I keep hearing reports of a shortage of scientists, yet I there are so many graduates, post graduates and post docs who have left their chosen fields. Either they fell off the post doc merry-go-round, failed to publish or found research incompatible with a family. Skilled, intelligent, adaptable researchers should have better opportunities to retrain in other fields. This would diversify their skills base from their niche areas. Positions are too niche and inflexible, with employers only willing to pick someone from the ether that fits their ideal skills set. With overseas candidates being turned away by the UK's hostile approach to immigration employers may have to turn to disillusioned ex-researchers. I would love to return to science in some capacity but there is little opportunity to. Maybe there is less of a shortage then people think. Maybe employment practices have to change and be more relevant to modern life. You get more opportunities doing an apprenticeship than a doctorate these days.
Sachit K. Vohra’s Post
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This time I am not "thrilled to share" with my network. No papers or great achievements to post, just a thought. I see many PhD openings all over the world. Many interesting projects, undoubtedly. However, there is a huge mismatch between the number of PhD positions offered and the limited number of Postdoc and tenure-track openings. What is the future for PhDs? Much ongoing research ends when the PhD goes to the conclusion. In this way, we often waste money, time, and knowledge, as there is rarely enough time to translate our research into something tangible and beneficial for people. Our contract ends, and the university says "Goodbye, it was a pleasure. We are gonna hire other PhDs to put into the (grinding) loop". Of course, there are alternatives to an academic career. What about PhDs working in industry? Well, here we could write a poem about it. In short, very often the potential of young PhDs is not recognised at all. We work daily with strict deadlines, we deliver reports and projects in cooperation with different stakeholders (companies, other researchers, thesis projects, etc), and we often lead and guide small groups. We are also trained to be flexible, "resilient" (algorithms seem to love this term), and open-minded. However, many companies simply ask for "working experience", as the primary selection criterion. Note: "working experience" typically means having your name linked to an established company. University jobs are often seen as irrelevant. Weird, don't you think? Brilliant future, or brilliant illusion? Who knows. #phd #job #university #industry #career
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Benefits of PhD? As per my personal experience, these are some key benefits of doing a PhD on both personal and professional fronts. If you are missing on few of these points, I recommend you for an introspection of your PhD. 1. Intellectual Development: A PhD deepens your expertise in a specialized field and builds advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills. You possess enhanced research abilities, including experimental design, data analysis, and scholarly writing, which are highly desired for a number of high end public and private jobs. 2. Career Advancement: A PhD degree prepares you for scientifically advanced jobs including professor or scientist in academia and engineer, manager, researcher in industry. It is the stepping stone for providing access to roles in research and development (R&D) departments of companies and government agencies. Alternatively, a PhD degree also increases your opportunities for freelancing, consulting or policy making jobs. 3. Going Global: During a PhD, it is very common for scholars to have interactions and establish connections with experts, mentors, and peers across the globe. Presenting your research work at conferences, seminars, and workshops, provides opportunities to boost your visibility in the field. Such events also assist scholars to go global and look for job/collaboration/partnership in academia or industries around the world. 4. Personal Growth: Apart for professional developments, a PhD journey also fosters persistence, resilience and self-discipline in a scholar. It teaches independent thinking and resource management which are highly essential for personal growth. Apart from these, a PhD scholar also develops transferable skills such as work-life balance, meaningful writing, presentation and effective communication. 5. Financial Benefits and Recognition: It is very common that scholars receive monetary benefits in the form of grants, awards, or fellowships. In jobs, it has been observed that in certain fields, PhD holders are offered higher paying positions. Also, the society perceives PhD holder as an expert or authority in a niche area and they are highly regarded and recognized for their opinion. Please free to add your comment. #job #jobmarket #jobs #opportunity #hiring #open #PhD #PhDstudent #PhDlife #PhDadmission #market #advice #research #science #engineer #worklife #master #thesis #academia #work #life #comment #trend #university #rankings #IIT #jobmarket #tech #technology #science #engineering #admission #global #education #vacancy #hire #growth #share #reach #linkedin #fellowship #grant #award #nobelprize #nobel #benefit #career #growth #professional #data #analysis #communcation #writing #global #world #college #student #application #apply #india
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Do Postgraduates Really Have an Advantage? It’s a question I’ve often pondered: does having a postgraduate degree really give someone an edge in the job market? With my experience in the workforce, I’ve found that the answer isn’t always a clear-cut “yes.” In fact, in many cases, postgraduates don’t hold the advantage we might think. But why? Statistics show that while over 13% of Americans now hold a master's degree or higher, employers consistently prioritize practical experience over additional qualifications. A recent survey by the Harvard Business Review found that 53% of employers preferred candidates with relevant experience over those with advanced degrees. So, what’s the real advantage? While a postgraduate degree can open doors in specialized fields like academia or research, it’s not always the golden ticket in industries where adaptability, problem-solving, and experience matter more. What do you think? Does a postgraduate degree still hold weight? #CareerGrowth #PostgraduateDegrees #ExperienceMatters #JobMarket #ContinuousLearning #IsItWorthIt
