I want to ask others opinion on what career choices should one make right after a PhD in Engineering.
1) Should one choose academia, or the industry (R&D) etc.? What are the pros and cons?
Or,
2) Should one find a Post Doctoral position first for 1-2 years. Then move towards an academic career as an Assistant Professor? Does the post-Doc cause a major difference to your career prospects?
3) Can one start an industry career after a Post-Doc?
4) In some countries, one can become an Assistant Professor right after PhD? is this Path advisable?
Please share your thoughts.
Khurram Hashmi It is a topic worth discussing.
Though, I am not a PhD yet, however, I am of the opinion that academic jobs are created much less compared to the number of PhDs graduating. For instance, according to a report that I read about Canadian job market, not even 40% of PhDs can land an academic jobs. Most of them have to either join industry or opt for low paying Postdoc.
I believe if one gets a start in industry (even for lower salary than academic job) he should go for it. The reason for choosing this path is that jobs in industry trains you with hands-on experience. Plus, you can always join back the academia. On the contrary, it is very hard to do the other way around.
The career choice is person-oriented.
First, one should make clear what are his/her tendencies or interest in. (Industry or academia). Once this decision is clear, the rest is easy to figure out.
However, getting back to your question, Industry jobs are more challenging and one can get hands-on experience for what he has previously researched.
To be more specific, industry jobs have more capital earning potential.
Academia is relatively relax.
It depends on your priorities.
While choosing academia, if you think that you have done enough achievements in Ph.D. via publications, then go for the position of Assistant Professor, and again, it depends on your priorities that you want to join a research-based university or teaching-based university. On the vice versa, a postdoc is likewise a kind of two-year Ph.D.
On the other hand, if you want to go into the industry, that will be a good earning with mental pressure and a short-term contract.
Good question, Firstly secure a job and then you should move on to postdoctoral studies.
1.Working in R &D lab and research oriented education institute both are same . ( You may get pretty decent pay scale ) your role of job will also focus on developing new problem solving solutions/work.
2.whereas in academic oriented institute you won't get any financial support to do research ! Firstly institutions won't allow you or give time to do research they will keep on loading you at academic work . salary will also low compared to R&D but job will be more relaxed oriented.
So choose wisely.
I personally recommend choosing an Industrial R&D position for the following reasons:
1. It will expand your capabilities far beyond academia.
2. You will be able to explore new areas of research under the guidance of experts.
3. Solving real-life problems is a different experience.
4. From the conceptual design of the product to the market landing, you are learning and acquiring knowledge about the product.
5. Have high career development opportunities and considerable income.
6. After gaining some industry experience, you can move into academia while maintaining an industry touch.
7. Industrial exposure will help you instruct students in a more practical way.
There's a lot more to say, but please take this as a comprehensive summary.
Hope this helps you.
So here is my own update on this.
I worked as a Tenure Track Assistant Professor for two years at UET Lahore right after my PhD.
I admit that this role allows you to create your own projects, submit applications for funding as Principal investigator, and to supervise M.Sc. and PhD students. These are indeed great privileges right after PhD.
However, My own feeling one year into this role was that: I was a little too occupied by routine academics, such as preparing and teaching B.Sc. , M.Sc. and Ph.D. courses and evaluating answer books etc. Also, there is a lot of other non-productive activity associated with this, such as course files, statistical material etc. and so on to be prepared by the course teacher for the accrediting bodies (such as PEC and HEC). All this takes up an immense amount of time and energy.
If you can find good M.Sc. and PhD students, they can do some moderate to good work for you and produce some good papers. However, it will still take a great deal of personal involvement and guidance on your own part to make this possible.
Ultimately, if you want to grow personally as an an engineer and an innovator, you need to step into the innovation work yourself. That means going for a Post Doc in a university with a high repute and a good project with good funding. The sooner you do this, the better it is.
Post-Doc gives you the opportunity to do things hands on and get back to meaningful work.
For all these reasons, I have moved to a Higher Level Post Doctoral / Industrial Research position at UCD Energy Institute.
I haven't decided yet, weather I will go back into academia after this or move into the industry. But it seems Industrial carriers are higher paid in general. Also, which company you work for, what country you work in, local laws etc., also greatly affect the ultimate work life balance that you are looking for.
- Badges
- Science topic