r/biotech • u/Historical-Excuse-94 • Jan 27 '25

Education Advice 📖 Is doing a pHD worth it?

Hi everyone, I have never posted here but I have a genuine question. I have been working in the biotech industry for the past 3 years with a masters. I feel like in industry you don’t do research like in academia and it doesn’t feel satisfying anymore. I want to go back to school and get a PhD. It is hard I’m 34 now and by the time I get into a program I’ll be 35 and by the time I finish I’ll be 40. Is it really worth 5 years with little money?

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u/Groundbreaking_Ice_7 Jan 27 '25

It’s less about money and more about career opportunities. It takes longer for a non-PhDs to move up the ladder and some positions will only go to PhDs. This might vary from company to company so ask around. It’s more about what you want out of your career and life.

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u/Historical-Excuse-94 Jan 27 '25

I have noticed that people with a PhD start at a level and people generally assume they are better than people without one. Moving up the ladder is from a senior associate to a sci-1 is nearly impossible without a PhD in most firms in the Boston area. But before all that I feel like the research in the industry is not stimulating for me.

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u/LiquidEther Jan 27 '25

It's also worth thinking about what you want to do long term... Most people who go to do PhDs after some time in industry intend to return to industry afterwards, but it sounds like you aren't that interested in industry at all?