careers in industry vs. academia vs. government labs: a...
TRANSCRIPT
Research in Industries
Balajee Kannan
Distributed Intelligence LaboratoryDepartment of Computer ScienceUniversity of Tennessee, Knoxville
Scope of discussion
Characteristics of research in IndustrySmall vs Large companies
Case study – Google: Ideal blend
BenefitsTrendsOpen questions
Characteristics of Research in Industry
Limited scopeResearch not up to pace with the products for every company
Tight relation between research product and application
More for smaller newer companies
Limited Resources – Time, Money
Projects outside of “company” time, beneficial to the company, encouraged
Large vs Small Companies
Small Companies
Less specialized more opportunities for research
Advancement is easier
Close working relationship between the researchers and the decision makers
Have to wear a lot of hats
Large vs Small Companies(contd.)
Large Companies
More formal training programs, no thrashing around in the dark as is the case in most small companies
Better benefit packages
Job security, less pressure to deliver on the research idea
Less opportunity for growth and shine. Difficult to come up with a “great” research idea and to get it implemented
Case Study – Google
Large profit company with a small company mentality
Small teams of operation: Quick, efficient and productive
Google engineers all have “20 percent time” of company time in which they’re free to pursue research interests that they’re passionate about including: google earth, google maps etc
Benefits
Remuneration
Better opportunities for career advancement
Less pressure in terms of developing new and unique research ideas
Fixed Hours
Trends
1970’s – Start of Industrial funding of university research
Industry's share of academic R&D support 2.6 % in 1970
1995 – up to 7% industrial shareIncrease in interest of application than pure research
Current – No pure research, except maybe in physics and math, everything is application driven, hence more and more money being poured into companies than Universities
Open Questions
Has “pure research”, motivated exclusively by the search for knowledge for its own sake, suffered from the rise in technological or applied research?
Have scientists have strayed from the goal of "advancing knowledge" to "creating wealth".
Why do big companies not invest money on research
Is working in an industry a trade-off between benefits and research (or)
Would you consider working in an industry as selling out?
References
EMPLOYMENT SECTOR, SALARIES, PUBLISHING AND PATENTING ACTIVITIES OF S&E DOCTORATE HOLDERS - by Thomas B. Hoffer
Research Careers in Academia
Ben BirchDistributed Intelligence Laboratory
Department of Computer Science
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
September 27, 2005
Autonomous Work
Encouraged by the academic cultureSelf-initiated and self-directed workException is collaborative projects
Publish or Perish
An idea long ingrained in academiaWhat makes for a good publication record?
Number of refereed papers publishedQuality of refereed papers publishedFewer papers in respected journals > many papers in lesser publications
Other factors in success in academiaQuality of teachingFunding obtainedService to your academic department
Funding Not Included
You’ve got to forage for funds to support your research.This is another dimension to the autonomous nature of an academic career.See also the “Funding” presentation in this series.
Inquiry-Based Research
The goal is to contribute to the body of knowledge in your field.Research may or may not lead to any practical application.For some, the idea of knowledge for knowledge’s sake is very compelling.
Research Independence
You can decide which direction your research takes, which is exciting.On the other hand, you have the pressure of determining a research direction and developing a research plan.Academia places the most value on research that identifies basic principles in your field.
No Clock to Punch
Pro – You can pretty much set your own schedule.Con – The dual traps of not working enough and of working all the time are opened.
Multiple Roles
Partial Listing of RolesTeacherResearcherMentorEntrepreneurNegotiatorSpeakerWriterReviewer
To some these multiple roles would be stimulating, to others they would be chaotic.
Opportunities for Advancement
Promotions in academic rankObtaining tenureFaculty members are sometimes appointed to positions in university administration
Department headsDeansProvosts
People Skills Required
People skills that fit with teachingSocialization skills in order to build a networkWritten and verbal communication skills to attract attention to your research and to obtain funding
Travel and Public Contact
Encouraged by the university as being good public relationsSpeaking opportunities to varied audiences
ConferencesOther schoolsLay groups
ResourcesDelores Bartholomew, “Academia or Industry: Where Would I Fit In?”, Science Magazine – Next Wave. http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/issue/articles/0490Delores Bartholomew, “Academia or Industry: Finding the Fit”, Science Magazine – Next Wave. http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/issue/articles/0560Delores Bartholomew, “Academia or Industry: Considering the Fit”, Science Magazine – Next Wave. http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/issue/articles/0560Sowmya Viswanathan, “On the Horns of a Dilemma”, Science Magazine – Next Wave. http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_development/issue/articles/2100
Research Careers in Government Labs
Michael BaileyDistributed Intelligence Laboratory
Department of Computer Science
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Sept. 27, 2005
What is the research environment like?
