Exploring Careers Outside Academia at OSM 2016

Abstract

For some of us, graduate school was (or is, or will be) a portal to the world of academia—a necessary first step in a clear progression from student, to postdoc, to professor. Graduate school trains us to be researchers and exposes us to academic role models, but sometimes it leaves students who are thinking of pursuing a nonacademic career feeling like they lack guidance. ASLO's “Exploring Careers Outside Academia” career panel at OSM 2016 sought to address this issue with a panel discussion for the graduate student or postdoc considering all his or her options. Panelists were from backgrounds ranging from science writing and policy to government and nonprofits, and their breadth of experience gave attendees plenty of food for thought. One of the biggest take-home messages from the panel was that there is no “standard” path for transitioning from academia to another career. While graduate school gives you many skills, such as project management, leadership, and writing experience, it's up to you to figure out how to leverage those skills outside academia. Panelists also pointed out that research experience needs to be supplemented by activities outside of the lab. Interested in becoming a science writer? Start a blog or apply for the AAAS Mass Media Fellowship. Want to become a teacher? Seek out teaching assistantship positions or volunteer in a public school. Is working to shape science policy your dream? There are fellowships and internships, such as ASLO's Science Communication Internship or the Sea Grant Knauss Fellowship, that give you firsthand policy experience. Identify some exciting career paths and then work to gain the skills that will make you competitive job applicant. Panelists also told attendees that research isn't incompatible with work outside academia. While some panelists quit the lab bench the moment they submitted their thesis or dissertation, others found ways to continue doing research as a part of their non-academic careers. It's a process, although; some panelists said frankly that they were still trying to find the balance between research and non-academic work that felt right for them. The value of a Ph.D. vs. an M.S. was also a big question for many attendees, and on this topic panelists held conflicting opinions. While some felt that a Ph.D. makes you more qualified for non-academic jobs, others stated that they knew people with Master's degrees in the same positions as them and felt that a Ph.D. could actually make your overqualified for some entry-level positions. The consensus was that non-academic jobs aren't “one size fits all” but that it is important to scope out careers that interest you. Investigate; is a Ph.D. is a “ticket to entry” for your field, or an M.S. acceptable or even preferred? A common theme between all the panelists was that they had enjoyed their time in academia, but left because other interests or lifestyles felt more compelling to them. Choosing to leave academia isn't an indication of failure, but rather an acknowledgment that the life of an academic isn't the best fit. The important thing is to find the right balance between research and other work—whether outreach, policy, consulting, or anything else you can think of—that feels right for you. Kelsey Ellis, 2015 ASLO Science Communications Intern, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; kels.a.ellis@gmail.com.