Career questions tagged phd
Is 50% of a standard work week sufficient for a part-time PhD?
I'm starting out on a part-time employer-sponsored PhD after spending a few years in industry. My employer has given me 50% of my usual work-week time - ie about 19 hours a week (flexibly scheduled to suit me, not a strict pattern)- to work on the PhD research work, with the expectation that the PhD is spread over double the full-time number of years. I know PhDs have a reputation for long hours - although I don't know to what extent this reflects the workload coming in fits-and-starts vs a steady workload; how much is down to poor student time management leading things to be packed in last-minute, and how much this reflects the workload *actually* being higher. Averaged over a year, how many hours a week is typically actually needed for a PhD? Is my work allocation enough, or do I necessarily need to put in outside-of-work hours to ensure I complete in time? If so, roughly by how much should I expect to need to put in?
Advice for a mature student part-time PhD?
Having previously finished my studies at Masters level and after spending a number of years in industry in operational technical roles, I've started doing more research work and found myself underqualified for research positions, having not originally completed a PhD. I'm fortunate that my employer has been able to support a part-time PhD to rectify this - however, as someone coming back into University as a part-time mature student, what change of mindset from my current industrial work approach do I need to be successful in a PhD and in research work?
How rewarding is it to know you are directly helping or contributing to something that can benefit many people?
Specifically for those in STEM areas. This fall, I will be attending the University of Washington - Seattle, intending to major in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. I am interested in conducting research in a lab or potentially studying medicine. I would like to know what it feels like to have a direct impact on people's lives, whether you are working in a hospital or a lab.
how did you know that you that chiropractic was the career for you Why did choose the chiropractic school you did for your degree??
how did you know that you that chiropractic was the career for you? Why did choose the chiropractic school you did for your degree?
How can I most effectively balance graduate studies and work commitments with the high level research involvement necessary to become a competitive Clinical Psychology PhD candidate within two years? #Spring26
I am a 23 year old first generation Latina finishing up my research work at UCSD, and heading into my master’s at SDSU with the goal of applying for a PhD in two years. I am currently balancing grad school with a part time job to stay afloat, but I know I need to stay active in research to stay competitive. I want to figure out a sustainable way to hit those research milestones without completely burning out.
Navigating from Industry to a Future Applied Physics PhD
As an Engineering Physics applicant at UCSD who is highly motivated to maximize both undergraduate research and industry internships to navigate tight financials, I am specifically targeting a career in quantum hardware, semiconductors, or nanotechnology. These fields are where I plan to work for five to ten years post-graduation to build a financial foundation before pursuing my PhD and based on current market shifts, what specific technical roles or specialized skill sets should I prioritize right now that will remain high-demand in the future while providing the rigorous experience necessary to keep me competitive for a top-tier graduate program a decade from now?
What were the most valuable career experiences that you had before becoming a professor, and what would you recommend checkpoints would you recommend me to pursue on my own journey to become one, specifically in the engineering field?
I'm a student pursuing a doctorate in the engineering field, specifically chemical or biomedical depending on what classes I end up enjoying more or excelling at in college. I'm super passionate about sharing my knowledge, but I also always want to continue learning myself, so I want to become a professor, so that I have the opportunity to teach others while also doing research with other professors and students at the university. I understand that it's important to have research experience and to get papers published for this kind of career, but I'm not sure what else would be helpful in the profession or even just in landing the job. I want to know what opportunities would help me with this, without delaying my plans for too long.
If i want a bachelor's in neuroscience i have to go abroad. What university would be good to major in neuroscience and higher studies, phd ,research in this field in Europe? (also scholarship would be nice for me).
I'm from Bangladesh and no university here has the subject neuroscience, but i want to be a neuroscientist.I can take ielts but if it's not uk i can learn the native language,but if i do my bachelor's here then what can i major in so i can do higher studies in neuroscience and be a researcher/neuroscientist
Do research online programs like Lumiere, Indigo Research, Polygence, etc, really help in getting into better schools?
