The biggest lie we tell students.
Industry or Academia?
People will tell you that you have to choose. Finish your degree and you're set in one path. But that's a lie. There is a job market in between.
Let's talk about research outside of academia
First. This thread was inspired by this fantastic video by Dr Lucy Kissick.
Working as a chemist at the National Laboratory Dr Kissick has found this sweet spot and recovered a love for hobbies talks about teamwork and the magical time of ✨evenings off✨
↔️ The dichotomy of academia and industry
We tell students that there are two paths:
Academia: Do research, long hours, low pay, uncertain future.
Industry: For profit, no autonomy, bags of cash, annoying managers.
But is that all there is?
⚗️ Laboratories
(Not the one in the uni basements.)
Incredible advancements for humanity and science came out of independent laboratories.
- Bell Labs : nine Nobel prizes
- Scripps Research: 9 approved therapeutics
- CERN: the internet, Higgs boson
and so much more...
🌨️ How does working at ECMWF feel to me?
(compared to Dr Lucy Kissick's vid)
- ✅ Work together toward common goal
- ✅ Rediscovering hobbies
- ✅ Very good compensation
- ✅ Brain relaxes in evenings
- ✅ People care, are curious & smart
Don't believe the dichotomy, there are alternatives!