By: Meena Radhakrishnan, MD
During high school, students often feel confused about which subjects to choose and what profession to pursue, finding themselves lost in a sea of unfamiliar jargon. Being an immigrant makes this task even more difficult. As a mother of a college student from India who is working to step up in my career, choosing the right career trajectory becomes inherently challenging. As a doctor by profession and planning to rejoin the field of genetics after a long hiatus, I find myself lost in a maze of unfamiliar scientific terms.
What is academia or industry?
“Which branch do you want to join: academia or industry?” was the question I got asked by some genetics professionals when I expressed my desire to enhance my skills and enter the workforce. I was initially confused, and the response I received was, “Do your homework and come back; then we will talk.”
Academia: skill sets required and future
The academic field is ideal for individuals interested in laboratory work, such as lab assistants, lab technicians, lab managers, and scientists eager to work as a team to test a proposed hypothesis. For example, they may work with animals to conduct Phase I clinical trials to assess a drug’s efficacy or side effects, identify defective genes, or use techniques such as CRISPR to make corrections or insert genes.
Scientists—usually postdoctoral researchers—work alongside a laboratory team trained in conducting laboratory experiments and often hold associate or master’s degrees. These scientists typically become professors or assistant professors at colleges and universities, where they train undergraduates, graduates, doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, and fellows. The academic branch also involves applying for grants to secure the funding required to run a research program. Teaching is an honorable profession, and there will always be demand for quality educators. With the continuous discovery of new diseases, scientific research remains ongoing and the high demand for scientists and their teams remains pivotal.
Industry: Skill Sets Required and Future
Many companies recruit scientists and individuals with laboratory skill sets into their workforce. These professionals often promote the company’s products to doctors, hospitals, and nursing homes. They are usually involved in promoting Phase III clinical trials of drugs’ efficiency, or products ranging from contact lenses to PET Scans. Their work involves travelling, presenting at conferences and webinars, and engaging in one-on-one discussions to encourage others to try their company’s products. Such professionals also provide grants for scientific research aligned with the company’s interests. Moreover, they build partnerships with large institutions to increase participation of patients in Phase III clinical trials worldwide. There are many opportunities for advancement within the company, including taking on a management role, pursuing an MBA, and potentially becoming a CEO. One opportunity that is available is also being in research and development at these industry companies. Within this role comes many useful tactics. For example, conducting research, developing prototypes, collaborating with cross-functional teams, documenting and reporting and much more. Without these key ingredients, most industries would not go far.
Academia vs Industry
Even though both academia and industry have pros and cons, the advice I received from my fellow geneticists was to choose one route. It is difficult to switch from one path to another. Get involved in these two branches and network with both communities. Gaining insights into these two domains has greatly helped me in choosing my path in academia. What is your path?
-Meena Radhakrishnan, MD, is a Nascent Transcript author based in Frisco, TX.