Wintertime is all about hot beverages, family gatherings, and story telling. But be aware, not all stories are true! Mariana Cerdeira investigated some widely spread beliefs commonly told in academia. This article is part of a new section of the newsletter that we believe is extremely relevant to all young scientists. Focusing on employability, this recurring section is produced in cooperation with the Erasmus+ program Neurasmus.
The
world of academia has a set of unspoken rules and habits that are
historically so intrinsic to the system that many times go unnoticed or uncontested. Some of them might have served a purpose in the past, but are now outdated. Being a PhD student myself, and having been inside the ‘academic bubble’ for over seven years now, I've gathered seven very common and widely spread beliefs which, I dare to say, are not exactly true.
1) Non-academic careers are “alternative” careers.
Very often, careers outside science, or even science-related but not in research, are referred to as alternative careers.
‘Alternative’ implies exception to the rule. But several survey reports
from different countries, including the one below by the UK’s Royal
Society, have shown that only a tiny percentage of PhDs actually stay in
academia, while the vast majority pursue other jobs.So, in reality, academia is the alternative career path for PhDs.
2) There are two options: either academia or industry.
This
simplistic, binary classification of the career possibilities for PhDs
is, unfortunately, very frequently used. In the life sciences, the term
‘industry’ usually refers to pharmaceutical companies. But there are
several other institutions and job positions that don’t fall into either
of these categories. For example: business consultancy, public policy,
patent protection, science journalism, public health, clinical practice,
scientific journal editing, program management – to name a few. Once
you start searching, you realize there are many interesting options out
there. I went from thinking “What will I possibly do if I don’t stay in
academia?” to “How will I possibly narrow down my options to only one?”.A more suitable way to classify career opportunities for PhDs would be: a) academic careers; b) science-related non-academic careers; c) careers outside science; and d) clinical practice.
3) If you leave academia, you're a traitor.
You
may find this an exaggeration, but believe me – there are quite a few
people who think like this. Their argument is that your alma mater spends a lot of money and effort training you, and the least you could do in return is to remain a scientist.Guilt is a feeling many PhD students have – even when we go on a short vacation break or leave the lab before 6 pm – and we need to learn to free ourselves from it. We should definitely be forever grateful for all the opportunities our universities give us, and be proud alumni. But we shouldn’t feel like we’re betraying anyone or turning our back on science if we opt for a non-academic career. Besides, there are not enough academic positions to accommodate all graduates anyway.
It’s OK to go to graduate school even if you don’t want to be a researcher forever. And wanting to leave academia does not mean you’re not a hard-working, committed PhD student.
4) If you're leaving academia, it must mean you were not good enough to make it in academia.
Once,
at the beginning of my PhD, a professor asked me what my plans for
after I graduated were. I said I was not sure yet, but I knew I would
not stay in academia. He then went on trying to cheer me up: “But you
never know how your PhD project is going to turn out… Maybe you'll have
great results and be able to get a faculty position one day”. So I
explained further: “You don't understand… I don't want to stay in academia.”It's true that permanent positions in academia are extremely scarce and highly competitive, and only a handful of very competent people get them. And that many scientists whose first choice was actually to stay in academia are forced to find a job elsewhere. But there is also a number of people who simply prefer certain non-academic careers. Many academics are still shocked by the idea that not everyone in grad school has the dream of running their own lab.
Which brings us to the next myth...
 |
| Source: The Royal Society, ‘The Scientific Century: securing our future prosperity’, 2010. |
5) It only makes sense to do a PhD if you want to pursue a career in academia.
This
one is a CLASSIC. Most likely every PhD student who has decided not to
stay in academia, or wants to work as a physician, has already heard
this question: “Then why do a PhD?”.Truth is, the time when a PhD program’s only purpose was to produce university researchers is long gone. A doctorate is an enriching experience that makes one develop countless transferable skills that are valuable in different areas. These include critical thinking, analytical skills, the ability to work independently, problem-solving, time management, resilience, and so many others. It is a long-term professional investment. But it’s definitely not easy. Doing (or not doing) a PhD is a very personal decision and many factors should be considered. But if you decide to go for it, your reasons should make sense to YOU.
6) A PhD degree is always an advantage over a master's.
Having
a PhD title is no guarantee of getting a better job in the future. It
won’t harm, but it won’t necessarily help either. Some employers value a
longer ‘real work experience’ over a PhD degree, and many people
succeed in landing good jobs straight out of their bachelor’s or
master’s. The same applies to a post-doc compared to a PhD.Each person should draw their own line. Mine, for example, is between a PhD and a post-doc: I believe a PhD is beneficial for many purposes, but I wouldn’t do a post-doc unless I was pursuing a career in academia. Each person's path is different and unique, and each one should decide how to invest their time and effort the way they judge best.
7) You’re a PhD student and should act like one.
In
many countries, a PhD isn’t officially considered a job, even though it
looks and feels like one. Although you usually already hold two
degrees, you're still enrolled in a university and are technically still
a student. This ends up making PhD students feel that they’re not real
professionals.When a PhD colleague shows up for a seminar or a networking event a bit more dressed up than usual, it even feels weird to see him or her in this ‘work attire’. Once, in a soft skills workshop I attended, the coach suggested that we always take our business cards with us to conferences. A few people were shocked: “What, we? Having business cards? But we’re mere PhD students…”. But if you think about it – why not? It actually makes a lot of sense. The only reason why it feels odd is because it’s not common – but if you would like to do it, you shouldn’t feel restrained by the fear of being unconventional.
Whether you want to stay in academia or not, a PhD is always a temporary position and we’ll soon have to figure out our next move. So we might as well start portraying ourselves as the professionals we are. If we don't promote ourselves, who will?
These 7 misconceptions are very frequently conveyed in academia and need to be pondered upon. Fortunately, a few graduate programs and institutions are starting to realize the need to tackle these issues and are slowly giving more focus to the theme of ‘careers’. As to us, we should do what scientists do best and question everything – including the mindset that surrounds us daily.
Do you have any other myths to add to the list?
by Mariana Cerdeira, PhD Student AG Harms
this article originally appeared in CNS Volume 9, Issue 4, From Cradle to Grave in the Brain
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