PhD support group?

misskool

academia is really for the very hard core. there aren't enough posts for the number of people who want the jobs.

Job security is low, many people move on from one short term contracts to another.

but then again, if you enjoy what you do, it makes it all worthwhile right?

charts

misskool wrote:

academia is really for the very hard core. there aren't enough posts for the number of people who want the jobs.

Job security is low, many people move on from one short term contracts to another.

but then again, if you enjoy what you do, it makes it all worthwhile right?

Know what you mean. Various members of the department here are on fixed term contract and it seems a very hard slog. Also, my girlfriend (in a different dept.) had to wait five years from completing her PhD to getting a permanent position with the associated grind of producing a book and a slew of articles along the way. It was a very uncertain life for her, not least because temporary contracts often run for only 9 months so leave you with nothing to live off over the summer months. Having said this she now has a job in a very good department and, in general, loves her work and loves teaching.

My achievements to date don't stack up so well however!

Heth_2

I must say that when I finish my phd I don't really want to stay in academia, I'll hopefully manage to get a job using my brain, but possibly not my phd itself. I know this is a real waste and most people in my office really criticise this, but I can't imagine doing post doc after post doc, and don't have much interest in teaching anyway. To do a post doc I would almost certainly have to move and having bought a house and having my husband settled in his job here wouldn't help. Feel like a bit of a wimp admitting this though...

cupid_s

I would love to teach when i finish but i know the chance of this ever happening is slim. And i cannot stand the thought of doing post doc after post doc and having to reapply for a job every 3 years. I'm going to look for something completely different - don't know what yet though....

DrFluffy

Why is the option to teach slim? Not prying, but if you think so for anykind of academic or competative reason, a lot of my friends are currently teacher training or finishing teacher training - both fellow doctorate students and post docs...

talksalot81

My impression is also that getting a teaching position is rather difficult. I know the part of the country I want to work in which basically leaves 2 universities both of which are cutting back jobs and cutting budgets. Then I have the problem that it is basically impossible to get an academic post without spending a prolonged time abroad (which is not something I want to do) and even if you do, the market is seriously tough because every job gets application from many others from other countries who will potentially have alot more experience...

cupid_s

DrFluffy wrote:

Why is the option to teach slim? Not prying, but if you think so for anykind of academic or competative reason, a lot of my friends are currently teacher training or finishing teacher training - both fellow doctorate students and post docs...

i don't want to teach teach, i want to university teach. and these places are kinda reserved for people with a good few years post doc training which i don't want to do.

i don't think i could stay in research. i have a 16 hour day ahead of me today, as i did last week and will again next week and probably the week after that. this is essential for my research. how can you do 16 hour days with a family? i already feel crap leaving my cat, lizards and hubby for over a 'whole day' (i cannot get home in time on the train so have to stay at a friends so wont see them until tomorrow evening)

laserboy_2

free_radical wrote:

I passed my Ph.D today!

I'm sooooooooooooo happy!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!

Only minor corrections too!

Congratulations!

Now go forth and celebrate the traditional way :beer:

misskool

hey cupid_stunt: did you ever figure out your western blotting problems?

and there are a few of us on here who won't continue to academia (sadly I love research too much to give up the long hours, crap pay etc etc) so can I ask what motivated you lot to get a phd?

What events or set of events directed that you should be obsessed with a minor detail of something small for 3 years? (or more!!)

talksalot81

Maybe they wish to go into industrial research... alot of people I know think that way... fair enough you lose some flexibility in your work (ok alot of flexibility), but you do get paid a whole load more and there is not going to be the same level of fighting for your life with continual grant proposals etc.