The Pros and Cons of a Career in Research

Soon after the completion of a Master's degree or PhD, everybody is faced with the big question: what next? Although it may seem like a natural progression to continue with further research, there are many other careers open to academics in business, education, communications and journalism, to name but a few examples.

So how do you know if research is the right career choice for you? Well, like with most big decisions, a good way of figuring it out is to weigh the pros and cons of an academic career.

Travel and relocation

One big difference between a career in research and most other fields is the expectation of relocation. The first step for a Master's student or PhD who wants a career in research is to find a position at a university in a town, city or country where they are willing to relocate. It is typical for researchers to move to a new city or country every few years, particularly when pursuing postdoc positions. This is the natural consequence of there not being very many jobs to go around.

Pro: Moving around does have its advantages - it is a unique opportunity to travel to new places and experience life in different countries and cultures. One can meet new people and obtain contacts, both of which are extremely rewarding.

Furthermore, moving offers the valuable experience of working at various institutions, which can give insight into how cultures vary across universities. Being part of an institution like a university provides you a pre-existing network to explore, both professionally and socially, which can make settling down in a new region or country a whole lot easier.

Con: Arranging an international relocation is a lot of work, and it can be hard to make new friends and create a social circle in a new city. Moreover, relocating can be stressful on the mind, causing some to struggle, so having adequate support for a move is essential.

Particularly for those with families, relocation may be demanding for other reasons- your partner may also need a job in your new city and new schools need to be found for children, which can be a challenge. If your partner is also in research, some institutions offer dual career programs which help find research positions for both members of a couple.

Independence and interest

Pro: One great advantage of a career in research is how interesting the work is, and the independence one is afforded. If you are able to secure third-party funding, you can organize your own working schedule and priorities, and choose the topics of research which are of most pressing interest to you.

Within many research institutions there is also the possibility of flexible working hours, which can be especially advantageous to those with young children.

Security and career prospects

Con: One particularly difficult aspect of a research career is the lack of job security. Postdocs are typically employed on short-term contracts for two years, and at the end of this period they must find another position. For the ambitious and determined researcher, this can be an opportunity for fast career progression and the chance to work in a variety of labs.

However, this insecurity can be a source of stress for many researchers as there is no guarantee of long-term stable employment. Progressing from a postdoctoral position to a professorship can be extremely competitive, and the number of professor positions can be reduced due to budget cuts, so in tough times there will be even fewer openings available.

Overall, many more PhDs and postdocs are working than there are professorships available, so you must be extremely determined to follow this path.

Transferable skills

Pro: Although the competition for academic positions is so fierce that a career in research may seem risky, in fact the skills one acquires in the performance of research can be transferred to many other fields. Critical thinking skills are highly developed in researchers.

Besides these, researchers may acquire expertise in mathematics or statistics, in written communication, or in poster and oral presentation. All of these skills can be put to use in other jobs, so if a research position is not available, then you still have other career options open to you.

Whether a career in academia is for you or not will depend entirely on your own levels of determination and persistence, along with weighing the pros against the cons of research. In the end, only you can make the choice - but keep in mind the various advantages and disadvantages of going down this particular career path.