Written and produced by real PhD students and researchers. Does this movie reflect your reality?
PHD Movie Trailer from PHD Comics on Vimeo.
Archive for the ‘Career’ Category
Want to be depressed? Check out the scientist salary survey!
:: Posted by avi_wener on 06-15-2011GenomeTechnology has just put out it’s 9th annual salary survey (free subscription required) and the findings are quite depressing! Overall, salaries have not changed in the last 5 years (but I don’t need to tell you that, do I?) with postdocs and lab technicians (in academia) earning around $40,000 and PIs in the $110,000 range.
Geographically speaking, you are best off:
- as a VP/Director in the Southwest United States
- as a PI in the tri-state area, Rockville/DC/Virginia, Silicon Valley, LA or the Reasearch Triangle Park
- as a senior scientist in the Northeast
- as a plain Jane researcher anywhere but the Western United States
Looking at this information it is a wonder how anyone is able to get a complete team together of researchers, senior scientists, professors and PIs together in one place!
In terms of experience, if you are a lab manager, assistant prof or female PI, you’re pretty much gonna earn the same amount of money the rest of your life. So get used to it! Survey says that remunertion is not related to experience in these areas!
The survey is chalk full of goodies so sit back and relax with a coffee while browsing. Just be careful not to spit any of it out or you might ruin your computer!
How much money are your scientist colleagues making?
:: Posted by avi_wener on 03-09-2011As highly educated individuals, scientists are always wondering whether they are being fairly compensated for their hard work and many years of higher education (the answer is likely NOT). Instead of conducting a highly unscientific survey of your colleagues, be sure to participate in The Scientist’s 2011 salary survey to ensure accurate numbers that cover the broadest sample size possible.
The Scientist promises to break it down by life science specializations, geographic location, degree, job title and more. In return for your participation before June 24, 2011, they will enter you in a draw to win a $100 Amazon gift certificate.
Sounds like a win-win to me.
To participate visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BY3Q7MS. The survey is only open to US life science residents.
If the answer turns out to be that you are underpaid, you can always heed ABBA’s advice and get yourself a wealthy man (or at least a private grant backer).
Career paths for scientists
:: Posted by avi_wener on 02-02-2011MassBio is a not-for-profit organization committed to advancing the development of critical new science, technology and medicines that benefit people worldwide.
In the following video posted on the MassBio YouTube channel, 5 panelists discuss their career paths including their journey into industry. It is especially interesting to hear from Frank Dolan who almost flunked out of school and is now the senior vice president of MedPanel in Cambridge, Mass.
Are Scientists Over-Educated?
:: Posted by avi_wener on 12-06-2010As American Biotechnologists, many of us have spent huge amounts of time in the educational system, often completing 4 to 7 years of post-graduate studies plus several years of post-doctoral training. While many of us love our jobs and wouldn’t trade what we do for all the money in the world, (OK…maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration), at times I do find myself wondering if it was all worthwhile. After all, while I was busy slaving away in the lab working towards a graduate degree, most of my friends were earning good money in business or computers and they seemed happy. Has my education made me a better person? Have I contributed more to the world?
In the soon to be released documentary Race to Nowhere, students talk about their lost childhood and the pressure they feel to succeed while experts are left questioning whether the educational system is broken and needs fixing. As one expert put it, “I am afraid that our children are going to sue us for stealing their childhoods.”
I believe that the American Biotechnologist readership is well qualified to voice their opinion on the matter. What are your thoughts on the current educational system? Are we under too much pressure to focus on our education while sacrificing on some of life’s other pleasures?
I’m so curious to hear your thoughts. Please do share!