PerspectivesAre you interested in submitting a Perspective Article? Be sure to read The Science Advisory Board's Editorial Guides for Perspective Articles. Click here. Would I Do It All Again? by Lori M. Kelman, Ph.D. I love my job. I love my lifestyle. Depending on who you ask, I’m either a “scientist” or a person who “left” science to teach college. I’ve experienced discrimination, sexism, and just plain meanness, and I’ve had to make sacrifices. I would do it all again. A Ph.D. is required to teach biology at a 4-year college. It’s arguable that it’s the wrong credential, as a Ph.D. does not prepare you for teaching, and doesn’t provide a general knowledge of biology, but it’s what we use. Once I realized I wanted to teach college, I applied to the best Ph.D. programs in the area. I chose a project in yeast molecular biology, knowing this organism is cheaply and easily grown in college labs. I chose a mentor who supported my decision to “leave” science, knowing I would need her recommendation to get a job. In the 1980s and early 90s, taking a job in industry, teaching, science policy, or anything that wasn’t a research position was considered “leaving” science, and I encountered lots of people who held that opinion. But if you have a goal, it’s easy to ignore other people’s opinions. I knew what I wanted, and I knew it was the right decision for me. So now I’m a full professor, a “big fish in a little pond”. I have a family, and did have to leave a tenured position when we moved so that my husband could find himself an Assistant Professorship at a research institute. Dual career families have challenges, especially if both people are in similar fields. It’s tough to find two jobs at the same time in the same area. It’s particularly tough in science, as there simply aren’t that many jobs available. I’ve often said that to find an academic job, you have to wait for someone to die or retire, and in most cases that’s true. There are many more Ph.D.s than there are tenure lines. That’s the way it is. But there are lots of other options. Not everyone will run a lab. Some of us will teach. Others will go into patent law, or product development, manufacturing, or regulation. My advice to people who think they are interested in science is to think hard about where they would like to be in 20 years. Will you have a family? A house? Do you want to work at the bench? Outdoors? With people? Do you want to travel? Once you know what you want, ask around and do some research to find out which jobs come close to that. Women certainly have some “special” challenges. I have experienced some blatant sexual discrimination, but only on a few occasions. But this is not unique to science. I have had to deal with a sick child and an important meeting on the same day. But this happens to any working mother (or father). In many ways, science is well-suited for people who need flexibility. If my husband wants to go on a school field trip, he can do his protein prep in the evening. Teaching is less flexible (when I have class I have to be there), but each week I have a morning or afternoon off. I do our grocery shopping during the week, when the stores are nearly empty, and this really improves my quality of life. The “publish or perish” nature of science means my husband, in particular, works long hours, but this is the way it is, and this is also not unique to science. My brother, a corporate lawyer, works long hours as well. But I wasn’t interested in law, and he wasn’t interested in molecular biology. Most people want to be successful in their chosen career. But what is success? Is it a high number of publications? Invitations to speak internationally? A high salary? Success means different things to different people, and you should examine your own definition of success so that you can attain it. I could make a lot more money if I left teaching and went to industry, but then I wouldn’t teach students. Nothing makes me happier than to hear a sincere “thank you” from a student (yes, I’ve got an ego, and I evidently think being flattered is worth more than money). When I see a student’s eyes light up as they come to understand a tough concept, I feel like I’ve succeeded. If that sounds like a cliché to you, then you probably shouldn’t go into teaching as a career. It’s what makes a lot of us love it. So here’s my advice: find out your interests, determine what will make you happy, define “success”, then set a goal and go for it. If that requires a Ph.D., go get one. But go into this with your eyes open: know what is expected, know the challenges, and know the unglamorous parts of the job. Research is sometimes repetitive, meetings are boring, paperwork is even worse. But I love my job. Lori M. Kelman, Ph.D. Dr. Kelman has been a member of The Science Advisory Board since March 2002. ### << Previous Next >> [ View All Perspectives ] |
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