> Would it be plausible for him to get a position as an applied scientist and then ultimately pivot into a research position over the course of a few years? Is

> Would it be plausible for him to get a position as an applied scientist and then ultimately pivot into a research position over the course of a few years? Is that a viable path? Or is a PhD a must for this sort of position? I think he’d be happier working into that position as an IC rather than a student. He’s done some good research already, but doesn’t yet have published work. This is _very_ rare. From my experience, all of my colleagues that are working in research positions (i.e., actively publishing to top-tier conferences) have PhDs. The most sure-fire way to work in research is through a PhD program at an R1 university because of the education, mentorship, and connections it provides. One option might be to start as a research engineer, collaborate with other scientists on papers, build a track record as a secondary author, and then apply to PhD programs, but that will still ultimately require getting a PhD. This isn't meant to be discouraging, but I think that the most obvious choice for active publishing is through a PhD program.