Thinking Ahead: Earning a Living in Science

Hey People,This is basically just a topic to get advice. I'm currently doing a masters in human genetics, more specifically working with human evolutionary genetics, and genetic ancestry.While my intention is to complete it by the end of this year (this intention is slowly eroding, together with my self-esteem), i've been giving a thought to what i might do afterward.My supervisor seems keen on having me work for her; she's one of the PIs involved in the Genographic Project; so that's certainly an avenue i think i should take note of. However, she also mentioned that i could do a PHd part-time while working.This is where the indecision comes in. For one, i don't think i want to do a PHd part-time, and two, i don't necessarily want to get too specialised in human evolutionary genetics, a field that seems to be more academic at the moment. Am i wrong in thinking this?I was thinking about branching into bioinformatics, as i heard that those in the field earn substantially more than conventional research scientists. Yet, while i enjoy computers and tech stuff, i like research more.What do you think is a good field in the Biosciences to gain experience in, in which one has the opportunity to succeed, both in terms of job satisfaction and earning a relatively comfortable living?Basically, which fields are hot, and are gonna stay hot for awhile to come.

I can make a few comments of the "do as I say not as I do" type. I have PhD in human genetics..though more medical than evolutionary. However, I worked in a famous ancient DNA lab on mammoth, sloth, and muskox evolution and have been working as an evolutionary virologist for the last 5 years. I am heading to the US to take up an assistant professorship in virology. My switching around in subjects and working in non-medical related research definitely delayed the progress of my career by a good 5-8 years. Also, going from medical related basic research to evolutionary biology while a lot more interesting, it is also less well funded. But it is not impossible to make a career out of it.If you stick to evolution topics you will likely be more restricted to academia. If you had worked on viral evolution you could get a job in industry but only if you jump to industry relatively quickly..otherwise they will consider you to "academic".Bioinformatics is a really good bet. Especially if you work in a discipline that bridges both the research bio side with the computer work. For example, there are groups that combine their predictions made from bioinformatic analysis with experimental confirmation particularly in expression or proteomics projects. Many of the most successful bioinformatics people I know are those who have worked as bench scientists in biology labs who then either combine or switch to bioinformatics. They have a big advantage over pure programmers or mathmaticians who try to jump into bioinformatics. I don't see this field drying up any time soon. More and more data is accumulating and the bottleneck is often how to analyze it, develop programs to analyze it, high throughput analysis etc. It is an entirely new set of challenges and it is increasing all the time..wait until they start an epigenomics project..that will be a challenge and a half.No matter what you choose to do, the unfortunate metric that will likely be crucial is to publish your work. Publish or perish. Even in bioinformatics. That you are involved in Genographic project is not bad...if you have famous references, that also will help when it comes to job searches later down the line.One last thing, I would not turn away from evolutionary genetics because of fear of future employment. You have to really be interested in the subject you study since science is brutal. If you switch to something medical and are bored, you will have more problems than if you stick to the smaller pool of evo genetics and love it. Bioinformatics is a nice compromise. It is highly dependent on evolutionary theory but is used in practical medical sciences.Good luck in any event with your studies.

I have a question regarding evolutionary genetic research. Given that it is less easy to stay gainfully employed (aka get grants), what is the possibility of doing independent research in one's spare time on such subjects?It just seems to me that maybe that is something one could do as a "hobby" and help advance the field (albeit in smaller ways) much like amateur astronomers, geologists, and archeologists.This of course comes from a healthy ignorance of all the equipment necessary to do good research in that field. Perhaps it is cost prohibitive.

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holmes
"What you need is sustained outrage...there's far too much unthinking respect given to authority." (M.Ivins)

Thanks for the insights, Mammathus.I take it, from your "Do as I say" comment, that you might have done things slightly differently, if you had the chance. So it wouldn't be a good idea to be considered an "academic" in industry. Why is this the case? Is there some level of discrimination?

