In article <3A2DB04A.6DE84D88 at zonvark.wustl.edu>, hoggy at zonvark.wustl.edu
says...
>>I came across this article only now.
>>http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/991108/microbes.htm>>As I was reading it, I remember a short while ago someone
>posted in here asking "why study microbiology?" This article seems to be a
pretty good start in
>answering that question.
>>>>>Gavin
>
There are two questions, and thus two answers built into the question
"why study microbiology." One question has to do with the benefits to
science, understanding, knowledge, contributions to health care, agriculture,
etc. AND microbiology is one of the most practical sciences, thus
worthy of study.
The second issue built into the question deals with career opportunities.
Here the answers are not so clear cut.
Perhaps if your degree is from, or will be from wustl you will have little
trouble finding a satisfactory position in academia or industry.
If your degree will be from Backwater State U., the result will be quite
different.
THis academic pyramid does not apply to all fields. For example,
lots of folks with all manner of degrees from Average State U. do find
work related to their education.
So, I offer a special caution to students of microbiology and especially
to graduate students of microbiology. If you are not attending
one of the top ranked schools; if your professor is not really really well
known and getting tons of grant money; if the prof. is not well known and
well connected; if last years grads are not in the kind of positions
they would have wanted; consider doing something else before you destroy
your economic life.
