[j_bum]

There are gaps everywhere, especially in science/research.

Consider looking into a Ph.D. if you’re hungry to find, master, and close a gap. Not being sarcastic, btw.

The more you know, the more you realize how little you know and how many gaps there are in your field.

[giardini]

No. Absolutely No. See the chart labelled "Not So Very Serious Stuff" at https://philip.greenspun.com/careers/

Avoid the Ph.D., take a BS/BA and an MS if you have the time, but avoid even trying for a Ph.D.

[j_bum]

? Where are the data from for his ascii graph? Your claim is absolutely contrary to everything I’ve read.

Opposite sources: https://grad.msu.edu/phdcareers/career-support/phdsalaries https://www.wes.org/advisor-blog/salary-difference-masters-p...

[HeyLaughingBoy]

Wow. I haven't even thought about Philip in almost 20 years :-)

[devwastaken]

Do not do this. This is a trap. Research and higher academics are in effect a scam in modern day. At one point they were useful, but now everything done is overwhelmingly private R&D. In academia you will scrounge for scraps and never pay off the loans.

[j_bum]

FWIW, I did my PhD in neuroscience and am now working in R&D in biopharma. It would be very difficult to have landed my current position without a PhD. Lastly, most STEM PhD programs pay a stipend (a small one, mine was 30k/year), so you’re not going into debt to get one.

I agree with your sentiment. Academia as a career path isn’t viable (or even feasible) for the majority of people who get a PhD

[dysoco]

But most people doing research at private companies have a PhD at the very least, if not experience in academia, do they not?

[superconduct123]

Brain research

I watched a lecture series on the brain and my take away was that we really don't know "how the brain works"

Surprised me how much is unknown compared to say fields like physics/chemistry

[DamonHD]

Seconded: I am doing a PhD in the area that I previously created a start-up in, and I have a handful of small start-up involvements as well.