenerative medicine careers. I will guide you through the vocational landscape, its highs and lows, and I look forward to hearing what roles you want to learn about next.

Remember

I want to thank everyone who works in research and medicine. Without them, the field would stall. But not everyone is meant for those roles. Fortunately, there are other paths.

Some may say, “Too bad, she was so close to that PhD,” while others may say, “That’s a major accomplishment.” Both are true, but I choose the latter. I am much happier after leaving lab research and moving into science communication. We often place science and medicine on pedestals, but communication connects academic and industry scientists, clinicians, and the public. Engaging with new science is essential for a healthy democracy.

Laurel is a co‑founder of SSSCR, Associate Director, and a member of the international executive committee. She has been involved since 2004, when she helped start UC Berkeley’s chapter. Her work focuses on educating diverse communities and building career opportunities for students. Along with a team of SSSCR members, she helped create CIRM’s stem cell education portal. She now works as a Senior Technical Writer focused on stem cell products and services.