While most people joke about the never-ending tenure of earning a Ph.D., well, it does end. Most Ph.D. researchers would agree that it is less about having a better life and more about what one wants to get out of life and whether a Ph.D. will help achieve it. However, the thought of life after a Ph.D. crosses every Ph.D. researcher's mind. Can a life improve? This question somewhat depends on why you pursued your Ph.D. degree and how you wish to utilize your doctoral degree.
Let us look at what career life would like after acquiring a Ph.D. degree:
1. Academic Opportunities other than teaching
Ph.D. is more than an opportunity outside the confines of academia. There are several alternatives to teaching or working in academia. For instance, speaking at conferences, consulting, and getting a promotion or a new job, the options depend on what you want to pursue. Having a Ph.D. degree means you are part of a minor and coveted group outside of academics; it is vital to use this to your advantage. You have proven your capacity to innovate, learn, work with others, and work hard. Consider what you've learned in Ph.D. program and apply it to be better at what you choose do.
2. Knowledge
Through Ph.D., students gain deep, intense, and cutting-edge knowledge about their dissertation topic; however, most Ph.D. researchers consider it peripheral. Having a Ph.D. can be similar to having your brain twisted here and there and then put back into your head. Knowledge is just graphing facts out the edges, but there's more in terms of knowledge, through
- Ph.D. trains you to be resilient, patient, and inbuilt sheer grit to solve a problem.
- Having Ph.D. trains you to pick up things faster than you used to, much quicker.
- You're able to comprehend technical knowledge more accessible and more quickly.
3. Research
Contract research positions are abundant, and the prospects of each vary. Do your homework before joining the laboratory (use your research skills). Learn more about the projects and the people involved, specifically the principal investigator leading the team. Find one that works well, but Ph.D. researchers need to know what they want to get out of the experience.
4. Biotech and pharmaceutical industries
Believe it or not, biotech and pharmaceutical industries offer a range of non-laboratory-based jobs that use transferable skills like management, leadership, and computer skills (during Ph.D., these skills are inevitably picked up). If researchers enjoy these aspects of your Ph.D., then look for a job that will whet them. Enterprises offer a combination of mid-level entry fast-track positions for eligible PhDs with the proper prerequisites.
5. Administrative positions
Several corporate and government initiatives have resulted in a demand for PhDs offering respected administrative positions. After pursuing a Ph.D., students want to execute policy, administer and manage R&D program funds, and join government agencies for R&D development. These are job options for those who prefer more job security and do not mind being desk-bound.
Do not feel daunted by entirely new roles and unfamiliar environments. There is a lot more to life after a Ph.D. for researchers. Visit the EDAMBA website for more information on doctoral programs today.