Business and science can seem like two different worlds, and some scientists are now entering joint programs so they can work and speak fluently in both. A number of schools have launched joint PhD/MBA programs in recent years, including Cornell University, San Diego State University, University of California, San Diego, University of Rochester, NY, and Wake Forest University. Business-savvy scientists may give a company a competitive edge or may be the key to a successful startup.
Joel Martin earned a PhD in chemistry and an MBA, and used the business knowledge when he founded Argonaut Technologies in Redwood City, Calif. The company makes automation equipment for combinatorial chemistry. He again used his knowledge and skills as cofounder of Hayward, Calif.-based Quantum Dot, which sells nanotechnology products.
"It's incredible how much I learned," Martin says. During his companies' early days, he developed the funding pitch, prepared his own budget, and learned ...
