What non-academic careers can you pursue after a PhD?
Last week, we started discussing one of the most common misconceptions about early-career researchers.
If you missed last week’s newsletter, or can’t remember because it’s Monday morning and you’re not quite awake yet, the misconception was:
“If you’re doing a PhD, you’re definitely interested in an academic career!”
Nope, nope, triple nope – we saw that pursuing an academic career after a PhD is the exception rather than the rule.
That’s good to know, but what are the other options? What kind of job can you do after a PhD that isn’t in academia?
In today’s NextMinds Newsletter, we delve into the non-academic world and explore the possible career paths you can consider after your PhD. For each field, we discuss examples of roles you can take on with a PhD, as well as some pros and cons.
Disclaimer: this list is slightly biased towards STEM/Life Sciences as that’s the field I’m familiar with. If you’re doing a PhD in a different field, you should supplement this information by looking for roles that are specific to your expertise and training. Also, this list is not meant to be exhaustive; it’s meant to show you the directions you can go and the variety of roles you can take on.
Industry Positions
Roles: Research and Development (R&D) Scientist, Project Manager, Product Manager, Team Lead, Quality Control Scientist, Medical Science Liaison, Data Analyst, Data Scientist, Application Specialist, Field Service Engineer, Lab Manager, Manufacturing Scientist, etc.
Advantages: Competitive salaries, applied research, access to cutting-edge technology
Drawbacks: Less autonomy in research topics, potentially bureaucratic.
Start-Ups
Roles: Co-founder, (Data) Scientist, Technical Lead, Data Analyst, Project Manager, Scientific Project Lead, etc.
Advantages: High innovation potential, significant financial rewards if successful
Drawbacks: High risk, long hours, financial instability in early stages.
Government Agencies, Public Sector, Healthcare Sector
Roles: Policy Analyst, Public Health Specialist, Scientific Associate, Research Scientist, Advisor, Team Lead, Healthcare Information Technology Specialist, Data Analyst, Clinical Research Associate, etc.
Advantages: Job stability, influence on public policy, impact on society
Drawbacks: Bureaucratic, slower pace of change, may be high-stress environments.
Consulting Firms
Roles: Management Consultant, Scientific Consultant, etc.
Advantages: High salaries, diverse projects
Drawbacks: Long hours, possible travel requirements.
Science Communication and Journalism
Roles: Science Writer, Public Engagement Officer, Science Illustrator, etc.
Advantages: Creative work, flexible conditions
Drawbacks: Competitive field, may require additional training.
Patent Law and Intellectual Property
Roles: Patent Examiner, Intellectual Property Consultant, Patent Agent, Regulatory Affairs Officer, etc.
Advantages: Well-paid, engagement with new technologies
Drawbacks: Requires additional qualifications, highly specialized
Non-academic Education/Teacher
Roles: High School Teacher, Science Educator, Coordinator, etc.
Advantages: Impact on future generations, rewarding work, creative teaching methods
Drawbacks: Additional certification may be needed, higher emotional demands
Editor/Writer
Roles: Technical Writer, Medical Writer, (Associate) Editor for Scientific Journals, Document Controller, Content Director, Freelance (Copy)Writer, etc.
Advantages: Flexibility, contribution to knowledge dissemination
Drawbacks: Highly competitive, inconsistent workload if freelancing
Sales
Roles: Sales Development Rep, Account Executive, Sales Engineer, etc.
Advantages: Clear promotion path, variety in job roles, high earning potential with commissions
Drawbacks: Can be target-driven with pressure to meet quotas, requires balancing technical knowledge with sales skills, travel requirements
Marketing
Roles: Digital Marketer, Marketing Manager, Product Marketing Manager, etc.
Advantages: Creative freedom, involvement in strategy development, potential for remote work
Drawbacks: Needs continuous learning to keep up with market trends, balancing creativity with analytics
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs)
Roles: Policy Advisor, Project Manager, Community Advisor, Fundraising Coordinator, Environmental Specialist, Research Analyst, Communication Specialist, etc.
Advantages: Social impact, diverse work environment
Drawbacks: Funding limitations, sometimes emotionally demanding work.
If you want to explore this topic further, I encourage you to follow the work that these humans are doing on LinkedIn. They’ve all moved into non-academic positions after their PhDs and are providing knowledge and useful tools for anyone in a similar position. You’ll feel very empowered reading their posts!
🔸Marion Coumel (in French)
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