Posted by: dapu March 28, 2009
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I agree with all the views about pros and cons studying biological sciences. I studied biotech in my college years and am involved in a research right now. As far my experience with studying science
1. I simply love biology (particularly Immunology) - I did research in Immunology when I was in college for nearly 2 years with a great mentor. I loved it and made me decide to go further into the field of Immunology.
2. I love to spend time in lab. It is not like other (9 to 5) jobs - you set your own time, do experiments, troubleshoot if something does not work. I can tell you, most of us like me in research field certainly ends up staying more in lab than at home. But as for me, I really don't feel like I am working when I am in lab - and hours just fly by.
3. I dont know about all the biotech company and research fields, well as for the one I am working at - decent pay and fexible amount of vacations to enjoy.
4. Prestige - I think prestige is what you get from the field of science. I agree you don't get rich for a while, but you sure get name and fame. You will realize once you are in this field that when you do research, people all around you are well-known and famous (hope I reach to that point one day).
5. You are learning new things everyday. Unlike other jobs you do - you end of doing same thing for your whole life. As for the field of science, everything is new everyday. You are constantly keeping pace to find something new.
6. Science is not for everybody. I have seen lots of people study science - theory part basically. You need to be more partical and have more diversity in mind to study and know science.
7. I certainly agree doing just undergraduate in biotechnology might not land you in the job with salary range of 50K, you will certainly need to get Ph.D and postdoc for higher pay. When you are done with postdoc - the salary range for "scientist" are generally 100K-200K.If you wnat more than this, try being a Investment Banker - you can end up earning 50-70 million a year.
8. Science and Health care fields are recession-proof, if you are qualified enough. There are jobs always lying around. Particularly as NIH just got 50 billion as research stimulus.
9. Study what you are good at - not what you will make money out of. In long run during you life, you will be very happy with your decision.
10. Most of the high-tech research centers (I am not talking about private small biotechs) are non-profit or government funded/owned, this will help you getting H1B without problem, GC without tension.
11. One thing I want you all to know if you are fresh into college and studying science. YOU WILL NOT GET A JOB IN RESEARCH FIELD, IF YOU STUDY THEORY ONLY (meaning going to class, passing tests, graduating). EVEN IF YOUR GPA IS MORE THAN 3.75, YOU WILL NEED TO SHOW THAT YOU HAVE DONE RESEARCH IN YOUR COLLEGE YEARS. This will help you immensely when you will try to score a job.
Thanks,
Dapu
1. I simply love biology (particularly Immunology) - I did research in Immunology when I was in college for nearly 2 years with a great mentor. I loved it and made me decide to go further into the field of Immunology.
2. I love to spend time in lab. It is not like other (9 to 5) jobs - you set your own time, do experiments, troubleshoot if something does not work. I can tell you, most of us like me in research field certainly ends up staying more in lab than at home. But as for me, I really don't feel like I am working when I am in lab - and hours just fly by.
3. I dont know about all the biotech company and research fields, well as for the one I am working at - decent pay and fexible amount of vacations to enjoy.
4. Prestige - I think prestige is what you get from the field of science. I agree you don't get rich for a while, but you sure get name and fame. You will realize once you are in this field that when you do research, people all around you are well-known and famous (hope I reach to that point one day).
5. You are learning new things everyday. Unlike other jobs you do - you end of doing same thing for your whole life. As for the field of science, everything is new everyday. You are constantly keeping pace to find something new.
6. Science is not for everybody. I have seen lots of people study science - theory part basically. You need to be more partical and have more diversity in mind to study and know science.
7. I certainly agree doing just undergraduate in biotechnology might not land you in the job with salary range of 50K, you will certainly need to get Ph.D and postdoc for higher pay. When you are done with postdoc - the salary range for "scientist" are generally 100K-200K.If you wnat more than this, try being a Investment Banker - you can end up earning 50-70 million a year.
8. Science and Health care fields are recession-proof, if you are qualified enough. There are jobs always lying around. Particularly as NIH just got 50 billion as research stimulus.
9. Study what you are good at - not what you will make money out of. In long run during you life, you will be very happy with your decision.
10. Most of the high-tech research centers (I am not talking about private small biotechs) are non-profit or government funded/owned, this will help you getting H1B without problem, GC without tension.
11. One thing I want you all to know if you are fresh into college and studying science. YOU WILL NOT GET A JOB IN RESEARCH FIELD, IF YOU STUDY THEORY ONLY (meaning going to class, passing tests, graduating). EVEN IF YOUR GPA IS MORE THAN 3.75, YOU WILL NEED TO SHOW THAT YOU HAVE DONE RESEARCH IN YOUR COLLEGE YEARS. This will help you immensely when you will try to score a job.
Thanks,
Dapu
Last edited: 28-Mar-09 10:38 AM
Last edited: 28-Mar-09 10:39 AM