So having job-hunted for the past 6 months with an MS in Fisheries Biology, I have to agree with David that most of the interesting agency jobs are GS-11 and require a PhD. I, too, thought that a PhD would price me out of the field biologist market, which is why I went for an MS, rather than entering directly into a PhD program. But that turned out to be patently untrue. In fact, a recent standard state wildlife biologist position (nongame Aquatic Ecologist with North Carolina), that I believe paid in the $30's, had 29 applications of which six were PhD's. Despite having an MS in fisheries ecology and extensive experience in the very drainages NC needed a biologist for, I didn't get a call back. I think most states, given the choice between a PhD-holder and an MS, will figure they are getting more bang for their buck with a PhD. Unfortunately, not all MS and PhD's are created equal, even within the same program, not to mention variability between schools/programs.
I think the original question was, "Is an MS useful?" and Jason was wondering about job opportunities. I found that my MS was excellent training for the responsibilities of biologist: proposal writing, research design, statistical analyses, endless report-writing, publishing, and presentations. It's probably the best training for biologist. I see plenty of people with MS's in Biology getting jobs so keep looking. Or, go for a PhD and more job opportunities will open to you. Anita Lahey -----Original Message----- From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of David L. McNeely Sent: Monday, April 05, 2010 10:39 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] M.S. -- is it useful? ---- David Gillett <[email protected]> wrote: > I would concur with the other answers so far. For work vs. reward, I think > an MS is more useful than a further degree. As the others have noted, > outside of academia, the degree is less important than how good you are at > science (plus who you know). When someone would query him about getting a > Ph.D., a former advisor of mine would quip, "A Ph.D. is only good if you > want to teach college or be king". This is always the advice I give to > students debating on what to do with their lives, academically speaking. > > Good luck with everything. > -david > > ____________________________________________________________________________ > _ > David Gillett, Ph.D. > Ecologist > Southern California Coastal Water Resource Project Well, I notice that you hold a Ph.D. and are working for an agency. Fact is, lots of federal government jobs specify a Ph.D. or equivalent experience for GS 11 or higher, as do some state positions and non-governmental organizations. A good many Ph.D. holders do work in R&D and in compliance in industry. But, your thoughts are generally correct -- unless one wants to work in academia, a Ph.D. is probably only worth the investment in time, energy, and money except for personal satisfaction, and it may narrow employment prospects compared to a master's degree. Not only is a master's degree the general requirement for community college teaching, but many community colleges avoid hiring Ph.D. holders because they cost more, and are perceived in some community colleges as being less likely to work effectively with community college students and colleagues. David McNeely, Ph.D. former community college and university faculty member
