Entrepreneurship is the new reality for most who want a career in
"original research". The ivory tower has failed the vast majority of
aspiring scientists, especially those of us with Ph.D.'s.
Other options: Start at a company and work your way up. Also, there are
very good research positions in government labs which do not require a
Ph.D. I know many non-Ph.D.'s who are heavily involved in original
research and even run quite large labs - USDA particularly and some
universities. I am sure there are also examples at NIH, CDC, National
Labs, etc.
So, there are many very good alternatives to such narrow antiquated
thinking on this topic. Universities are no longer the centers of
innovation they use to be - sad but true.
On 10/17/2012 12:32 AM, Jane Shevtsov wrote:
Please don't create the impression that graduate school requires
working as a "technician". That's mainly true if you're funded by your
advisor's grant. If you can get a university fellowship or teaching
assistantship, it's a whole other story. I finished my Ph.D. in
ecology this year under a university fellowship with an advisor who
hadn't applied for a grant since the mid-1980s. It was a great
experience and he never asked his grad students to do scut work.
(Admittedly, the fact that our research group was modeling-oriented
helped.)
Also, how do you get a job doing original research without a PhD? As
far as I know, you can't except in very rare circumstances. That's
really the only good reason to pursue a PhD.
Jane Shevtsov
On Tue, Oct 16, 2012 at 8:53 PM, Aaron T. Dossey<[email protected]> wrote:
Actually, I would strongly recommend AGAINST grad school, or grad school
only as a last resort. There are many ways to achieve a successful and
fruitful career while following your dreams, and many roads that do not lead
through a stint as a temporary under-paid technician/piece of equipment (ie:
grad student and postdoc/postech/postemp).
First, figure out what you want to do, then investigate what it takes to get
there. You'll be surprised at how few careers actually require a Ph.D., and
how few careers which do require one actually exist/are available.
Good luck!
ATD of ATB
--
Aaron T. Dossey, Ph.D.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Founder/Owner: All Things Bugs
Capitalizing on Low-Crawling Fruit from Insect-Based Innovation
http://allthingsbugs.com/about/people/
http://www.facebook.com/Allthingsbugs
1-352-281-3643
On 10/16/2012 11:38 PM, Lindsay Veazey wrote:
As one of many hopeful individuals trying to find an open program in which
to
begin an advanced degree, I'd also like to point out the pitiful state of
scientific funding in North America. The current NSERC funding success
rate is
below 8%, and the NSF success rate hovers around 20%. Additionally, in my
discussions with students of all levels, both current and (hopefully)
prospective, I've noticed that funding has essentially dried up for M.Sc
candidates, and is not much better for Ph.D candidates.
I'm wondering if any subscribers have recommendations for programs abroad,
like MESPOM, that welcome foreign students instead of stack the deck
against
their entry.
Dr. Dossey, thank you for a well written submission that rings all too
true.
--
Aaron T. Dossey, Ph.D.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Founder/Owner: All Things Bugs
Capitalizing on Low-Crawling Fruit from Insect-Based Innovation
http://allthingsbugs.com/about/people/
http://www.facebook.com/Allthingsbugs
1-352-281-3643
--
Aaron T. Dossey, Ph.D.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Founder/Owner: All Things Bugs
Capitalizing on Low-Crawling Fruit from Insect-Based Innovation
http://allthingsbugs.com/about/people/
http://www.facebook.com/Allthingsbugs
1-352-281-3643