Hi I just finished my junior year and I'm about to go into my senior year. This summer I have been looking for things to do for college and came across these research opportunities. I recently got accepted into one and I'm really excited about the opportunity of stepping into something different like this, challenging myself. These research programs come with a cost which isn't something very affordable for my family and something my parents' aren't really willing to pay. I'm really enthusiastic about this opportunity, but I want to know if the price is really worth it, if I would be spending my money on something that will positively affect my future: getting into a good college, obtaining scholarships, gaining experience for my career. This is something I'm really considering even if my parents are not really willing to pay for it, I want to know if it's worth it so I can find a way to make it work. I'm open to hearing everyone's honest opinions on the topic, thank you!
How do PhD admission officers think about an undergraduate who worked in two research labs simultaneously?
I am currently a rising sophomore who started in a genetics lab in March. I found a really interesting opportunity to work in a biomedical engineering lab, and their position description requires me to learn many software skills which will be helpful for my bioinformatics track. Assuming I can handle the workload, would adding a second lab strengthen my PhD application? Or might it raise concerns about my ability to commit deeply to one research lab?
Is pursuing a career as a Psychiatrist right for me?
Hello there! I am currently a junior in high school. I am very passionate about psychology and would love to become a psychiatrist in the future. I have almost all As and A pluses, including an A in my AP Psychology class. The only problem is, I struggle in math and currently have a C- in my Trigonometry class. I am one class advanced from the average Junior course. Is it essential for me to do well in my math classes to become a Psychiatrist? I am very creative, but math has always been more difficult for me. To those Psychiatrists or Psychologists out there, do you think I have what it takes to pursue a PhD in Psychology or should I shoot for something more attainable? Also to those Psychiatrists out there, what is your work-life balance like? Is it achievable to have quality time with your family outside of work? Thank you for your time!
What difficulties is a humanities post-PhD likely to encounter in today's current job market?
For the past few years, the job market has seemed a perilous place for those seeking placement in higher education, especially in the humanities. Given today's current socio-political climate, what (new) difficulties is someone with a humanities PhD likely to encounter when seeking employment, and what courses of action can one take to prepare for them?
How much does the GRE matter for Biology graduate admissions ?
I’m a college freshman studying Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. I intend on going straight to a PhD after my undergraduate degree (will probably do it in Biochem, Microbiology, or something similar). I joined a research lab at the start of my freshman year, and am participating in a research fellowship this summer. I know research is what matters most for PhD applications in my field, but how important is the GRE? I’ve heard that depending on the field, this varies a lot.
What were some of the deciding factors between selecting a PhD in Clinical Psychology versus a PsyD in Clinical Psychology, vice versa?
I currently have a bachelor's degree in psychology, and will be attending a graduate program in the Fall to obtain my masters in psychological research. I have juggled the ideas of both a PsyD and PhD, and wanted to know if anyone else has had this same debate and what were some factors that made you lean towards one degree versus the other. #Spring25
Should I get my PhD in Sociology or Criminology ?
So I got my bachelors degree in Sociology, with a lot of my research centering injustices within the criminal justice system. I am really interested in analyzing the CJS as an institution and looking at the ways it discriminates against different intersectional identities. I like looking at social justice issues and justice reform. Recently, I have been looking into getting a PhD as I hope to become a professor. I have talked with three professors about this, two sociology professors one english professor, and two of them(the english prof and a soc prof) believe I should pursue a PhD in criminology instead of sociology. They say this because A) sociology is incredibly competitive B) Sociology is being targeted right now under the Trump administration. They say I'll be more marketable if I do Criminology instead. The issue is, I don't want to be tied down to crime. I am incredibly interested in learning about all the issues with the criminal justice system and learning about ways we can fix it and reform our justice system. I find recividism to be very interesting as well, as well as issues in policing. However, I am interested in looking at these things through a sociological lens. I love sociology, I love how diverse it is, and I just feel that is where my heart is. However, I'll be very honest to say my understanding of Criminology is limited to the one entry level criminology course I took in my undergrad. Idk I just don't know what to do, and I'm scared if I pick sociology I'll regret it down the road if I can't find a job being a sociology professor. What should I do???
