Ask our career expert
Paul Smaglik
Friday, 31 October 2008 22:36 UTC
Deb Koen, our career expert, will be weighing in on Nature Network users’ questions.
Koen is the president of Career Development Services in New York. The company offers career advice and coaching. Koen has been a columnist for Naturejobs for over five years. Koen looks forward to considering your toughest questions and offering her professional career perspective.
Here are some recent bits of advice she’s given.
She’ll be happy to respond to your questions in this forum—and, of course, everybody is welcome to weigh in.
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Anonymous
Hi Deb,
I have my MS degree in Biotechnology in US and working in a pathology lab but i think bench work is not right for me. Also funding is really difficult. Now Iam exploring other options in science. Iam looking for career options in biotech/Medical with good job potential, future growth, and I looked at options such as Pharmacist, Dietitian..etc. Looks like it will take many years to complete the education for those careers. Please help me to decide about my career. -
Dear Deb,
I am currectly in my second year of Ph.D (Germany). I am working in the field of Immunolgy. I am very passionate about bench work and wanted to do research in Tuberculosis (Immunology). I am not pretty clear whether I should choose academia or industry. Should it be better to opt for a post-doc in TB research in industry or (research institute-academia) or I take a job in industry directly without going for post-doc? Does the post- doc will be of an advantage (in terms of salary & perks) if my final gaol is to do TB research (bench work only)?
and my interest in particular, is to do basic reserach.Screening of drugs for TB is not much interesting to me rather I would prefer doing basic reasearch. Will this be possible in industry?
Also, my concern is, if I choose academics, I think one day I should land up writing grants and supervising people which I feel is more of management and less of Science. I enjoy writing proposals but not really into starting my research group.I really need to stay in core research all time as I get pleasure only in bench work- (specifically working with high risk pathogens).
Also let me know whether UK or USA would be better in terms of money. I am very flexible and could consider any place for my research. Of course, if I find my topic of interest.
It would be great if you could leave your suggestions and comments.
Thanks in advance…
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