3 ms·

Scientists leaving labs and heading for cubicles (2013)

1 points by cryoshon 11y ago

cryoshon 11y ago
FTA: "Now that President Obama signed into law a federal spending measure that locks the federal budget "sequester" cuts into place, a mandatory $54 billion in basic research funds will be cut across agencies in the next five years, estimates the American Association for the Advancement of Science, based in Washington. In that case, grant success rates will probably plummet to about 10%, NIH chief Francis Collins has estimated. "For young researchers, the sequester is just one more load on the camel's back after years of seeing fewer chances at funding," says Boston College biologist David Burgess. "Most of my graduate students are figuring on careers in industry, while the younger students are hearing horror stories about funding and may steer away from science completely."" Relevantly, I left my academic science job 5 months ago, and won't be going back. I am in a biotech industry job now, however I may soon leave this as well-- salaries are too low for the trouble.
dekhn 11y ago
I did this about 7 years ago when I saw the writing on the wall (looking at PhD rates and funding rates and grant rates). I was a semi-successful computer scientist/biologist working to be a PI, but the reality was that all my time was spent writing grants and papers, not doing research. I left to work for a large internet services company that provides 20% time to its employees. I had read their research papers before joining and was convinced their infrastructure (developed for search and ads) was key to the future of science. When I got to my new employer, I was delighted to learn they agreed with me and I used the 20% time to develop a number of scientific projects. I still get to do research, while also working on some fairly interesting non-science problems. I still publish, but don't have to worry about funding. The pay is spectacularly better- I finally have a chance of buying a house in the Bay Area- and the benefits are amazing. I don't think I'd have the same opportunties if I'd gone to be a software engineer at a Pharma- my employer is very open minded about the idea of its software engineers working on collaborative research with external scientists.

1 points by cryoshon 11y ago

FTA: "Now that President Obama signed into law a federal spending measure that locks the federal budget "sequester" cuts into place, a mandatory $54 billion in basic research funds will be cut across agencies in the next five years, estimates the American Association for the Advancement of Science, based in Washington. In that case, grant success rates will probably plummet to about 10%, NIH chief Francis Collins has estimated. "For young researchers, the sequester is just one more load on the camel's back after years of seeing fewer chances at funding," says Boston College biologist David Burgess. "Most of my graduate students are figuring on careers in industry, while the younger students are hearing horror stories about funding and may steer away from science completely."" Relevantly, I left my academic science job 5 months ago, and won't be going back. I am in a biotech industry job now, however I may soon leave this as well-- salaries are too low for the trouble.

dekhn 11y ago

I did this about 7 years ago when I saw the writing on the wall (looking at PhD rates and funding rates and grant rates). I was a semi-successful computer scientist/biologist working to be a PI, but the reality was that all my time was spent writing grants and papers, not doing research. I left to work for a large internet services company that provides 20% time to its employees. I had read their research papers before joining and was convinced their infrastructure (developed for search and ads) was key to the future of science. When I got to my new employer, I was delighted to learn they agreed with me and I used the 20% time to develop a number of scientific projects. I still get to do research, while also working on some fairly interesting non-science problems. I still publish, but don't have to worry about funding. The pay is spectacularly better- I finally have a chance of buying a house in the Bay Area- and the benefits are amazing. I don't think I'd have the same opportunties if I'd gone to be a software engineer at a Pharma- my employer is very open minded about the idea of its software engineers working on collaborative research with external scientists.