Hi All,

I'm considering my PhD at the moment and I just wanted some clarity on the career pathways that can be taken.

I understand that if you want to work in academia, you normally complete 2-4 postdoc jobs first and then apply for assistant professor roles? I personally am not interested by lecturing/teaching that much and much prefer to stay in the lab - so I'm thinking that academia is not for me? Is there senior research jobs in academia that do not require lecturing?

The other side of the coin is industry, although when I try and search for jobs etc. to look at potential salaries and requirements I do not find much information. I see a lot of post-doc jobs offering 25-35k. Hypothetically, would somebody with lets say 10 years experience in a related field still be on the 25-35k? I assume salary would increase with experience but I've yet to see jobs that offer higher without becoming managerial which again strays from the laboratory. After working as a research assistant/associate etc. for a few years would you then go on to apply for senior research scientist jobs? or is there another job title not I'm not away of.

Please excuse my ignorance on the matter, as I am only recently playing with the idea of a PhD and have yet to fully understand that it entails and the possible career prospects from it.

Thanks.

* and if there is no taught sections in a "normal" PhD will the gap from BSc to PhD be to high?

Hi all,

I've recently decided to search for some suitable PhD programs, ideally in Immunology. However, I need advice on a few things - and didn't know where to ask the relevant questions.

I'll try and keep this brief:

I have seen different "four year integrated PhD programs" and I understand how they work, but what confuses me is when you search for a PhD on this site and it comes up with a research title - when you apply for this kind of position do you not have to go through the university to choose an appropriated course? I was under the impression that the journey of getting a PhD meant you had to go to university for 3-4 years; doing both taught lessons and research rotations in different laboratories and then you choose a topic for your postdoc. For the above type of programs do you not have any taught elements? Does it mean you spend the 3-4 years researching that one project title?

The reason I ask, is that I thought when you apply for a postdoc job it is mainly the laboratory skills you learnt in your PhD which employers look for; meaning that if a PhD program does not have rotations etc. in the beginning years then you will be quite limited in the skills you process - or am I being naive to the amount of skills a single PhD project gives you.

As for studentships, how do they work exactly? Do you apply for one and if accepted you then look for a relevant PhD?

I'm sure what makes a "good" PhD program - I feel one that maximizes immunological and advanced laboratory techniques would be best, but I just needed advice on finding a potential PhD like this.

If I am completely wrong or ignorant; please excuse me, I'm a recent BSc graduate and have not yet learnt all the implications of doing a post doc.

Thank you very much for your time, any advice is greatly appreciated.