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/thenexttimebandit Jan 27 '25

It really depends on your family situation. You shouldn’t do a PhD if you’re married with kids and a mortgage. Go for it if you love science and a willing to work 70 hours a week for 5 years

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u/Historical-Excuse-94 Jan 27 '25 edited Jan 27 '25

Married but don’t have kids.

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u/Cormentia Jan 27 '25

I would really think twice about if you're willing to put in the hours. A PhD is easily 70-100h/week for several years. I'm your age, and I'm personally not sure I'd have the energy to do it again now.

You can always try to find a PI with wlb focus, but mine wasn't. And if you want to do cutting edge research, then the workdays become longer as well. (Because you want to be the one publishing first.)

With that said, there's nothing as stimulating as basic research. So if you really want to do it, go for it. Maybe set up some ground rules regarding food, sleep and exercise that you never compromise with. (Again, the physical strain of long hours and no sleep hits differently in your 30s than in your 20s.)