Are you one of the many people who wonder, “Am I good enough for a career in science?” Every young scientist suffers from these negative thoughts. You’ve worked hard to contribute to the scientific community… and then you get the feeling that you are not good enough. This sense of doubt makes you feel you aren’t good enough for a career in academia.
Young scientists often get contradictory advice about whether they need teaching expertise to become a professors. Every university will confirm that teaching is the core expertise of a professor; however, successful researchers may see teaching as a waste of time and unimportant in getting a position.
What is a free PhD program? What does fully funded mean in the context of a PhD? Is a PhD program an education or a job? Do you get paid, or are you paying for it? The designs of PhD programs differ substantially between countries. What is important to know for your career?
Being a professor is amazing because of the intellectual fulfillment derived from research and teaching, the societal impact, and academic freedom. However, the journey to a professorship may strain your personal life and finances because it is hard work, the academic job market is competitive, and it takes a long time to get a tenure-track position.
An MD-PhD program allows you to earn both an MD and a PhD in a condensed period, potentially giving you a competitive edge in the job market. It is a long and demanding training that requires a great deal of commitment and dedication. Is it worth it?
Do you want to make a good impression in your online interview? Avoid these mistakes!
During the last decade, I have done multiple online interviews with potential PhD students and postdocs. I have seen an astonishing variety of strange behaviors during an online interview (and made several mistakes myself).
Medicine, dentistry, or life sciences may have a similar appeal when deciding on your career path. Your choice will depend massively on your interests, talents, and long-term goals. See below for a comparison of the pros and cons of the three career paths to better decide what you truly want.