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Calling all #UK #Research & #Innovation #Stakeholders: The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology are seeking your inputs and expertise in shaping UK government future #Funding and #Policy decisions. Inputs, via a #survey, are welcome from the rich diversity of occupations in the R&I workforce, including trainee or experienced #researchers, #technicians, #engineers, R&I #leaders and #managers. Please fill in this short survey if you are a researcher or innovator – whether you create new knowledge or adapt or apply others’ innovations. Views are welcome from all specialisms, whether you work in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), the humanities, arts or social sciences; and whether you work in the private, public or non-profit sector. https://lnkd.in/e2x5PS-k
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Graduate and postdoctoral career practitioner that amplifies opportunities | Career and job search advisor | Former molecular biologist and neuroscientist
I often reshare posts by Andrew Akbashev and other #professors who openly discuss different aspects (read the good and the bad) of working in academia. As a #graduatestudent or #postdoc, in addition to being aware of one's skills and career development, it is also important to understand a professor's perspective. At the end of the day, isn't #academia about discussion and learning about different perspectives? Here are my two cents on Andrew's post below regarding being in a situation with an unsupportive #PhD #mentor. Also, read the comments section in his original post as it is chock- full of great insights. 1. Your mental and physical well being is of paramount importance. Evaluating whether completing the PhD is for you, is a personal decision. 2. No one should be picking fights with their supervisor. It is important however to voice your opinion in a courteous and professional manner, respectfully disagree if needed, and reach out to your program or other professors in your faculty or department for support if you find yourself in situations that are toxic or insurmountable. 3. Doing a postdoc may be necessary in certain fields like biology if a faculty position in academia or an R&D position in industry is your desired end goal. 4. The perfect role is a myth. Based on what you value, finding a career that checks "most" of the criteria that you prioritize, is ideal. Something that aligns with your skills, values, interests, offers a supportive environment for growth, and meets your financial and work/life balance expectations will ultimately make you look forward to waking up in the morning and going to work. That career could be in any sector. It is up to you to figure that out and the sooner you start exploring and experiencing, the better!
❗ What to do if you have a bad advisor during PhD: My general advice is: 1. Focus on getting your PhD degree. Fulfill the requirements. In most cases, advisors and universities are interested in getting you graduated. Be professional and push forward. 2. Try not to get into conflict with your advisor. Even if your relationship is tense, don’t ruin it completely. Make sure you can ask for a recommendation letter. 3. Do not do a postdoc. It won’t help you (unless you have personal reasons like immigration). Why? Because if you have a difficult advisor and ‘unproductive PhD’ (as defined by faculty hiring committees), your chances of staying in academia are extremely slim. Unfortunately, this is the reality of overcompetitive academia. 4. Just LEAVE academia for industry. Start your search 4-5 months in advance. Companies don’t care about your advisor that much. They don’t need your fancy papers in Nature. They don’t care about your awards that much. They need you as a critical thinker. Your expertise and skills. Your ability to learn. 📍 Salaries in industry are ~ 2x higher than in academia after PhD [NSF data for U.S.]. It may feel like a hard transition at first. But once you join a company, you will enjoy the diversity and complexity of tasks. You will be challenged more than in academia. You won’t get bored if you find the right company. + Your bank account will finally be doing well. Academia is great. But industry is just as great. #research #PhD #students #scienceandtechnology
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What are the Pros and Cons of going for PhD after MSc/MA (instead of going for a Corporate job) Cons: Massive Opportunity Cost: A typical PhD program takes 5-6 years (with 35k Stipend). A Post doc can be 1-2 years (60k salary). Avg salary after master's can be 12-15 LPA. In 3 years, one can reach 20-25 LPA or more. Take the 12% compounding on the savings/investment, the opportunity cost of doing a PhD in India is >1 crore (approx.). Over the lifetime, it amounts to > 4cr. Academic Politics: Academic politics is as bad as corporate politics. Many realize this after joining the PhD program. Difficult Job Search: Competition is too high for academic positions. More than your talent, your advisor's help/network matters. PROs: Personal freedom: Unlike corporates, you can focus on what project you want to work on. Flexible career option: After PhD, you can have flexibility of either choosing academia or industry. You can even move back to academia after working in the industry for 10-20 years. For Non-PhDs, this is not an option. Lifetime employment: Academicians do not have to retire as the job is easy. They work util they are healthy. Corporate guys get burnt out by the age of 40-45 (not all though). Connect/follow for more such content #career #PhD #academiccareer #university #research #industry #HR #science