What are the benefits of pursuing a PhD versus a PsyD in psychology #Spring25 ?
I'm a freshman in college, going into my second semester. I've decided to major in psychology. I'm trying to decide if I want to peruse getting a PhD or PsyD.
How to choose PhD program, If I aim to become an entrepreneur/startup after my PhD?
I am a PhD Chemistry aspirant. After PhD, I want to become an entrepreneur and build my own startup. But I want to know how to choose the PhD program so that I could achieve my goal of doing a PhD i.e. entrepreneurship
How should I prepare for a PhD in Comparative Literature?
My ultimate goal is to be a literature professor, and I want to get my PhD in Comparative Literature after a gap year after undergrad. I contemplate how I can show proficiency in multiple languages or if there are other things I should do to stand out in my grad school application.
What can I study my undergrad year before going to law school?
I wanted to study a social science or humanities before going into law but am not too sure what my options are limited to and would like an insight or some information regarding those options. I am looking for something versatile in the job market in case I shift gears in the future and pursue something other than law. #Fall24
Is it possible to get into a career in psychology without getting a PhD?
I am considering going into a psychology career but I don't want to go to extra schooling if it is not necessary.
What resources might help a science education postdoc figure out a career change?
I always though I wanted to be a professor, but now that I have a Science Education PhD and am near the end of my postdoc, I find I don't really want to go into traditional academia (At least not with a research component). Unfortunately the schools that are hiring without a research component are hiring adjuncts or VAPs only, which is not sustainable long term. I've never considered what else to do and am seeing a lot of roles that I'm over-educated but underqualified for. I don't know what job hunting resources are out there when you have a PhD but no known/intended career field. I do not care about the money beyond pays-my-rent-food-and-gas, and I'm more than willing and even potentially interested in "downsizing" the career aspirations to a field where I can make a positive community impact that is not necessarily in my field. Are there any programs or coaches that could help me explore what might fit my skills?
I'm a Research scholar in University of Mumbai. I had completed masters in life sciences specialization in biochemistry, and now I am working as a JRF(Junior Research Fellow) in Project. and at this stage I am Stuck, as soon as the project gets over i have to go for another project or research work. the main question is should i go for PhD or go for Teaching, or in research again which one will be better? My Pov-(I've seen people with PhD were jobless because they did not find any suitable job they often get rejected by recruiter and the reason is overqualification). So, now am quite afraid to pursue PhD but also I don't want to stop myself for learning and earning.
There is no gaps in my academics. and I am very much interested research field. My age is 23.
If I aspire to study neuropsychopharmacology or the effects of addiction on the mind, what extracurriculars/opportunities do you suggest I complete to make me a competitive applicant for graduate school ?
I am currently a rising junior in college
What would be a reason for me to get my doctorate in higher education as opposed to my DNP?
What would be a reason for me to get my doctorate in higher education as opposed to my DNP?
What can I do to get into a fully funded scholarship program in a graduate school and do a PhD with a professor that has an ongoing research interest that he's working on? #spring24
I have a BSc in Mechanical engineering, I graduated with honors and I'm looking forward to working in a research Lab(manufacturing or a design and simulation Lab). I believe that I have talents in Mechanical engineering that can contribute to the world. #spring24
Are M.D./Ph.D. (neuroscience specifically) programs worth it ?
I'm currently a high school senior. I already committed to a college and I'll be majoring in neurobiology but I wanted to get some advice from others to see if an M.D./Ph.D. program after undergrad is the way to go (or if just getting an M.D. is better) so that I can start preparing for it. I know I want to become a neurosurgeon and that I definitely do want to do research before residency.
Dietitian Questions
Hello! I really want to do something in the medical field, and one of my options is to become a dietitian. My questions are: 1. Can I get a PhD for it? 2. If so, what are the differences between a regular dietitian and a dietitian with a PhD (e.g., difference in salary, difference in what they do, etc.)? Thank you!