Biotech Beat: Non-Biotech Jobs can also help build a Biotech Career

Tune in to the June 3, 2025 episode of the Biotech Beat podcast, where you will get to hear DaMone', an Austin Community College (ACC) alumni, talk about his path to biotech. DaMone works at Emerald Cloud Lab, in Austin Texas where he is a Lab Operator Level 3.

DaMone' went to high school in Killeen, Texas, but decided to spend a year Louisiana, where he was born. Following that he came back to Central Texas College and got his associate’s degree in human biology. Jobs were not easy to find however, so worked when and where he could, and then made the decision to go to ACC and started on his biotech career. When he was first considering ACC, he wondered if he should continue in biology, but decided that biotech was a better job market, with Austin’ biotech job market potentially doubling in the next 10 years. However he credits those previous small, non-biotech jobs with teaching him how to work hard which then translated into success in the biotech jobs.

DaMone’ describes how software runs everything at Emerald Cloud Lab so that his everyday tasks are determined by what the software says is needed. He might be preparing stock solutions one day, running the HPLC the next, and even doing the dishes if needed. DaMone’s first day was a bit difficult because instead of SOPs, he had to get his tasks from the software which took a bit of time to get used to. He started in January 2025 and is already having conversations about growth within the company. Damone’ was surprised to find out that his job is very dependent on trends and contracts, so he always must be ready for something new. 

DaMone’ came into Emerald Cloud Lab having already done an internship at XYZ Laboratory—an experience he said taught him a lot, since “school can’t teach everything”. He also had a one-week internship experience at the University of Houston. The great thing about DaMone’s current job is that is not just biotech. He uses knowledge from his ACC classes where background chemistry was taught to help with his job responsibilities. He felt the biggest challenge when he was at ACC was not the classes, but balancing his work, life, and school, while also paying the bills. Now with just a job rather than a job and schooling, he has better work-life balance, and also stronger finances with a good-paying job. He found his job after he finished school without too much difficulty, as some of his classmates put in a good word for him during their internships at Emerald Cloud Labs—so networking is very important!

Advice from DaMone’?  Biotech has a huge potential so if you have a biology or chemistry degree and are having a hard time getting a job, biotech may be the right place for you!

Also, put yourself out there—make connections. Connections helped DaMone’ get his job, and it might help you too

Tune in on Spotify, iHeart Radio, or Apple Podcasts to hear DaMone' tell his story.