Where What You Like and What You Need Meet

A Master's degree student studying comparative vertebrate physiology, who also has an interest in statistics, writes in to blogger Isis at On Becoming a Domestic and Laboratory Goddess for career advice: "Where does a young physiologist without an MD or PhD get her start?" Isis suggests that she "seriously review the things about science she enjoys and any personal goals that might influence future career plans," and then enlist the services of her institution's career center. "If this reader is at a major research university, then a good career counselor should be able to help her discern from goals and explore some potential career paths, and potentially open doors with some companies," Isis says, suggesting that a grad student with a deep interest in statistics might consider a career as a clinical research associate. In a comment to this post, however, reader David adds that if the student "likes stats, she should study stats. Do exactly what you love most, not something that only approximates what you love. Another master's never hurts. Many pharma companies will pay for tuition and provide time support while employed in other parts of the company."