MS or PhD? Which is Right for Me?

Transcription

1 MS or PhD? Which is Right for Me? AGU Career Center 28 February 2012, 2012

2 Today s goals Can I do research with an MS? Identify career opportunities that are right for me Examine different career tracks with geosciences degrees Case Studies of geosciences careers: MS vs PhD paths

3 Quantum Key: Value Proposition You create value = your scientific knowhow You have a lot more career opps than you realize But you absolutely have to do what you love or life with be miserable and you will be unproductive

4 Value of Geoscientists In and Beyond Academia Excellent problem solvers Adaptive and flexible Disciplined approach Computing skills Can solve a prob from the ground up Don t accept things just the way they are

5 Value of Geoscientists In and Beyond Academia Are both holistic and detail-oriented Understand how the physical world works Project management and teamwork large-scale, diverse, across continents Tapping into your current network Finance and funding experience Know that your work also has everyday applications

6 Can I do research with an MS? Yes!!! But where? Industry Govt Labs and agencies Research VS. Scientific Problem Solving Research: design and run original experiments, oversee investigations, publish results (internally or externally) Scientific Problem-Solving: practical application of scientific know-how to customer probs MS is the degree of choice in many industries

7 The advantage of the MS: Oil and Gas Industry In O&G industry: MS is a filter, standard of hiring bec of what you do to get a MS: Scientific method, prob-solving skills, you ve proven you can do the task at a high level If you want to get into the petroleum industry and solve geoscience probs, then a MS is all you need. --Global Recruiter, MS, Major Global O&G Company

8 The advantage of the MS: Mining Industry In Mining industry: MS is preferred- more about being a generalist problem-solver, being flexible PhD has a bad rep? A question of too much specialization, not enough general probsolving ability and an inflexibility If someone has a PhD and specializes in [a certain area] and they work in industry, if suddenly the money shifts and they have to work in a different area, they might not want to do that. -- Christopher Marrs, MS, Consultant/Economic Geologist, Western Alaska Copper and Gold

9 The advantage of the MS: Environmental Consulting In Environmental Consulting: MS is king, then BS, then PhD MS is degree of choice for geologists in the environmental arena Decision-makers and managers have MS in geosciences. You are better off starting work after MS (get experience in industry) Research is there, but it is applied --John Pekala, MS, Senior Manager, ENVIRON International Corporation

10 So what about the PhD? In O&G PhD is not required to do research, so becomes a personal preference as to whether to get one More time than MS, but: Experience spent in industry is often weighed more than the PhD (for certain research-related jobs) PhD is often the entry point to R&D jobs, but with a MS, once you are in the company, you often can go wherever you want (including R&D) MS: You can always go back for PhD later (with the comp s blessings and $)

11 So what about the PhD? PhD required: Academic positions: tenure-track and nontenure-track professorships, teaching at univ/college level Management positions at some govt agencies/labs As you advance in science-related positions some govt agencies and labs Entry point to R&D labs in industry

12 General Career Paths for Geoscientists: Research and non-research Opps Academic Research and Teaching Tenure-track and not Large Univs, small colleges, liberal arts, community colleges, private schools, High and middle schools Administrative and program management Government USGS, NOAA, NASA, NCAR, NREL National labs State and Local Govt Geos, envir, water, etc. Government Contracting Science Consulting Geosciences, environmental, water, construction, etc.

