Career Exploration

Where do science PhDs end up? The question should be where don't they end up. Scientists can be found across all sectors, in academic institutions, government agencies, pharmaceutical, biotech, and other companies in industry, nonprofit and philanthropic organizations, mass communications organizations, law firms, and consulting/financial firms. The type of work varies and can involve research, education and administration, science policy, communications, and business and financial analysis.

Explore your options through these pages on different career fields:

Academe
Business and Law
Communicating Science
Education
Government
Pharma & Biotechnology
Physical Sciences & Engineering
Science Policy

The exploration stage involves extensive networking- building your professional connections by attending scientific conferences, career panels, and other events and seeking out individuals for informational interviews. For resources on networking, check out the "Networking" section on the Job Search page.

Recommended websites:

AAMC’s page devoted to careers for biomedical PhDs
Nature Jobs
ScienceCareers.org
Science Alliance- a program of the New York Academy of Sciences
US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Resources for Job Seekers

Recommended Books:

Alternative Careers in Science: Leaving the Ivory Tower by Cynthia Robbins-Roth
Career Opportunities in Biotechnology and Drug Development by Toby Freedman
Career Trends: Careers Away from the Bench. Science Careers. Booklet by the AAAS/Science Business Office.