Career Development of Statisticians in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Much has been written regarding the preparation of statisticians for a career in the pharmaceutical industry. Little, however, has been written about the career development of statisticians after joining a pharmaceutical company. The industry devotes significant resources to this effort. Every company has a vested interest in the continuing development of its staff. This paper presents an initiative by the research and development arm of Merck Research Laboratories to consolidate the various aspects of career development, including recruitment, training, professional activities, and retention under the auspices of a professional development coordinator. The coordinator works with department managers and committees charged with each of these functions to take a holistic approach to the career development of each statistician. A firm and continuous commitment by management to this process has been crucial to the success of the initiative.