After spending some time in the pursuit of a PhD. in Microbiology I have
become dissillusioned. Recent media reports, observation of peers trying
to obtain jobs, and the lack of job opportunities posted in 'help wanted'
sections of journals and newspapers have led me to the conclusion that
PhDs' are simply not wanted in the job market. Based on the 'help wanted'
sections of local newspapers (D.C. area, NIH area, Montgomery County, Md.
'technology corridor') it appears that there is greater demand for biological
technicians and other types of 'support staff' vs actual 'research staff'.
I am considering forsaking the pursuit of the PhD degree. Instead I
intead to pursue research in the biological sciences via a different route:
that of working as a technician in a biolgical laboratory and, through
time and experience, work my way into doing original research under the
private investigator for which I work.
My bottom line question is: have any of the readers browsing through this
post pursued a similar line of action and (please) what advice would
you give to a person contemplating actions such as mine?
In advance, thank you,
Christopher Coker
PhD Candidate, MIcrobiology.
