I forgot to ask as well...does anyone know if its difficult to work in one area of research then to go into another, either as a phd student to a post-doc researcher or from one research assistant/technician role to another.
I was specifically interested in switching between micobiology, immunology and other molecular biology roles.

Thanks for your information everyone. I think I'm just at the point where I'm gathering as much information as I can to make a decision because I don’t want to just decide such a big thing without having thought it through.
I’m not sure about doing a part-time PhD as I would think that I would prefer not to drag it out over a longer period. Although, it’s good to have the option if needed though.

I guess my main worry was about wasting time working as a research technician for the next few years and then realizing that it would’ve been better financially and in terms of career progression to do a PhD. I know that some well paid research posts don’t require a PhD, however, after looking at many of them most of them actually do ask for one and I’m not really sure if that will be the trend for future positions as well.

‘Shelleyanne’ I don’t really see myself becoming a lecturer or anything like that, although I’m not sure what will happen, but I’m just happy working in research.

My MSc was actually in microbiology, although my current research position is in biomedical research, in immunology. If I do a PhD then I'm not sure as yet which area, microbiology or immunology, I'd pursue it in.

Hi, I’m currently working as a research assistant doing various experiments at a university, but was thinking that PhD students here are doing similar things to me, albeit with a bit more stress, write-ups, reading, etc., and at the end they’ll get a PhD whereas I’ll still be at the same point although I’ll get just as much, if not more, experience. So I’m not sure if I should do a PhD or stick with what I’m doing.
Also, salary-wise a research assistant seems to only go up to £25K, then all research positions after that require a PhD.
I guess what I also want to know is whether you can only pursue research up to a certain point without a PhD as to get further, not just financially, you need to have a PhD?
Also if I do a PhD I won’t start until I’m 28 and so won’t finish until I’m in my early 30’s, is this too late? I thought that most people start and finish them in their mid-20’s. Will it be more difficult to get a post-doc research position if I’m older? I’m thinking that it shouldn’t be a problem but am not totally sure.

Hi, thanks again for everyone for all the information. I think the best thing may be to actually get a job and then I can always do a PhD from next year. The thing is though, does it matter what age you start a PhD? I'm 26 and so will probably be 27 if I start a PhD and so around 30 when I finish. Is this considered too old to get post-doc or other further work afterwards or are many people around this age? Or is age not really an issue?
Thanks again.

I was just wondering, with most PhD's are you just in the lab doing your project or do you also have to do presentations and teaching too?

I'm thinking now that I either do a PhD this year or just get a tech job and then see how that goes and think things over a bit more and then either do a PhD or carry on with the job.

Hi, thanks everyone for all the information. It does make things clearer for sure.

‘H’ - I think after a PhD I would like to do post-doc research and carry on in that field and perhaps eventually working for a bio-tech company.

I’m glad that you are entitled to some free time off a year, I guess a month per year is the norm? I think time away from the project will help to re-energise me if needed.

So ‘botanybod’ you said that biology PhD’s usually are 3.5/4 years, but if you’re committed and work hard I guess you can get it done a lot sooner, no?

Also, there seems to be a lot more bacterial PhD’s rather than viral ones, so I guess work after a PhD is similar in this respect too?
I was also thinking that even if I do a viral PhD then I still have some flexibility in the type of post-doc work I can do as there are many transferable skills. Or does your PhD pigeon-hole you into a specific area?

Thanks again.

Hi, I’m doing an MSc and thinking of doing a PhD in bacteriology/virology this October but am completely confused whether to do it or get a job. My reason for wanting to do a PhD is that I think having a job in a lab will be mundane and boring whereas with a PhD you’d use your brain, is this generally true?

I’m also 26 and don’t really want to put a PhD off for a year, but has anybody found it useful to take time off to decide? How old are people when they start their PhD’s anyway?

There are many messages on the forum about how stressful, life-consuming and tearful a PhD is, is this true for everyone?

Everyone said that a MSc was gonna be hard but its not really, you just put the work in. Is this the same for a PhD?

It’s just all confusing and I feel I should be applying for projects now as there are deadlines, so I feel a bit pressured to decide!
Finally, with a PhD do people generally get a certain amount of holiday time per year or not?

Any helpful information that anyone has would be very much.