Product Description

Many science students find themselves in the midst of graduate school or sitting at a lab bench, and realize that they hate lab work! Even worse is realizing that they may love science, but science (at least academic science) is not providing many job opportunities these days. What's a poor researcher to do !?
This book gives first-hand descriptions of the evolution of a band of hardy scientists out of the lab and into just about every career you can imagine. Researchers from every branch of science found their way into finance, public relations, consulting, business development, journalism, and more - and thrived there! Each author tells their personal story, including descriptions of their career path, a typical day, where to find information on their job, opportunities to career growth, and more. This is a must-read for every science major, and everyone who is looking for a way to break out of their career rut.

* An insider's look at the wide range of job opportunities for scientists yearning to leave the lab
* First-person stories from researchers who successfully made the leap from science into finance, journalism, law, public policy, and more.
* Tips on how to track down and get that job in a new industry
* Typical day scenarios for each career track
* List of resources (websites, associations, etc.) to help you in your search
* Completely revised, this latest edition includes six entirely new chapters

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #300649 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
"After my Ph.D. I realized that although I enjoyed science, I felt that my skills might be better applied to enabling the application of science within a more commercial context. Reading the experiences of others in this book gave me the confidence to move into another area of work. After spending two years in university technology transfer, I now negotiate Strategic Alliances on behalf of Pfizer and use my scientific knowledge and experience on a day-to-day basis."
-Philip McGurk, Pfizer, California, U.S.A.

About the Author
Cynthia Robbins-Roth, Ph.D., left academia to pursue a science career in the then-emerging biotechnology industry. Her career detoured through business development before her entrepreneurial spirit compelled her to start up her own biotechnology consulting and publishing business, BioVenture. Because of her scientific insight, irreverent manner, and ebullient nature, Dr. Robbins-Roth is a popular speaker on alternative careers for scientists, as well as a recognized biotech industry expert.

Customer Reviews

All Graduate Students Should Own this Book
A large number of students (and postdocs?) within the sciences are not overly happy with research as a career, but say wistfully; "What else could I do?"

Well, there are TWENTY THREE 'alternative' careers in here, written by people who have made the transition. Each job is described in terms of information about how to make the transition, what a typical day is like, and honest assessments of positives and negatives of each career. There's also recommendations for how to position yourself for the transition.

You may not find your 'dream job' in here, but even then you will learn about the wide possibilites which are available to you. You may decide not to switch careers, in which case you'll have learned enough to be more sure in your decision.

Excellent reading and encouragement for change.
This book offers ideas and support for the professional tired of their present career, no matter how successful. It was a real boost in my "ego-arm" to read this book. Sometimes it is lonely when making big changes and it helps to talk to someone who has been there.

Great book; buy it
IF you find yourself in your seventh year of your PhD work, and you are not sure you want to work at the bench, buy this book! There is a world outside the lab.