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"The good Christian should beware the mathematician and all those who make empty prophecies. The danger already exists that the mathematicians have made a covenant with the devil to darken the spirit and to confine man in the bonds of hell." - St. Augustine

To do basic DNA work, i'd think that one would need, at least, a PCR machine, and an electrophoresis set-up. Not to mention consumables like restriction enzymes and reagents...and tubes and tips etc...
Field work and sample collection also takes resources and time.It would add up quite a bit in terms of cost. So you'd need maybe a nice start-up grant. And you'd only be able to keep it running if your day job paid really well.How i'd love to have my own capillary sequencer tho'

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"The good Christian should beware the mathematician and all those who make empty prophecies. The danger already exists that the mathematicians have made a covenant with the devil to darken the spirit and to confine man in the bonds of hell." - St. Augustine

Hi holmes,
Unless you are privately wealthy, it is way out of reach as a hobby. It costs just as much (if not more as U can call me Cookie pointed out because of sample collecting) as medical genetics.What you can do is have a career in say medical genetics and do the evolutionary work on the side. Some real big shots in the business do this...I am basically going to be doing the same with my lab focusing on medical virology but with an evolutionary component.

I would probably have focused earlier on which is why I said "Do as I say". If you shift fields too often, it looks like you were a serial failure..even if it is not the case. Unless the shifts make sense such as bench scientist to bioinformatics. I did a lot of work on gene expression during my PhD. I would have cut the ancient DNA work out and started with the more virology and evolution work sooner using my gene expression background as a basis...I have in some sense come full circle in my career..would have saved me a good 6 years of postdocs before landing an assistant prof job. But I was interested, got a grant to work on aDNA...published a bunch..and met my wife in the process. So it worked out...but there was some serious nail biting for years as my contract was running down and I did not have a job in sight.The issue with being an academic in industry (from my experience and that of my colleagues..so take it as anecdotal) is that industry have deadlines, financial targets, and a different hierarchy. Projects can be suddenly killed and the team, whether you are in charge or not, shifted to something completely different...even if the project was working. You are less in control. The research is focus based rather than basic research oriented in most companies. This is apparently a hard transition for those used to the freedoms of academic science. The longer you have been in academic science, the less likely you are to be able to adapt to a corporate mentality..at least that is how I see it. There are a few research companies which operate a lot like academic institutions..there are also some places like TIGR which are sort of half and half. But the majority are pure business and less into the Research than Development side of things.

Hey dude I would have to say go with what you love the most. If you find a career that you love to do, it can be as if you never really work at all, because you enjoy doing it so much.I have a PHD in Useless Information LOL. Seriously, although I am a religion major at College, I love science, especially paleontology and those that deal with animals (particularly Bears)If I could handle the numerous biology labs that you would probably have to take for it (class fine. Labs, gross!)and the math that you would have to do (Im knowledgeable in the Bible, Bears, and Prehistoric animals, but I am lacking in math)I would love to become a Paleontologist as well as a Professor of the Old Testament. But I cant handle the math, let alone the bio labs where one will no doubt have to cut open dead pig fetuses (eeewww!)so I plan on one day being an Amateur Paleontologist, going around on my free time and dig up fossils. But if you have the math and abilities to do the science, go ahead and take the oppritunity. And do whatever you think that you would want to do for the rest of your life.

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"The Nephilim where in the Earth in those days..." Genesis 6:4

Thanks for that, Ludo.U know, its never too late to make a start in science, at least i don't think it is.If you like Paleo' that much, the tuition really couldn't hurt. Squeamishness will pass, and i don't recall that many moments that caused it honestly. Anyway, the labs were often more interesting than the lectures. And i don't know how it works in the US, but i only had to do 1 year of maths... its not so bad.As you told me, go with what you love...

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"The good Christian should beware the mathematician and all those who make empty prophecies. The danger already exists that the mathematicians have made a covenant with the devil to darken the spirit and to confine man in the bonds of hell." - St. Augustine

Thanks dude BTW: That quote from Augustine in your post. Does it come from his "Confessions" or "City of God"? Augustine had some off-da-wall ideas.

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"The Nephilim where in the Earth in those days..." Genesis 6:4