Explains the advantages and disadvantages of becoming a corporate researcher (de-academia).2 min read

Many people struggle with the choice between a career path as a researcher in academia (university) or as a corporate researcher.

Both have advantages and disadvantages.

I have this complaint about Academia.

On the other hand, corporate researchers have this complaint.

Thus, the environment is quite different between academia and corporate researchers.

In this issue, we present a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of becoming a corporate researcher.

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Advantages for Ph.D.'s choosing corporate researchers

Advantage 1: Financial stability

Financial stability is the greatest benefit of a corporate researcher.

This is because, at present, young researchers in academia cannot easily obtain tenure-track positions.

The following is a little older, but here are some data from a survey on the status of employment after completion of Ph.

In the "Academia Job Corps," 60% of the doctoral students hold tenured positions one and a half years after completing their doctoral work.

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The precariousness of employment in academia is also discussed in the following article.

■Researcher tenure and hiring

■postdoctoral problem(Employment status and annual income of Ph.)

On the other hand, 90% of PhDs who find employment in companies are employed full-time.

The benefits of financial stability during times of life events such as marriage and childbirth are tremendous.

Advantage 2: Easy to concentrate on research

Researchers working in academia have a serious job, comparable to research, in their teaching activities, and are expected to teach several classes per week.

This limits the amount of time that researchers in academia can devote to research compared to corporate researchers.

Corporate researchers have the advantage of being in an environment where they can concentrate on their research.

Even in academia, there are cases where 'no lectures' or 'much fewer lectures' are set, as in the case of assistant professors and tenure-track faculty.

Advantage 3: No need to scramble to obtain research funding

Companies can receive research funding as long as they pass an internal review.

On the other hand, it is well known that academia spends a great deal of time preparing applications to obtain Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI) and other grants (competitive funds).

Advantage 4: The endpoints of the study are easier to define.

What are the major advantages of working as a corporate researcher?Endpoints are easily definedPoint.

The team will conduct research in one fell swoop, with the goal of practical application and commercialization in mind.

It is easy to gain a sense of accomplishment that research results will be put to practical use in a short cycle.

On the other hand, basic research in academia is a constant quest for the unknown, and the endpoints of research tend to be hard to define.

There are a certain number of people who disengage from the study because they cannot accept this aspect of the research.

This is a personality orientation, so it does not matter if you are academically talented or not.

Advantage 5: Reduced loneliness through team research

In the case of a corporate researcher, the research is conducted by a team for a certain objective.

While this style of team research may not be suitable for everyone, it can provide some people with a sense of mental stability.

In academia, the individual has a great deal of power in all aspects of research, making friends, starting a laboratory, raising funds, and educating the public.

If you are not the type to go gaga on your own, a corporate researcher may be more suitable for you.

Advantage 6: Easy to make private time

Corporate researchers also have the advantage of having more personal time.

In the private sector, there is the Labor Standards Act, the company has a public reputation, and overtime hours are strictly monitored.

However, researchers working in academia tend to push themselves to cut back on personal time, sleep, and so on from the perspective that the more time they spend on research and writing papers, the more directly related to their performance.

Disadvantages of a PhD graduate choosing to be a corporate researcher

Disadvantage 1: Research priorities become commercialization and patents.

Research in academia isMainly "basic researchIt is.

On the other hand, in corporate research positions, the emphasis is on development rather than research, and the new discoveries made through basic research are used to develop products and services.Development" is the mainoften become.

Priorities,Commercialization > Patents > Publications

In contrast to basic research, which is a long-term, deliberate effort, this style of research is designed to produce results in a short period of time.

It is also the flip side of merit #3: "The endpoints of the research are easy to define.

It may not be suitable for those who want to engage in basic research in a slow and steady manner.

(Of course, larger corporate research facilities may be engaged in basic research.)

Disadvantage 2: Research content is subject to company policy.

Corporate researchers do not know which department they will be assigned to, and the content of their research is subject to approval by their superiors.

I don't know if you would find that research challenging.

One friend who had been offered a job in the pharmaceutical industry was quite disappointed to be assigned to a department completely different from the one in which he was interested.

However, as your abilities are evaluated and you grow as the brain of the team, things will change.

As you reach your 30s and 40s, you can realize your own research depending on your ability.

Disadvantage 3: May be transferred from a research position to another department.

This is a serious disadvantage.

Another story about a friend of mine is about a PhD graduate who got a job in the research department, but after a few years was transferred to a sales position.

For a company, a research department is an "up-front investment," so if business conditions deteriorate, it is easy to downsize.

It is not uncommon for research personnel to be transferred to other departments at that time.

summary

The following is a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of a PhD working in the private sector.

The career path after the doctoral program is a path that everyone struggles with.

It would be good if you could consider your orientation while keeping both options.