tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9818962.post5258099112301627491..comments2024-03-20T13:10:11.477+05:30Comments on nanopolitan: Louis Menand: The PhD ProblemAbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06790560045313883673noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9818962.post-32535155627284408812009-11-20T08:53:15.931+05:302009-11-20T08:53:15.931+05:30I believe it is all about perspectives. Some stude...I believe it is all about perspectives. Some students enter graduate schools with an interest to teach while others are practioners with research interest. in my case I do have a PhD in applied technology and since completing my PhD I am to be back in the industry as an in house expert. It allows to look things detached from the routine operations while looking at the larger macroeconomic aspect of industry evolution. <br /><br />People who entered graduate school with faculty positions as their ultimate destination will be disappointed when no jobs are available at the end of their course. Those who undertook research that was solving real life problems will have no problems integrating with the industry. <br /><br />I have two examples; Harish Khare the former editor of The Hindu and Arun Shourie the former editor of Indian Express. Both have PhD and have been successful outside academiaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9818962.post-41418257594221755732009-11-18T23:45:47.266+05:302009-11-18T23:45:47.266+05:30>>because students with doctoral degrees in ...>>because students with doctoral degrees in these areas have mainly one option before them: faculty position in a university. <br /><br />Don't actually disagree with that (though it's not uncommon to find PhDs in English in editorial jobs, working in publishing houses, as journalists, etc.) But I wonder if this is largely because universities are the only places where PhDs are still respected?!SSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9818962.post-91331318209577012452009-11-18T21:42:43.309+05:302009-11-18T21:42:43.309+05:30@Rainbow Scientist: I agree that overproduction is...@Rainbow Scientist: I agree that overproduction is a concern in the sciences too (and not just in theoretical physics). However, it's particularly problematic in humanities and some sub-fields of science because students with doctoral degrees in these areas have mainly one option before them: faculty position in a university. <br /><br />On the other hand, doctoral degree-holders in experimental condensed matter physics, chemistry, biomedical sciences have many options open to them (including industry jobs, and not just in R&D).Abihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06790560045313883673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9818962.post-49409635689947475292009-11-18T20:45:43.356+05:302009-11-18T20:45:43.356+05:30Overproduction is a serious problem in almost all ...Overproduction is a serious problem in almost all scientific disciplines (not only in theoretical physics), specially in the fields where more hands are needed for experiments. The reason is that it is cheaper for universities and for PIs to have graduate students and post-docs than to hire instructors and technician with salary and benefits. They also don't have any liabilities after student finishes, so it is very cost effective. Excepts jobs in academia, actually there is no need of PhD for any other job and many students realize it and leave. I like the models of business schools where there is strict check against overproduction of PhD and they make sure that everyone is in place after finishing degree, but it is hard to replicate this in science. <br /><br />Of course these are the realities of American academia, in India things are completely different.Rainbow Scientisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01619911613235481638noreply@blogger.com