Friday, May 22, 2009

Academia or Industry?

This is a rather good and realistic article for job seekers to get a first-hand account on the difference between jobs in academia and industry. For many students, there is certainly a larger range of possibilities and employability to go into either one, and making a choice on one over the other certain depends on not just opportunity and job openings, but also on philosophical inclinations.

When young scientists "first start becoming acquainted with what it means to do research in the private sector, it's really quite a culture shock," says Michael A. Santoro, a business ethics professor at Rutgers Business School in New Jersey. "In business, everything begins with the profit motive. ... Just the very idea of research is geared towards a product rather than knowledge itself. The most critical factor in determining whether a scientist is going to be successful in making the transition from the university to the private sector is the ability to buy into that point of view."


A good article to read if you about to enter the job market at any level.

Zz.

2 comments:

Successful Researcher: How to Become One said...

Thanks for the tip!

Josh said...

overall a good article. however, it suggests that the only role for PhD's in industry are in R and D roles with in a company. My experience over the last 7 years has been where PhD's work in the marketing, sales and management roles of the company as well. These other roles are just as technical and generally benefit from a strong scientific mind especially when interfacing with technical customers.

My other experience with the 'pure' research side of physics in Europe, is that most of the funding revolves around projects that have clear applications and ways that industry and the academy can be married to produce a measurable result. I feel that in some ways this leaves one with physics projects that are essentially engineering, with out the expertise of proper engineers.

my 2 bits

josh