Industry v/s Academia - which one is better? (Jun/13/2009 )

Not a bad point but indsutry jobs - esp. now- are not so plentiful. So continue to interview from graduation through your post doc and be prepared to leave if you get an offer.

I have seen lots of brilliant people changing into industy because they wanted to have a defined area of researchinstead of doing million things at one time. As young researcher in academia (postdoc level) you must try to find coop werationshich often means a lot of unrewarded work. But you are forced to take any opportunity...this migh be your chance for a tenure or similar.

Like rhombus pointed out: industry has clear pros - Training, money and resources. And to some extend very specialised area of screening/research.

But in industry you have a goal....and you have to find a way to reach it. In academia it is not so much about specific results, you must provide good results no matter what the primary question was (which you usually do not find in papers ). But few people can really cope with the academic freedom. Because the more freedom, the more responsibilities (you will have to supervise people, teach, take responsibities for your workinggroup/faculty/university/institution....)

When you have done a PhD you should be able to decide if you would like to continue in academia (and keep in mind: over time lab work decreases, paperwork increases, and the hours you spend working usually increase as well).

I was applying for both kind of jobs and in the current economic environment my policy regarding future employment can be summed up in two phrases: "beggars can't be choosers" and "catch-as-catch-can".

And what about industrial postdocs? Has someone had this experience?

To be honest, I don't see myself forever in academia (for many reasons, my PhD has been very disappointing, even though I still don't hate science), and I know that I will want to apply for a position in industry at some point in my life. However, I don't know if there are research positions in industry right after the PhD, or if it is necessary to have a postdoc. If this were the case, I have heard that there are some companies where you can actually do a postdoc, and I would imagine that this would be an advantage for applying for a "real" industrial position afterwads.

Does somebody have an idea? Would you recommend and industrial postdoc for somebody who wants to end up researching in industry? Would you recommend instead a normal postdoc, or would you not recommend a postdoc at all?

Thank you!

Hi folks, I am also at a point where I am considering my options. How about government jobs? Does anyone have experience/advice for government-related occupations?

a government job may give better benefits (depending on the government) but usually lower salary than non-government jobs.

you are also always at the mercy of political situations.

Hmm.. how about teaching positions? I have heard of positions in the university where profs can either be 'research-tracked' or 'teaching-tracked'. Is this common?

zienpiggie on Sun Aug 28 05:39:45 2011 said:

yeah, thats an option too..
Another option is the other way around: working in the industry and being good at what you do and based on that (+the experience) becomming a (guest) teacher at university.
Lots of professors work both in industria and university.. think about spin offs etc..

Anyway: those things take time.. nobody becomes an expert/professor in 1 year .. You have to start somewhere.. and based on the decisions you then make.. you become a teacher/part time teacher/researcher/full time researcher/manager/industria...

I know people that work for the governement and also teach 1or 2 or moire courses (because they have the knowledge/experience) to teach.. While others started off working at the university as a researcher/teacher and now ended up working in a (their own) spin off in the industria and still teaching a bit or not at all..
Others started in a company and ended up being full time professors..
Hard to tell.. it all depends on what you decide to do the next years..

WHat is important to realise: most that start in undistria do NOT end up becoming a full time teacher/professor because that would mean they lost some of heir wage.. (professors vs industria.. the latter earns a lot more)...
Most of them (from indusria) teaching, only teach a few courses as guest lecturer.

...
We cant decide for you.. you need to know what you like: teaching, working, research..?

Thanks for the response guyz. Industry jobs seem to be quite favored in this forum.

For me I recently realize that I enjoy teaching, while I am not sure if I want to continue doing research for the rest of my life. It's been an incredibly tough few years and I don't know if things will get better after PhD in academia.. At the same time, I have always been in the academia all my life and I am therefore wondering, what does industry job usually involve?

zienpiggie on Tue Aug 30 06:22:42 2011 said:

It all depends.. but once you enter the industria, its hard to get out...
it pays better...
And another thing: industria means that at some point (for 90% of the people in industria with a PhD) you become a manager, more then a researcher..
You need to suit up then... Meetings, going away, more meetings... doing paperwork.. being very bussy...
But in the end: it all depends on your decisions.

If its money you want: industria
if its teaching you love: academia it is.. (there is more then just "teaching a class", there is also guiding PhD/masters/bachelorsstudents... )
If you want both: I would start in academia.. if you are good at what you do.. after a while you will get the oppertunity to either start your own spin off, or join one, or be asked to join/help a company.. Dont forget that the industria (research) often needs professors/PhDresearcher from university for their research etc..

And now you have your PhD.. this does make a difference compared to not having one normally.

But in the end it all depends on what you want...
And also in what country you live etc...
And ofcourse also in what field you work...