JOBS

[Gian]

I hear the proportion of science graduates to jobs is not good. What do people think my prospects would be if I study BA physics or astrophysics wanting to be a research scientist? I wouldn't want a job designing aeroplanes for Boeing, I'd wanna be discovering planets! Besides a degree what sort of work experience would potential research institutions want? Would I need MA/PhD? 

Cheerz

GIAN xx

[CharonY]

Generally speaking, researcher positions are fairly limited, especially purely research ones (i.e. without teaching, for example). Also typically that requires a PhD in most disciplines. In experimental sciences, a Master's would be required for a research technician position. A BSc basically just indicates that you might be qualified to get more specialized (graduate) training. 

 

[Gian]

8 minutes ago, CharonY said:

Generally speaking, researcher positions are fairly limited, especially purely research ones (i.e. without teaching, for example). Also typically that requires a PhD in most disciplines. In experimental sciences, a Master's would be required for a research technician position. A BSc basically just indicates that you might be qualified to get more specialized (graduate) training. 

 

So do you think it's worth it?

I'd be gutted if I spent 7y getting to PhD, then finding I couldn't get a job at nasa, and have to settle for merely being prime minister

[iNow]

Assume that you’ll still need to work for a big company. Being a PhD isn’t some magic recipe to doing whatever you want for the rest of your life. Funding is hard to come by, and you’re much more likely to find work of some sort in the private sector despite all those years of study. 

[sethoflagos]

46 minutes ago, Gian said:

So do you think it's worth it?

How comfortable are you with poverty?

A salutary lesson for me was that I earned the same hourly rate designing drainage systems for oil refineries etc as the guys designing the most high-tech refinery units. Only while their technologies were aging, drain systems stayed as they were and I stayed employable while their speciality areas were eclipsed by more advanced technologies.

If you cement yourself into a rigid specialisation in the current technological spectrum, you risk graduating into a field that is obsolete. The key exit from this trap is flexibility.

I'd recommend graduating with a general technological degree and adding a BA in microeconomics or business administration. It's a crappy ladder, but every project needs a project accountant and at least you remain relevant to your field of interest even if everyone hates you. If you can show real technical abilities in the field, you have as good a chance as anyone of slipping back into the more academic realm simply by being there. It's a cynical view I know, but you do have to earn a living whilst realising your dreams. 

Edited September 10, 2023 by sethoflagos
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[CharonY]

7 hours ago, iNow said:

Assume that you’ll still need to work for a big company. Being a PhD isn’t some magic recipe to doing whatever you want for the rest of your life. Funding is hard to come by, and you’re much more likely to find work of some sort in the private sector despite all those years of study. 

On the PhD level only few (<20 % decades ago) got an academic appointment. While there are private sector R&D, and similar public positions, they are also rather rare.

More typical jobs are project managers, sales,product managers, tech support, etc.

[swansont]

A PhD is not a guarantee of lots of money, or any specific job. The narrative of getting a degree and becoming a professor is not based on the reality of the job market, as CharonY notes.

To paraphrase a former boss of mine, a PhD in physics affords the opportunity to work on interesting problems.

 

[Gian]

11 hours ago, sethoflagos said:

How comfortable are you with poverty....

Mr Sethoflagus, thanks! That's exactly the sort of guidance I need.

Careers advisers just give the smiley official blurb ("Just go to university for 3y, and of course you will get a fulltime job straight away as an astronaut.")

I guess I'd like to have a career like planetary scientist Dr Carolyn Porco...

Thanks again, lots to think about!

GIAN🙂x

[Gian]

4 hours ago, swansont said:

A PhD is not a guarantee of lots of money, or any specific job. The narrative of getting a degree and becoming a professor is not based on the reality of the job market, as CharonY notes.

To paraphrase a former boss of mine, a PhD in physics affords the opportunity to work on interesting problems.

 

I'm not interested in earning Shed loads. If I'm a scientist I want to be discovering stuff! Like John Zarnecki or Carolyn Porco, and I'm trying to find the best pathway to getting there.

Cheerz for the info.

GIANx 

Edited September 11, 2023 by Gian