Academia vs. Industry

A discussion about choosing a career in academia versus industry: Academia may be intellectually rewarding, but industry pays much better. Academia protects your sense of scientific integrity, while industry protects your family's future. You are facing the decision of whether to stay an academic scientist or move into industry? This is not an easy choice, and there are excellent arguments on both sides. In academia, you work with the most exciting molecules and the smartest people in the world. You are in a position where your hard work can take you to your level of excellence or past it (in which case the sky's the limit). However, academia often forces scientists to do things that they know aren't best for their science, such as writing grant proposals to obtain funding. The pressure of the competitive environment requires academia to be short-term in its goals and rewards. On the other hand, academia has an excellent track record for rewarding hard work and is very open-minded. You don't need to jump through hoops or travel halfway worldwide to pursue your scientific goals.

?You are free to do science from the lab bench. In academia, you can express your scientific opinions without fearing harm or reprisal. The academic environment encourages some level of risk-taking. You have the opportunity to make a global impact. In academia, you run less risk of being manipulated by others with ulterior motives and career ambitions than you would in industry.

Academia protects your sense of scientific integrity, while industry protects your family's future. Academia can make you financially secure, but academia's rewards are confined to the science itself. The career path is much less influenced by friendships and social skills than that of an industrial scientist. Your level of dedication and hard work will determine whether you advance or not. Academia demands a great deal of time, but academia is intellectually challenging and rewarding. Academia allows you to work with the most interesting molecules in the world: life itself. Academia gives scientists enhanced credibility over industrial scientists when applying for industry grants, although this can also be said for industrial researchers who publish widely in their area of expertise. Academia promotes the idea of freely sharing scientific information and knowledge with the public, which is currently not in line with most corporate policies. Academia protects your sense of scientific integrity, while industry protects your family's future.?

By the way, I edit papers for a living, for the academy and industry. Contact me.