Science Background: I want out

LegacyUser

Hi All,

I graduated with a decent degree in a decent field of science last year. However I despised my final year of college, most notably my (lab based) final year project. I now work in a lab and I don't like it. My plan was to take this year as a "year out" with the intention of really figuring out what I wanted to do before returning to college for a conversion course or a masters with the intent of eventually pursuing a phd (I am luckily quite academically gifted so it was something I had envisaged myself doing throught the course of my undergrad)

However I am no further in my decision making and if anything this year has only reaffirmed that I want to get out of the lab, and the industry I work in (which is the most obvious industry to go into after the completion of a degree itself) I also see the dynamic of the company I work in and it takes a very long time for people to progress and are 99.9999% capped at a certain position, if they were even lucky enough to move into that position.

I looked into other areas like medicine which unfortunately does not leave much room for work life balance, science journalism which appears to have a lack of jobs and income seems capped unless you are truly exceptional, teaching but tbh I would only do that for the holidays which is a terrible reason to do it. I know this is a lot of what I dont want to dos instead of my interests. So good people of boards do you have advice? Deadlines for masters applications are rapidly approaching if not already surpassed (which I have savings for btw so money is not a huge issue in that regards).

j4vier

Do not sign up for a PhD if you know that you don't want to work in a lab. You will be 4 years older and not much will have changed in terms of jobs available. A PhD will allow you to work in research labs which in Ireland are mostly universities and there you are looking mostly at short terms contracts.

I'd look into graduate programmes if I was you. IDA have one open at the moment which seems interesting

LaLa2004

Read "Do what you are" by Tieger, Barron and ?

fits

It’s actually ok to think about what you don’t want as a way to narrow things down. Lots of phds aren’t lab based but if you do go down that route choose your topic and supervisor wisely. Or you could branch out to a completely different area altogether with your masters. Doesn’t have to be science.

Anne1982h

I don’t know what you should do but I will say do not and I mean NOT enter into a PhD program with your current attitude. I got top (not decent) grades in my degree and masters and I like you thought a PhD was the next natural step. The whole thing was a complete struggle and I was in a field I liked whereas you seem to have no clue what you want to do. The only reason by and large to do a PhD is if you want to lecture at university and that is not something obtained from just doing a PhD - it takes years more of work to get a lecturing position. I would forget about masters submissions for this year. You don’t have a clear idea of what you want to do. Look up Coursera online and do some courses in areas of interest in your spare time. It might help you find something. Also figure out what your priorities are - you bounce in the above between careers that pay well or have good holidays - which do you want from your career? What is more important - money and career progression, good work life balance, free time, interesting work etc.

Teyla Emmagan

I think the OP is talking about doing a Masters and not a PhD.

There are a million and one out there OP, what do you want to go into? I did a conversion course into business/IT in Smurfit and never looked back. You could do something that would take you into consulting the the pharmaceuticals etc, that might suit your background.

You are right though to get out of the lab if you hate it though, life is too short.

Edit - sorry he does mention PhD. Don't do a PhD unless you want to lecture, they're pointless otherwise.

silverharp

2 areas to consider would be law or tax, the pharma sector would be big clients, patent law etc

FizzleSticks

This post has been deleted.

LegacyUser

Hi OP.

I had the same problem ten years ago. I ended up in the military and then went back for postgraduate research. Don't do the PhD right now, there's plenty of time to complete one. It will at least give you better perspective!

Teyla Emmagan wrote: »

Edit - sorry he does mention PhD. Don't do a PhD unless you want to lecture, they're pointless otherwise.

That's entirely inaccurate. Plenty of research and development roles in Chemistry require a PhD. My first PhD was sponsored by a company who wanted me (still want me) to come work for them for a PMO role. My current PhD will likely have me working at the interface of academic research/industrial KTP. Both chemistry PhDs. No lecturing for either, and no prospect of lab work post-PhD. I'm not so sure that yours was an informed observation.