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Research skills can be applied to more than a particular research subject area. Research skills can, in fact, be applied to the process of searching for a new role. Dr Holly Prescott, Careers Advisor for Postgraduate Students at the University of Birmingham, has written a new blogpost on her PhD Careers blog about this subject. Holly outlines three ways in which research questions, processes and skills can help researchers to approach career development successfully. "Ultimately, research is dynamic. The further you get into it, the more you come across new ideas and techniques that might make you adapt your ideas or pose different research questions. Equally, the focus of your research may change because of circumstances beyond your control, be those staffing changes, social/cultural/political changes, a global pandemic (stranger things have happened…), and so on. Similarly, career ‘plans’ are dynamic. Just as it’s totally normal for your research ideas to change from your initial proposal, it’s also totally normal… and ok… for your career ideas to change. Just like research ideas, career ideas evolve according to both learning and circumstances beyond our control. Just as I look back on my original PhD proposal and have a bit of a ‘LOL’ at how different my thesis turned out, when I think back to the academic career aspirations I had pre-PhD, I now look back with the confidence that I found something more suited to my ‘best bits.’" https://lnkd.in/eMp2qCmv #researchers #careers #universities #academia
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PhD researchers are increasingly pursuing career opportunities beyond academia. However, navigating the transition from a research subject area in universities to diverse professional roles in other sectors requires a nuanced understanding of the transferable skills and experiences that are valued by employers. The findings of a new report produced by DocTalent4EU on behalf of the European Union contains detailed insights into the various transferable skills valued by academic researchers and employers, such as thinking skills and competencies, collaboration within teams and networks, self-management skills and competencies, and foundational skills and competencies. The report also identifies discrepancies between the skills which are emphasised in academic training and those that are sought by employers. "As a conclusion, it might say that even if training is intensively offered by most HEIs, there are still competences that can be successfully covered by further training. Plus, an urgent need for coordinated and better oriented training was clearly identified. The transferable skills can be further developed by HEIs or associated partners by means of online, onsite or hybrid training." #researchculture #skills #researchers #careers #universities #transitions
In today’s dynamic job market, PhD graduates are increasingly seeking opportunities beyond academia. However, navigating the transition from academic research to diverse professional roles requires a nuanced understanding of the transferable #skills valued by employers. The findings of the "Report on current and future transversal skills needs" produced by the DocTalent consortium, reveal insights into the transferable skills landscape for PhD candidates. 🧠𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬: Among the most taught group of skills are thinking skills and competences, underscoring the importance of analytical prowess and critical thinking abilities for PhD candidates navigating complex professional environments. 🤝 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬: Employers across diverse sectors consistently emphasise the importance of collaboration in teams and networks, highlighting the value of interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively in diverse, multidisciplinary settings. ✅ 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬: Self-management skills, including working efficiently and taking a proactive approach, emerge as crucial competences for PhD candidates seeking to thrive in dynamic work environments and manage competing priorities effectively. 💡 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬: Foundational skills such as effective communication, problem-solving, and adaptability are deemed essential by employers, underlining the significance of a well-rounded skill set for PhD candidates transitioning into non-academic roles. The report also underscores the discrepancy between the skills emphasised in academic training and those in high demand by employers. The complete report is available at https://shorturl.at/svC59
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Joint PhD Student at Georgia Tech & Emory University | Duke Research Scholar '24 | Erasmus Scholar '22 | AI in Healthcare | Medical Imaging & Advanced Image Processing
𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗣𝗵𝗗 𝗙𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗨𝗦 Did you know that most research-intensive schools in the US offer fully funded PhD programs? But how exactly does this work? 🤔 PhD students in the US are funded through various means, including: 1. 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨 (𝙍𝘼) 2. 𝙏𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨 (𝙏𝘼) 3. 𝙁𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙨 4. 𝘿𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 Essentially, your PhD research becomes your "job," where, in return, your tuition fees are covered, and you receive a monthly or biweekly stipend to support your living expenses. This level of funding is substantial, and US faculty are always on the lookout to recruit the best talent from around the globe.🌍 What does this mean for you? If you are motivated and prepared to do your due diligence — researching programs, refining your skills, and aligning with potential advisors then you can unlock these incredible opportunities. Remember, hard work pays off. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻! Now is the time to start your applications and send those cold emails to professors whose work aligns with your passion. You could be just one step away from gaining access to top-tier education and world-class research facilities, paving the way for you to achieve your career goals. Stay motivated, keep pushing forward, and remember that I am rooting for every one of you. Best of luck with your applications! 🌟 #PhDFunding #HigherEducation #ResearchOpportunities #Education #Scholarships
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