13 Industry Jobs in Geosciences R and D, Engineering, program management Depending on industry and job, not necessarily called Geoscientist O&G, petrochemical 33% growth/yr Mining Advanced biofuels Building retrofitting Mass transit and rail Wind, solar, smart grid technology Areas for strong demand of geoscientists (MS and PhD) --Alan Edwards, VP and Science Project Lead, Americas Product Group, Kelly Services

14 Career Paths Beyond Geosciences Non-profit like directing AGU! Science writing and science comms Writing articles Publicizing science and the scientists Science outreach: Museums, univs Government research, tech-based, policy, program management Congress, agencies, think tanks, OSTP Govt FBI, NSA, CIA, etc Beyond typical govt- FAA

15 Career Paths Beyond Geosciences Management, strategy and technical Consulting, ex: McKinsey & Co., SAIC, Booz Allen Hamilton Financial/Quantitative ( Quants ) Industry Various, beyond O&G, Mining, environmental Client problem-solving, business development, marketing Computing Power ex: entertainment field Research careers in other fields

16 Case Study: Major, Global O&G Co. aka Oil, Inc. Geoscience is the lifeblood of this company. [Geoscientists] discover the oil so we invest a lot of resources in them Most common degree for geos: MS Comp subdivides geos population: Generalists (largest). Ex Petroleum Geoscientist, actively interpreting data, finding hydrocarbons Specialists high-end geophysics, and R&D

17 Case Study: Major, Global O&G Co. aka Oil, Inc. Entry points MS generalists, some specialists But in R&D entry point (from outside company) PhD ***Once in the company, your career is often up to you. Ex: with a MS, can transfer into R&D Can also do recruiting, biz analysis, etc. MS - we hire the best geoscientists we can So your thesis topic/area of expertise is not as important as your skills as a scientist Research: Generalists will be solving geos probs everyday Some work could lead to publishing

18 Case Study: Major, Global O&G Co. aka Oil, Inc. Scientist Skills Intelligence, and quantitative/high tech skills Passion for science Passion for curiosity see what s round the corner Integrative mind holistic, systematic way of thinking about probs, understands implications of observations, and what they mean to others ***Interpersonal skills teambuilding Leadership willingness to step up Communications verbal and visual, understand your audience and change your talk for new aud.

19 Case Study: Major, Global O&G Co. aka Oil, Inc. In R&D, Publishing/Conferences/Speaking is encouraged: Comp wants to maintain its international research reputation R&D field and lab work (140 labs in Houston alone)

20 Case Study: Schlumberger Important Skills for MS Hires MS thesis/studies relate to hydrocarbons Mobility Flexibility Hands-on Adaptability outdoorsy Enter usually as Field Engineers Will be doing science, just not called scientists Ex: mapping of reservoir, how it was deposited Can go anywhere after that No Limits with a MS R&D more PhDs than MSs, but there are MSs who design and lead research teams. Will pay for you to get a PhD if you/they want it --Wayne Finger, North American Recruiting and University Relations Manager

21 Case Study: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (Govt Lab) Can fresh MS do science? yes, all you do out here is science But, if you want to do original research, you will hit a glass ceiling Funding agencies want to see you have a pedigree pubs in peerreviewed jrls, $, international leader reputation PhDs know how to solve high level probs, PhDs have gone through the scientific rigor and have proven themselves. MS can still do great fundamental science, but the PhD is an acknowledgement that you can go one level higher. But more and more certain tasks are done by MSs, ex carbon sequestration lab- project managers (PMs) are MSs PMs will work with PIs, to design experiments and do research MS is fine for management roles PhD for personal reasons --Mark Sweeney, Research Engineer (Geologist by training), PNNL

22 So what s right for me? Know your interests and skills Know that you bring great value as a geoscienceseducated professional, to myriad careers Do research on AGU.org and AGIweb.org Salary info, sectors that are growing, hiring, job descriptions Do research on the major companies and organizations entry point reqs, career paths, opportunities for advancement Know the minimum degree req for your career path Decide for yourself what degree is right for you

23 AGU Career Center Opportunities: Next Webinar: 1 May 2012, 3pm EST on Post-doc issues: The Next Best Step Besides a post-doc, what are my options? Fall Webinar: Focus on Women in Geosciences Have ideas for future webinars? careers@agu.org

24 One-on-one Career Consulting for Emerging/Established Scientists and Engineers Results-Oriented Professional Leadership Development for Scientists and Engineers Speaking keynotes, workshops, training