Folks, there are two things here. 1) academic interests 2) employment.
Looking for a job does not mean that you are leaving science. You are finding employment. Heck, Einstein did this too. I'm not sure Darwin ever spent a day employed in science. He was a ships mate and naturalist be default. Einstein worked in a patent office while doing his PHD. I just forgot his name, but one fairly prolific herpetologist made a living selling insurance. Also, as for teaching high school, I would argue this is not leaving science. I had a friend back in St. Louis who published state academy level stuff as a high school teacher. IT wasn't subjects for Nature or Science, but it was certainly legit. You got to pay the bills. I've held jobs as divergent as Associate professor (untenured) to being a janitor in a truck stop. Trust me, at times the responsibilities are not much different. I've taught kindergarten through doctoral students (PHD/MD). It is a constant struggle to remain or get employed in science. Part of it is because there really are a large number of very talented people out there. Part of it is because politicians cut budgets on anything non-military. Part of it is permanent faculty allowing admin to glut the institutions with temps and part-timers. All you can do is do your best. If you want to do science, it has nothing really to do with employment. However, if you want to be employed doing science, you are probably best to get a PHD. On Tue, Jul 29, 2014 at 1:13 PM, Osa Idehen <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Allison, > I feel your pain. After grad school (environmental science) I picked a job > with a grassroots organization that help minority farmers and landowners in > rural area improve their economy. I took the job to be able to pay bills, > while looking for other opportunities in science, but I ended up spending > five years. While on the job I found a way to remain in science-the > organization partners with universities on different research projects > ranging from on-farm research to research in forestry land. The organization > links the universities with landowners and farmers on whom farm or land > on-site research projects were sited. I took advantage of it and participated > in the research projects. I even got a chance to work on rural medicine > project. They also do a lot of policy work, which I was involved in too. I > finally went back to school last year with a renewed focus on science and my > experience in the last five years is now shaping my research interests. Yes, > I am still in science - working on interdisciplinary PhD program. > > My advice is if you really love science, but can't find a job in science > right away choose a job that offers that opportunity to use your science: a > law firm looking for expert in your field, a non-profit doing work in > relevant area, policy advocate organization, parks focused on sustainability, > USDA, tour guide at an ecological center, investment analyst at a firm > interested in science, construction company interested in habitat > restoration, preservation and/or sustainability, a film production company > focused on science, etc. > > All this will help you keep your science mind and you will still be relevant > when you finally find a science job. I would stay away from a career path > that makes my years in grad school useless (unless of course I hated grad > degree). > > I wish you success. > > Sent from my iPad > > On Jul 28, 2014, at 3:36 PM, "Allison F. Walston" <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Hey everyone >> >> I graduated with my MS in ecology earlier this year and I was able to get a >> temporary job after graduation. However, the job will be ending shortly and >> they won't be able to make any permanent hires in the foreseeable future. I >> have a few other irons in the fire, but I am growing increasingly skeptical >> that any of them will pan out. >> >> I know a lot of people are in a similar situation given the job market and >> I've recently started thinking about looking outside of science. I did well >> during grad school and gained a lot of analytical skills. However, I can >> imagine the confusion my grad degree would cause for a potential employer >> outside of science/biology/conservation. >> >> Has anyone else made the decision to leave science shortly after grad >> school? What sort of things are career paths are worth looking into? >> >> Any advice would be greatly appreciated. >> >> Allison -- Malcolm L. McCallum, PHD, REP Department of Environmental Studies University of Illinois at Springfield Managing Editor, Herpetological Conservation and Biology “Nothing is more priceless and worthy of preservation than the rich array of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature lovers alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share as Americans.” -President Richard Nixon upon signing the Endangered Species Act of 1973 into law. "Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" - Allan Nation 1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert 1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. 2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction MAY help restore populations. 2022: Soylent Green is People! 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