In my previous article, I suggested that PhD-level scientists seeking careers outside the laboratory face at least two significant barriers: a negative stereotype about these careers and the false perception that PhDs are not adequately trained/educated for these positions. Mentors and academic programs should do more to support PhDs who desire to pursue alternative careers, but PhDs seeking these careers should be prepared to obtain additional education and/or training to ease the transition into such careers. Additionally, other actions can help: PhDs in non-research career fields can take a more active role in supporting others interested in similar positions and employers can do more to recruit PhDs.
With greater than 50 percent of science and engineering PhDs working outside of academia, according to the National Postdoctoral Association (NPA), and with many of those jobs being outside of the laboratory altogether, it seems that there would be more of us discussing ...
