For a lot of them, according to working scientists and others interviewed for this article, the problems will be twofold: They must contend, of course, with the limited job pool resulting from the depressed economy; and, ironically, the rapid pace of scientific change that characterizes much of today's scientific activity will make it more difficult for them to identify the most attractive career paths.
The pace of innovation, working scientists point out, defies young researchers to discern the areas of their disciplines that will be most active, exciting, financially rewarding, and stable in, say, two or three years.
However, while many scientists agree that identifying the "hot" fields--those presenting the most auspicious professional potential--is about as chancy as predicting the weather, they also share the view that a few major trends indicate where the most exciting possibilities are likely to be found.
The trends they cite are: rapid advances in ...
