Re: Finish Chemistry Ph.D. or Not!?!?!

rauchalr8@xxxxxxxxx wrote: 
I have just finished the first year of my Ph.D. in biochemistry, andI
have no clue what I want to do with my life. I don't mind the research
I am doing right now, but I definatly can't see myself doing it for the
rest of my life. I am just wondering what kind of jobs are out there
for Ph.D. chemists other then academics (research based), or research
in industry. Even though I've made it this far in my education I feel
as though I have never been told my options, and at this level most
people are couldn't imagine a life without research. I know the basics
like patent law, teaching at a community college, etc but I would
really appreciate some other ideas, and how these jobs are actually
obtained. Is there any extra training required?

I was also wondering if it's a good idea to actually finish a Ph.D. in
chemistry if you don't want to do research. Does it hurt you in any way
when looking for jobs?

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!


I don't advocate anyone setting out on a career he won't like, especially one that takes constant learning. ACS has information on careers that chemistry grads can follow, and many don't require a Ph.D. Start by reading the file at http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/7946/pdf/7946employment5.pdf.

You may want to take a year leave from grad school to explore some options.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: slightly OT: newspaper article on Amish quilts
    ... In many areas and cultures, being able to feed the family with familiar foods etc, while still living in whatever housing is the local dwelling, gives them a good life. ... If they can't or won't there are jobs they are capable of doing; floors DO need sweeping,trucks need driving, shelves need stocking etc. ... If schools graduate 100% of the students, to my mind they have not done their job, and are passing through those who do not deserve it! ... Obviously I hate the idea of little kids slaving away; however, our nations did the same thing a century or so back. ...
    (rec.crafts.textiles.needlework)
  • Re: Boomers have screwed us
    ... US society has become materialist (and ... Um...its the executives that are farming out the jobs to India-China, ... envy of the world and which taught us the "tools of the trade" for life. ... Boomers are therefore leaving their children in a society ...
    (sci.research.careers)
  • Re: The 100 specializations from the 2 year program book...
    ... view of real life that since: i) "I'm doing so good, therefore all of my kind are doing so good, too," ... students are getting good jobs, therefore it must be great out there.") To the best of my knowledge, there was very little follow-up to determine whether things actually were that way or if any negative comments from graduates were discarded as either random noise or being detrimental to the institution's image. ... I found from the the rich books for both USA and Britain that about 1/4 of all rich people got their money by inheritance. ... there might be a few people out there (who ordinarily might read the newspapers -- or have this notion that since college grads have a higher ave pay than HS grads, therefore every last one of college grads makes more any any HS grad -- that tell incomplete stories about jobs, life, and promote agendas of interest to the authors and papers but not agendas of ...
    (sci.research.careers)
  • Re: Obamas bull dyke "dissing" White males.
    ... not on the "richness" of the judge's life ... "fun" when they wind up having to pay taxes and pay the bills. ... she got all her jobs and promotions the same way. ... Nothing stopped you from opening a PayPal account and sending it to my ...
    (soc.men)
  • Re: Low water levels have forced the state to close the last open boat ramp at Lake James.
    ... who is washed up and needing money to supplement his SS check? ... I do the repair jobs because I want to. ... squalid life. ...
    (rec.boats)