Why should you care about this section?
- Only about 15% of science PhDs secure tenure-track academic positions.
- The majority pursue careers in industry, government, or other sectors.
- Advisors often overemphasize academic careers, but most students end up outside academia.
- Location matters: PhDs in major research hubs (e.g., Boston, San Francisco) have more access to both academic and industry positions.
- Proximity to industry clusters increases chances of employment in non-academic sectors.
- Over 50% of PhDs work in jobs where their primary duties are not research.
- Transferable skills (communication, project management, data analysis) are critical for these roles.
- Many PhDs report high job satisfaction in non-academic careers using these skills.
- Biomedical PhDs pursue a wide range of careers: only 33% intend to pursue academic research, while 57% consider non-research careers.
- PhDs are well-prepared for diverse roles due to their analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Demand for PhDs and the types of roles available vary widely by country and region.
- In regions with robust industry (e.g., North America, Western Europe), more PhDs find jobs outside academia utilizing transferable skills.
Sources:
Woolston, Chris Graduate survey: A loveāhurt relationship
