Transition from Academics to Industry
Oct 29, 2009
The career path in crystallography is hardly straightforward. A scientist can end up moving many times over the course of their career. You know – back breaking, couch up 3 flights of stairs, garage bag full of clothes moving.
There are three main areas that are usually considered when looking for a position: government, academics or industry. A transition between academics to industry maybe the least understood since much of what is done in industry is not made public.
Peter comments:
…I would be extremely grateful if you could start a thread on people’s experience in moving from academia to industry. I am interested in doing this once I’ve finished my post-doc… It would be great to hear stories from people that have made the transition without prior industrial experience.
How does one best prepare for this type of transitions? Have you made the transition from academics to industry? Could you share some words of wisdom? Thanks.
SmallCasserole
October 29th, 2009 at 9:29 AM #
I made the transition about 5 years ago – having got as far as a tenured position in a UK physics department. I now work for Unilever – a company I’d had a number of contacts with over my academic career. I’m not sure there’s any particular preparation you need to make for the transition.
Several differences with academia:
1. No grant applications!
2. Answering the question at hand is key – your answer doesn’t have to be globally new as it does in academic research.
3. People are usually very pleased to see your results, because you’ve answered a question for them.
4. Skills of an academic in teaching are still required (you will need to explain what you’re doing to people with utterly different backgrounds).
5. My company is definitely a lot more interested in career development than any of the universities I worked in.
6. The share price is key.
Peter Nollert
November 5th, 2009 at 1:26 PM #
I made the transition 8 years ago. Working now for a small biotech – a company I’d had a number of contacts with over my academic career.
Sounds familiar?
Several differences with academia:
1. lots of grant applications writing
….
Finding out what you actually want to do and how that fits with the entity you’re considering to join is key. In any job you’re creating value (, hopefully). In academia the value is created when a paper is published (better prospect of getting the next grant, postdoc etc.). Value creation in industry is pointed towards new products, services, processes and more directly towards the bottom line ($$$).
Admittedly, it’s tough job market out there
Peter’s blog
Once you realize though, that academic research is only a tiny fraction of what people are doing in this world, a larger set of opportunities presents itself. Networking is a good way to expose yourself to such opportunities.
‘Pursuit of you own interests’ – a reason oftem mentioned by those staying in academia, is overrated in my opinion. In the end you’ll oblige to those projects that the granting agencies fund.
I hope this helps.