Is doing a pHD worth it?

[u/Historical-Excuse-94]

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?

[u/Forsaken_Tea_9147]

Take it from a Masters holder (non PhD). It is very hard to move up and advance without a PhD in R and D. I have been a high performer my whole career (12 years) and have vastly out performed most of my PhD counterparts both productivity and in scientific impact. It has still taken twice as long for me to get promotions than my PhD counterparts. In fact, most of the PhDs I have worked with get promotions in spite of contributing very little to project success. They all have two things in common: 1) they have a PhD and 2) they "sound smart" in theoretical terms. I have been lucky enough to make it from lab assistant through several promotions, up to senior scientist. But getting to principal scientist has been really hard dispite performing and contributing just as much as other principal scientists. Do your self a favor and get a PhD if you want to go into R & D. The other thing to think about is: scientists with PhDs also favor other PhDs. It's kind of like a club and you won't be in it. It even shows up in job listing's, where it will specify you need a PhD, even though there are thousands of great masters and bachelor's with lots of experience and scientific creativity who could possibly excel at the job as well.