PhD...

[Alpinestarhero]

Hi everyone, I need some advice. I have been very kindly informed of a PhD position at my university, studing the synthesis of anti-hypertensive compounds. The lecturer who approched me was very flattering, saying that she would like someone who is actually decent at chemistry to work with.

I've got some background reading, and it sounds extremely interesting, and will involve lots of lovely organic chemistry. The position means I will get paid around £14k per year, and the PhD will last for 3 years. I could earn up to £11 an hour helping out in undergraduate practical sessions aswell.

It sounds excellent, and I'll be working with lecturers I know in an environment which isnt new to me (so I'll be relaxed and can get on with it easily). Thing is....is it the right thing to do? Its not a great deal of money compared to what I could earn in my first job as a graduate (upwards of £18,000, probably more than that as I'll have an integrated masters degree), and it means 3 more years in academia. I feel torn; I love researching stuff, and would love to find out something and get a few papers published and everything. But on the other hand, I want to get on with my life, make a good career out of chemistry, get a house with Maria. I'm not overly certain its possible if I jump into a PhD.

On the other hand, in 3 years, when I get the PhD, I'll be Dr Matt Tucknott, and thats going to make it easy to get the sorts of jobs that look interesting to me.

Has anyone here done a PhD?

Matt

[SoulKiss]

Cant comment on the academia stuff, but can on the cash.

its paying £14k

you could get another job now @ £20k (guess)

In 3 years you will have a PhD - whats that likely to be worth ?

If you can walk into a £30k job with a PhD then in 2 years you would have caught up again.

Look long term

And, if doing research there is the chance of a discovery that nets you LOADS of cash.

[Tim in Belgium]

Matt,

Just a quick one, I work for a chemicals company - Huntsman - and we employ chemists in a number of areas - catalyst/process development, product development, materials science etc. Now I've noticed whenever we look to employ graduate chemists as "scientists" the normal requirement is for them to have a PhD (even if it's not directly in the discpline/area they'll be working in), I've noticed this in general with chemists involved in chemistry/science within industry. I'm not sure why it has ended up like this as engineers like myself tend to go into industry tend to go straight from Uni.

So personally if you want to carry on in core science and develop a long term career as a chemist/scientist I'd say do your PhD. However if you want to go into another area (finance/accountancy/the city/some form of management/teaching/...?) not having a PhD is unlikely to limit your career. I've also friends who did PhD's in chemistry who have then gone into city IT, so it is unlikely to limit you if you change your career direction after finising it all.

Only advice, there are no hard and fast rules to making decisions in life ;)

Tim

[Alpinestarhero]

Cheers chaps. Tim, your right - I see PhD requirements all the time for jobs like that (which is the kinda cool stuff I'm up for doing). Soulkiss, you make a good point too, I can catch up the "lost money" as it where. But I'm so eager to get a place with maria, so we can have our life together and not have to contend with mine and her families for stuff, especialy precious time alone.

Will those PhD wages, combined with maria's wages (i'll have to get permission from her to disclose that info to you guys, she dosnt like saying how much she earns), which arnt unsubstantial, be enough to afford a home?

I'll send in the application form anyway, I can always decline at a later time

Matt

[gettin2dizzy]

But I'm so eager to get a place with maria, so we can have our life together and not have to contend with mine and her families for stuff, especialy precious time alone.
:pukel:


hehe. You two still living at home then? You could easily rent somehwere for just the two of you on similar wages.

[Tim in Belgium]

Often Uni's have subsidised accommodation for PhDers to rent, my mate and his girlfriend had a ridiculously cheap place at Oxford, so with yours and Maria's wages it may be affordable if you look into it.

I think you'll have to put off buying until you're in full time employment I'm afraid.

[wyrdness]

If you want to stay working in Chemistry, go for the Ph.D. I was offered a Ph.D. place in the early 90's, after I finished my M.Sc. I didn't accept, but was only wondering this lunchtime what would have happened if I had done it.

You can always drop out of it if you later decide that it's not for you.

[Alpinestarhero]

Often Uni's have subsidised accommodation for PhDers to rent, my mate and his girlfriend had a ridiculously cheap place at Oxford, so with yours and Maria's wages it may be affordable if you look into it.

I think you'll have to put off buying until you're in full time employment I'm afraid.

This is what baph is telling me on MSN; i'll be having a big discussion with Maria i think! Is it really so hard to get a place of our own? (thats another discussion all together I guess)

Matt

[Mike2165]

Dr. Alpinestarhero...sort of has a ring to it. Whatever you decide, good luck. Personally, if I had the opportunity to do something I was as passionate about as you, I would go for it, there's a lot of future ahead and long term it sounds as though it would help getting a PhD.

[Baph]

I'm so eager to get a place with maria, so we can have our life together and not have to contend with mine and her families for stuff, especialy precious time alone.

Will those PhD wages, combined with maria's wages (i'll have to get permission from her to disclose that info to you guys, she dosnt like saying how much she earns), which arnt unsubstantial, be enough to afford a home?


As I said in MSN really Matt (just posting here to open the debate a little):

If you want to get a house together, you need an income as well as her income. By not accepting the PhD, you're by no means guranteed any income, regardless of the amount of money.

