One of the largest, yet least often talked-about hurdles in pursuing a graduate degree is deciding what comes next. However, in my opinion, the largest hurdle is figuring out how to get there.
As a biomedical science graduate student, when I inquired about the career paths that were available to me, I was told about two major career pathways: Academia and industry. At academic institutions, students can generally learn about a clear path to academia: publish as many first-author papers as you can, apply and be selected for predoctoral/transitionary (post-doctoral associate to private investigator) grants, and network at conferences for future opportunities and collaborations. This approach is highly appreciable and ideal for a graduate student with clear intentions of pursuing a career in academia. However, for graduate students who interested in other careers, figuring out a career path can be much more self-exploratory.
I asked Dr. Chloe Kirk, a well-known scientist, science communicator, and proponent of alternative science careers, when she first knew she was looking for a career outside of academia. Dr Kirk said: “For me, I realized fairly early in my PhD that I didn’t see myself staying in academia long term—well before I figured out what I did want to do instead. And that’s okay. You don’t need to have the entire plan mapped out right away. She said she realized that: the traditional academic path—publish or perish, constant pressure to secure grant funding, and becoming an expert in an increasingly narrow sub-sub-subfield—wasn’t where I saw myself finding long-term fulfillment.” She went on to say: “I’ve always thought all of science is fascinating, and I wanted a career that would allow me to explore a broader range of topics and ideas. That realization helped me start looking for paths where I could stay connected to science while engaging with it in a different way.”
Although navigating other career options is daunting, there are multiple ways to succeed in finding your dream career. Universities often bring in outside speakers whose research interests may match yours. Students are then offered to have lunch with the speaker. This can serve as a golden opportunity to ask speakers about their career trajectory and learn why they chose the career they did. How did they stand out from other applicants? What skills, in addition to the skillset they obtained as part of their Ph.D/Masters, do they have, and how long did it take them to obtain this skillset? You would be surprised at how many scientists are willing to share their story and help you find yours.
Further going on to give advice to current graduate students who are looking into career options, Dr. Kirk said to start building soft skills early. She said: “Some of the most valuable experiences for me were those that helped me build my science communication skills. I participated in my university’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, volunteered at a local science museum, and organized science field trips for high school students. If you’re interested in organizing your own outreach or communication initiatives, many scientific societies offer grant support. For example, the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) and the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) both offer funding for science outreach and communication projects.”
“For students interested in science policy, I highly recommend looking into programs like the ASPET Washington Fellows Program or the ASBMB Advocacy Training Program. And if writing interests you, many scientific societies run volunteer science blogs where early-career scientists can contribute articles—or you can even start your own platform. Apply for fellowships and internships whenever you can, and start building your network early. You never know which experience might shape your career path.”
As a matter of fact, thanks to artificial intelligence (AI), navigating career options has become incredibly easy. AI can give you a breakdown of all of your possible options, which you can then reconfirm with your network to decide which career will best suit you. Additionally, not all career options are separate categories. You can be an academic researcher with industry ties, opening up a whole new world of translational science too.
We thank Dr. Kirk for her words of wisdom, and wish all graduates the best as they navigate the next steps of their career!
Bushra Zaman is a 3rd-year PhD candidate at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences studying ischemic retinopathies.