Consulting
Introductory Resources
- From PhD to Consulting, an insider’s guide, PostGradual (The PhD Careers Blog, 2025).
- Intro to life science consulting:
- Career story – From PhD to Life Science Consulting (5-min read).
- Exploring a Career in Biotech Consulting, Biotech Career Coach Podcast (26-min episode).
- Intro to management consulting:
- How to transition from PhD to Management Consulting, Igotanoffer blog article.
- From a PhD in Neuroscience to Management Consulting, 27-min video.
Venturing further in this career area
- Consulting – definitions, types, and thorough overview of consulting companies and boutiques, BUSPH Career Resources.
- Latest trends, Days in the lives of consultants, Case interview prep and more on consulting, BU Vault.
- Tips for transitioning into consulting from the life sciences (1-hour video).
- If you are seeking to learn about organizational structures, culture, and various theories used by organizational analysis experts to study how organizations evolve, interact with their environment (including other organizations through mergers & acquisitions and business deals), feel free to audit this Coursera Organizational Analysis online course at your own pace.
Learning by doing job-related tasks
Job Simulations are job-related tasks that can be completed in a few hours, to help you assess how enjoyable and how much of a good fit a specific job could be for you. To make the most of job simulations, please set up SMART Goals to perform each simulation in a reasonable timeline. When you have completed the task, fill out the Self-Reflection Sheet, which will help you reflect on what you enjoyed (or did not enjoy) about the simulation, and how it can help inform your career exploration efforts.
- Life science consulting case interview preparation (2026), Hacking the case interview.
- Free networking, consulting resume drafting, and case interview prepping resources, Management Consulted.
- Try this Merger and Acquisition job simulation with Ashurt and other Consulting simulations on Forage (select “Consulting and Strategy” in the Career Interest drop-down).
Preparing your transition into this career area
- Focus on your skills, Nature article.
- Further explore this area, network, and help solve real cases, by joining local student-run consulting endeavors, like the Boston University Consulting Group, the BU Biotech Club, the Harvard Griffin GSAS Biotech Club, the Tufts Consulting Collective, or the Consulting Club at MIT (career transition support and volunteer consulting support for biotech clients).
- Graduate students are eligible to apply for the BU Consulting Group’s Casing Program, which is designed to help members build consulting skills through hands-on practice and workshops and begins at the start of every semester. They can also attend any of their events, which often feature consultants working in fields like healthcare, biotech, and life sciences.
- To receive updates, sign up for the BU Consulting Group newsletter and join the BU Consulting Group Slack community
- Graduate students are eligible to apply for the BU Consulting Group’s Casing Program, which is designed to help members build consulting skills through hands-on practice and workshops and begins at the start of every semester. They can also attend any of their events, which often feature consultants working in fields like healthcare, biotech, and life sciences.
- Growing your network and having informational interviews with PhDs who have transitioned into careers of interest to you will enable you to learn more about the job’s daily responsibilities, hiring process, career progression, etc., and the sector as a whole.
- Look for and join relevant thematic groups on LinkedIn, online communities, build connections with GMS alumni in consulting via LinkedIn, etc.
- Look for BU Mentors and Alumni who have transitioned into this career area.
- The Social Scientist enables early-career researchers to connect with folks who have transitioned in various career areas, including in communication and outreach.
- Some companies hire and/or offer training to advanced degree holders (Master’s, PhD, etc.) interested in transitioning into consulting roles – below are just a couple of examples (i.e., don’t stop there!):
- Bridge to BCG for people currently enrolled in, or who have recently completed an advanced degree, and who are interested in working for the Boston Consulting Group.
- McKinsey & Company’s hiring practices for advanced degree professionals.
- Trinity Life Sciences offer internship and externship opportunities (apply in the early Spring for a 3-day externship in early June).
- Analyze job descriptions to learn more about what institutions and organizations are currently looking for.
- Study company websites, follow them on social media and YouTube.