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Unread 04-10-2015, 21:04
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GeeTwo GeeTwo is offline
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AKA: Gus Michel II
FRC #3946 (Tiger Robotics)
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Careers in STEM - without a PhD.

This afternoon I sat on a panel discussion at a local science fiction convention entitled "Careers in Science without a PhD." The panel was made up of five working scientists with a BS or MS degree (moderator works for NASA, two panelists for the US Navy, and two panelists for the state of Louisiana). Here are a few of the highlights:
  • Most careers in science (or technology or engineering; no comments made on mathematics) do NOT require a PhD to get a decent paycheck. Many of us find good employment with a BS, MS, or even associate's degree. One of my co-workers is a Physical Science Technician, and has a high school diploma, plus thirty years of experience in acoustic modeling. In most fields, unless you want to be a college professor or lead researcher, you don't need a PhD. Even for lead researcher, it is not a hard requirement: our panel moderator is a primary research investigator, and another panelist knows a non-PhD at NRL-Stennis who does primary research investigation. My office's technical director does not have a PhD. Less than 10% of my department has a PhD. More than half of my branch (the operations support branch of the acoustics department of the Naval Oceanographic Office) does not even have a bachelor's degree.
  • The keys to getting a good job doing science aren't much different than in anything else: start early, be persistent, and exploit personal networking. That is, don't wait until you have a degree (or are a few months from getting one) to look for a science job. Look for internships (preferably paid ones) or near-campus jobs (that is, jobs with companies not formally affiliated with the school who hire students as technicians). These jobs may lead directly to another after graduation, or give you a contact that will lead to one. If you apply to a company who doesn't need your skill in-house, ask who they out-source that skill to, or what skills they are looking for that you can acquire.
  • One of our panel (Zan) highlighted the value of persistence. She applied for a position early in her career, but did not receive it. She continued to call every two weeks to see if the position had been filled, and re-stated her interest. About three months later, when they were unable to find a candidate who filled all of the requirements, guess to whom they offered the job. Also, join professional organizations as you are eligible and attend conventions at least semi-regularly; you never know if someone you meet at a conference may one day be in a position to recommend you for a job.
  • Jobs doing computer programming or data processing are actually available without any degree, certification, or other formal credentials - these days, you can get in on open source programming or crowd sourced data processing, and use that as an entree into a real paid programming or data processing position.
  • Essentially no one is doing the job he/she pictured before graduation. Be ready to follow the opportunities that arise, even if it means moving to a different field or a different part of the country. Also, once you've grown into your current position, keep your eyes open elsewhere. This is especially true if it is clear that your current employer does not offer upward mobility for your position! Very few people entering the job force today will retire from the same company/agency where they started.

In case anyone thinks this is all just theoretical, I have a concrete example. My oldest son (Gixxy on CD) was offered a part-time paid programming job while he was still in high school based on some open source work he contributed. As a junior at LA Tech, he's now working a near-campus job which leaves him enough time to pursue his degree in computer science, while mostly paying his own way. I'm contributing health and car insurance, and the difference between a state scholarship and actual tuition & fees; otherwise, he's now financially independent. And OBTW, he has not had to take out a single dollar of student loan to date.

As a final bit, "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade". This did not come up at the panel, but I absolutely took great advantage of adversity as my career was starting. During my senior year in physics at the University of New Orleans, I was [completely falsely] charged with breaking and entering an apartment; the circumstances are too weird and involved for this forum. I quickly ceased my search for a job, and applied for the master's program. Within a year, the charges were dropped and expunged, but I carried on with the MS. After I had completed my MS coursework, but before I had written my thesis, a one-year instructor's job came open in the department. I managed to land the job before actually being awarded the MS degree (but after earning it), largely due to the power of personal contacts. The year I spent teaching was the best learning experience of my life. I learned more about physics and more about myself that one year than the six years preceding or the six years following. I learned that I could not teach as a vocation, but must teach as an avocation. I have been largely frustrated in this discrepancy until becoming an FRC mentor - so thanks Dean, thanks Woody, and thanks Gixxy!
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