Academia is the 'Exception'

Blogger Grant Jacobs at Code for Life says that these days "the academic research career is the exception." Scientists who choose to pursue careers outside of academia "are not exceptions, but are the rule," he suggests. Jacobs points out that, according to New Zealand's Ministry of Research, Science & Technology statistics, "the majority of science PhD students do not go on to work in academic science, at least not immediately after their PhD studies." Jacobs suggests that careers-related discussions with post-graduate students should open with "most of you will not go on to academic careers," and they should highlight exciting opportunities elsewhere. Given the option to consider careers beyond the ivory tower, PhD students might realize that they would be "happier working in a commercial setting as part of a large team" or might "aspire to be a science manager, leaving the day-to-day science" to their colleagues, Jacobs writes.