Seems conclusive to me, but if you want an income, take up the PhD. You can always quit it when you find better work (or a better PhD offer). ;)

[Ceri JC]

I am hoping to do one (full time) in 4 years time or thereabouts. Bear in mind the £14K may not sound a lot, but a large wedge of it may well be tax free, not to mention other benefits like heavily subsidised food, accomodation, etc. (obviously depends on your university). I want to get a couple of papers published before I start it. I am working on one at the moment and really must crack on with it instead of tarting up my garage. :)

[Speedy Claire]

I`d say look to the future...... the 3 years will be over in no time and the qualification will pave the way for a far better paid job. My brother also got subsidised accommodation for himself and his girlfriend whilst he was at Cambridge doing his PhD.

[Lozzo]

Hi everyone, I need some advice. I have been very kindly informed of a PhD position at my university, studing the synthesis of anti-hypertensive compounds. The lecturer who approched me was very flattering, saying that she would like someone who is actually decent at chemistry to work with.
<snip>

Has anyone here done a PhD?



I haven't, but my housemate is currently doing hers in Environmental Science researching nemetodes or something. Also, my last girlfriend has a PhD in Mechanical Engineering earned through her research into Hydrogen gas fuelled ICEs. Both have said it's worth doing, my ex especially. She's recently emigrated to Perth, Australia to work with one of the upcoming engine development companies there. She's 34 and spent most of her 20s studying for something or other and finally got down to working a proper job 4 years ago. She earns a fortune, and says that without the Dr in front of her name then things would be more difficult and certain doors would forever be shut to her. As it is she was poached by the Oz company, and offered a very good deal that I couldn't ask her to refuse, so we parted and off she went in January.

I say do it.

[Ed]

Wifey is Dr Anne. (History, University of Exeter, 1990).

She won a British Academy research award to fund it - all of £3K a year:rolleyes:.

She has never regretted it, has written two books arising from it (Faction and Faith - The Political Allegiance of the Cornish Gentry c1600 - 1642, Exeter University Press 1996) and The History of the Clinton Barony 1299 - 1999 (privately published by Lord Clinton, 1999). Nobody on here will have heard of either but the first is in pretty well every UK university library and also in many in Australia and North America. I'm not meaning to show off, but it is a significant achievement. The PhD also got her a teaching post at Exeter.

She is an acknowledged expert on the subject - ie Cornwall in the early modern period. Whether people agree with her views or not, they still have to quote and acknowledge her work.

All I can say Matt is that yes you might earn more now but (a) PhDs open doors (b) you will enjoy it hugely (c) you will never regret it and (d) how many people really make a lasting mark on worldwide scholarship?

[Alpinestarhero]

<plug plug plug> :p:D

All I can say Matt is that yes you might earn more now but (a) PhDs open doors (b) you will enjoy it hugely (c) you will never regret it and (d) how many people really make a lasting mark on worldwide scholarship?

Only kidding Ed! Its excellent your wife has been able to publish books; I sometimes think about writing books to clear up some of the poorley explained things in current books. Guess this would be bette to do with that little "dr" title :)

I'm going to fill in the application form today, and I think there are interviews in april. I havnt discussed it with my parents, but then I know they wont mind - I've told them I do want to do a PhD, and they are supportive of that.

Thanks for all your input guys; I'll look into subsidised accomodation for me and maria, and I'm going to go find a few PhD students today and tomorrow at uni, have a chat with them about it aswell.

Matt

[600+]

I studied Maths, Stats and Operational research and focussed on Financial Maths modelling. I considered going for a PhD and even started it but in the end decided I didn't want to work in the brothel called academia and studying papers was not for me. So I cut down my PhD to an MPhil and got outa there in 3 months and never consider going back.

To a large extent the lecturer I was working with was a c**t!!! So that didn't help when I needed support to continue with a research topic that was just starting to grow in the sector.

My missus is writing up hers in Linguistics. She is well thought of her work by her peers and other lecturers and enjoys it very much.....but she wants to become a lecturer and work in academia.

In your sector I don't know what is required to get a job. If you see job descriptions that are asking for a PhD then go for it. Seems from the advise given above that it's required. Getting on the property ladder can be delayed and just rent with your gf for the time being. Building the base for a better career is more important than bricks!

[gettin2dizzy]

You chemists are weird ;)....I was 'fortunate' enough to meet a few on my work site yesterday. (PBX r&d chemists if that rings a bell)

[Alpinestarhero]

You chemists are weird ;)....I was 'fortunate' enough to meet a few on my work site yesterday. (PBX r&d chemists if that rings a bell)

Why where they weird?

Breathing in solvent vapours all day, every day will make you go odd in the brain :smt044

Matt

[lucky strike]

I have been informed many a time that Ph.D. is an acronym for Permanent Head Damage......Make of that what you will. But trust me, it's not far from the truth, I should know ;)

[Mousetrapper]

Been there, done the Ph.D, got the hell out. Still it was right at the time and I don't regret doing it. My only real advice is find out what your supervisor is really like. Not just the papers published etc. If you can take out the current 2nd and 3rd year student and buy them a few beers. In my experience if the lab supervisor is poor in anyway they really will let you know.