Why professors do not train you for the non-academic job market!

Why professors do not train you for the non-academic job market!

ByProfessor Sven Hendrix Beyond academia, Find your dream job, PhD, postdoc

About 97% of all young researchers find a job *outside* academia. However, most professors focus on academic success and scientific excellence. Some professors are afraid to transform young scientists into “slaves of the market”. Others simply do not feel qualified. Most universities invest a lot of money and efforts to train PhD students and postdocs well for the non-academic job market, but most young researchers do not feel well-prepared.

Do I need Nature or Science papers for a successful career in science?

Do I need Nature or Science papers for a successful career in science?

ByProfessor Sven Hendrix PhD, postdoc, Professor, Publications

One of the unspoken rules in research is that a successful career in science is only possible with one or more papers with an impact factor above 10 or higher. This belief creates a lot of peer pressure among young scientists and might even be one of the causes of increasing numbers of scientific fraud cases. However, is it true?

Career or Contribution – what is more important?

Career or Contribution – what is more important?

ByProfessor Sven Hendrix Find your dream job, Work/life balance

Everybody struggles with the same dilemma. Do I focus on my career or on my scientific contributions? If I concentrate on my advancement, I am seen as selfish. Yet, if I focus on my contributions, I will be outperformed by the career guys. How can you combine your career aspirations and your scientific contributions?

Should I publish negative results, or does this ruin my career?

Should I publish negative results, or does this ruin my career?

ByProfessor Sven Hendrix Publish or perish, Integrity and scientific fraud, Publications, Research Career

Scientists often produce negative results. All experiments were done correctly – but there was no difference between test and control. They get conflicting advice from supervisors and ethicists. Some say that publishing negative results is a waste of resources and ruins their scientific careers. Others say that ‘not publishing negative results is unethical’. What should young scientists do in such a situation?

What is a substantial contribution to a paper?

What is a substantial contribution to a paper?

ByProfessor Sven Hendrix Publications, PhD, postdoc, Professor

To become an author on a scientific publication, you need to contribute substantially – but what does that mean? Are there clear criteria, or can this be debated? What about collaborators who only provide data or samples or medical writers who improve the English of the paper? What about ChatGPT and other text generators?

How Long Does It Take To Complete a Doctorate?

How Long Does It Take To Complete a Doctorate?

ByProfessor Sven Hendrix PhD, Research Career, Work/life balance

Have you ever wondered, “How many years does it take to earn a doctoral degree?” If you are considering a PhD, it is crucial to understand the time commitment involved. In this article, I will unpack the complexities of the PhD journey, offering a detailed breakdown of the various factors that influence the time it takes to receive this advanced degree.

PA vs MD salary – are the differences relevant?

PA vs MD salary – are the differences relevant?

ByProfessor Sven Hendrix Find your dream job, Student

The salary differences between Physician Assistants (PAs) and Medical Doctors (MDs) in the US and Europe are significant, reflecting the disparities in years of medical school, residency programs, advanced degrees, and the scope of medical practice responsibilities. To decide which career to choose not only based on salary, it is necessary to understand both job profiles in depth.