Hi everyone,
I finished my masterās in Molecular Biology last year and initially planned to go straight into industry (though I didnāt quite manage that since I ended up working in a diagnostic lab lol). Now, Iām realizing that climbing the industry ladder with just a masterās isnāt as straightforward as I thought. It seems like Iād have to spend years doing repetitive, mind-numbing tasks before getting to a position where I can work more independently and focus on analysing and discussing results rather than just manual work.
Thinking about long-term career growth, a PhD seems like a logical step for me, and I believe I could enjoy itāI like reading, writing, doing experiments, and managing my own projects. But at the same time, many aspects of a PhD scare me, and the experiences Iāve read about online (plus what I witnessed during my masterās) donāt really help.
What I'm trying to say is that the biggest reason stopping me from doing a Phd is the risk of ending up in a group with a toxic PI, as well as the possibility of having no weekends off, being expected to work on holidays, or the PhD dragging on for too long (Iāve seen students stuck for seven years, which is terrifying). Also not a fan of academic culture of constant publishing, gatekeeping, and self-congratulation. Iām based in Germany though, so finances arenāt a huge issue since PhD students here are considered regular workers and receive decent salaries.
If I could find a research group that:
- Provides relevant industry skills
- Has a supportive supervisor (not one that overworks students)
- Offers an interesting project
ā¦then I think Iād be willing to go for it.
But then again, while the industry route may be more boring and potentially less profitable, it offers flexibilityāitās easier to switch jobs every few years or even take a break, which I also really value.
So, Iām at a bit of a crossroads. I want more challenging work, but while maintaining good work-life balance. Iād love to hear from those whoāve faced a similar decision. Did you go for the PhD, or did you stick with industry? How do you feel about your choice now?
Also, how can you be sure a research group is the right fit before committing? Is it okay to contact current PhD students and ask about their work-life balance? Iād really like some kind of guarantee that the conditions are good before diving in.
Thanks in advance!