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Life Success
We Find a Way or Carve One
KarrierPATH — A Global Initiative for Life Sciences Careers
KarrierPATH is more than a consulting service. It is a global initiative dedicated to strengthening career literacy, professional preparedness, and long-term opportunity within the life sciences community.
Across countries and institutions, students and early-career researchers face increasingly complex decisions — navigating PhD pathways, postdoctoral training, industry transitions, international mobility, and evolving job markets. Yet structured, systems-level career guidance remains limited.
KarrierPATH was founded to help close that gap.
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We work at three interconnected levels:
Individual Guidance
We provide high-level strategic mentoring for students and researchers pursuing careers in academia, biotechnology, and the biopharmaceutical industry. This includes profile development for PhD programs and postdoctoral fellowships, industry transition strategy, and long-term career planning tailored to individual strengths and aspirations.
Scientific Mentorship & Intellectual Formation
Beyond subject mastery, we offer holistic scientific mentorship designed to shape how students think, question, and position themselves within the life sciences ecosystem. Drawing on research and leadership experience across cancer biology, metabolism, tumor immunology, and translational medicine, we help students and trainees contextualize their academic training within broader scientific, clinical, and industry landscapes.
This approach emphasizes conceptual depth, analytical rigor, and strategic awareness — equipping emerging scientists not only to perform well academically, but to navigate research environments, evaluate opportunities critically, and build durable professional identities.
Global Perspective & Systems Dialogue
Having trained and worked across the United States, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, we bring practical insight into international academic systems, funding structures, industry expectations, and relocation pathways. Beyond individual advising, KarrierPATH actively engages in professional dialogue with academic thought leaders to better understand structural bottlenecks and advocate for more transparent, sustainable, and globally aligned career pathways for life sciences trainees.
Our goal is not simply to help individuals secure positions — but to contribute to a more informed, realistic, and resilient life sciences training ecosystem.
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At KarrierPATH, we help you think beyond the next application.
We help you build a trajectory.
About Us
Dr. Gaurav Pathria
I grew up in rural India and pursued graduate and post-graduate studies in biochemistry before earning a PhD in Cancer Biology from the Medical University of Vienna, Austria. This journey opened doors to incredible opportunities in cancer research, allowing me to work at leading institutions and contribute to important scientific advancements.
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I’ve been fortunate to hold roles such as Principal Scientist at Genentech, Inc. (Roche Group) in San Francisco and Head of Translational Medicine at TOLREMO Therapeutics AG in Basel, Switzerland. My scientific works have been published in journals like Nature Cell Biology, EMBO Journal, Cell Metabolism, and Cancer Cell, and my work in the field led to an offer for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position at Columbia University in 2020.
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The idea for KarrierPATH comes from my own experiences navigating the uncertainties of academic and professional transitions. I know firsthand how challenging it can be to build a career in science and how valuable the right guidance can be. My goal with KarrierPATH is to share what I’ve learned and help aspiring science professionals, as well as high school and university students, make informed decisions about their careers with confidence and clarity.
Dr. Paulina Pathria
I am a cancer biologist with a passion for mentoring and guiding professionals in biomedical sciences. My career has taken me across Austria, Germany, and the U.S., giving me a global perspective on career development in academia, biotech, and the pharmaceutical industry.
With extensive experience in scientific research, biotech startups, and team leadership, I have worked on cutting-edge projects in tumor immunology, cancer vaccines, and antibody therapeutics. Throughout my career—whether at the Medical University of Vienna, UC San Diego, or biotech firms in Silicon Valley—I have not only conducted research but also managed teams, secured funding, and worked towards developement of innovative therapies.
As a co-founder of KarrierPATH, I am dedicated to helping science graduate students, early-career scientists and professionals navigate career transitions, secure international research positions, and explore industry opportunities. I understand the challenges of moving between academia and industry, applying for competitive positions, and adapting to new professional environments.
Through strategic career consulting, I help my clients craft compelling applications, excel in interviews, and position themselves for success in an ever-evolving field. Whether you are looking to transition into industry, secure your next research position, or relocate for new opportunities, I am here to help you take the next step with confidence.
Services
KarrierPATH provides strategic mentorship across key transition points in the life sciences journey — from PhD and postdoctoral training to industry leadership pathways.
We support students and professionals in developing strong, coherent profiles, navigating competitive academic and biopharmaceutical environments, and making informed decisions about international mobility.
Our focus extends beyond applications to long-term career architecture — aligning scientific depth, professional positioning, and global opportunity.
Career
Counseling
From Uncertainty to Direction: Career Guidance Rooted in Experience
In the life sciences, making the right career decisions isn’t always straightforward. With so many paths—academia, biotech, pharma, regulatory roles, or communication—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, especially when you're still figuring out your strengths, interests, and long-term goals.
Presenting Yourself Professionally: Applications That Make an Impact
Your resume or CV is often your first introduction to a potential employer or academic institution—an essential tool that can open doors or quietly close them. But crafting strong application materials involves far more than listing experiences and skills. It’s about strategically positioning your background to match the expectations of the role, communicating your value clearly, and navigating modern recruitment systems, including AI-based screening tools.
Profile
Development
Relocation
Guidance
Relocating for a new opportunity can be a powerful step forward in your career—but it’s also one of the most complex
Legal requirements, work permits, visa processes, healthcare systems, tax obligations, and housing—these are not just bureaucratic checkboxes, but key elements that directly affect your ability to settle, work, and thrive in a new environment. Add to that the cultural differences in communication, workplace dynamics, and daily life, and relocation becomes as much a personal transition as a professional one.
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Go Beyond Textbooks​
At KarrierPATH, we provide advanced scientific mentorship for bachelor’s, master’s and PhD students in the life sciences. Drawing on research and leadership experience across Europe and the United States, we cultivate conceptual depth, analytical rigor, and strategic perspective — connecting foundational training to real-world research and industry environments.
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