How do researchers get funding?To what extent can they pursue their own research goals?Do excessive regulations get in the way of research?
Classified research
How much work is classified?How does this affect contact with the outside research community?
Resources
Mary Beckman, “Working in a Government Lab”, The Chronicle of Higher Education. http://chronicle.com/jobs/2003/05/2003052001c.htmDianne P. O’Leary, “Chapter 11: Careers in Government and Industry”, Graduate Study in the Computer and Mathematical Sciences: A Survival Manual.http://www.cs.umd.edu/~oleary/gradstudy/node12.html
Comparison of Research Employment Sectors
Ben BirchDistributed Intelligence Laboratory
Department of Computer Science
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
September 27, 2005
Employment Distribution
Industry Academia Government1995 – 33%2001 – 42%
1995 – 63%2001 – 53%
1995 – 4%2001 – 5%
Distribution of employment of doctorate holders in the computer and mathematical sciences in the years 1995 and 2001
Salary
Industry Academia Government
1995 - $89,500
2001 - $99,000
1995 - $61,100
2001 - $65,000
1995 - $76,700
2001 - $90,000
Average salaries for doctorate holders in the computer and mathematical sciences for the years 1995 and 2001
Involved in Publication-Related Activities
Industry Academia Government
1995 – 64%2001 – 59%
1995 – 85%2001 – 82%
1995 – 71%2001 – 77%
Doctorate holders in the computer and mathematical sciences who presented a paper at a conference or published a journal article at least one time within the last five years
Involved in Patent-Related Activities
Industry Academia Government
1995 - 15%2001 – 25%
1995 – 2%2001 – 3%
1995 – 1%2001 – 9%
Doctorate holders in the computer and mathematical sciences who applied for or obtained a patent at least one time within the last five years
Success Metrics
Industry Academia Government
Your contributions to the company’s success
Publications
Funding obtained
Quality of teaching
Your contributions to the project’s success
Opportunities for Advancement
Industry Academia GovernmentGreatest opportunities due to the dynamic nature of the organization
Primarily through promotion in academic rank and obtaining tenure
Greatest opportunities for those remaining in research
Research Goals
Industry Academia GovernmentMarket-driven Inquiry-based Project-driven
•In industry, your research goals will be largely determined by the goals of the company.
•In academia, you have the freedom to set your own goals along with the pressure to develop a productive research direction.
•In government labs, your research goals will be largely determined by the goals of the project that you are assigned to.
Funding
Industry Academia Government
Provided by the organization
You must apply for competitively awarded funding
You must apply for competitively awarded funding
Teamwork vs. Autonomous Work
Industry Academia GovernmentTeamwork heavily emphasized
Autonomous except during collaborations
Intermediate, but closer to industry’s teamwork emphasis
Pace of Research
Industry Academia GovernmentFastest by comparison
Slowest by comparison
Intermediate, but closer to industry’s pace
•In industry, experiments are driven by the need to generate practical applications.
•In academia, research is more in depth, and negative results, as well as positive results, can be pursued.
Work Schedule
Industry Academia GovernmentSet by the organization
Primarily set by you
Set by the organization
Necessary People Skills
Industry Academia Government
Skills that allow you to work closely with other team members on a daily basis
Skills that fit with being a teacher and mentor
Communication skills necessary for networking, collaborating, and obtaining funding
Similar to those required in industry
Travel and Public Contact
Industry Academia GovernmentControlled Open and
EncouragedTightly controlled if working with classified information
Resources
Thomas B Hoffer, “Employment Sector, Salaries, Publishing and Patenting Activities of S&E Doctorate Holders”, National Science Foundation InfoBrief NSF04-328, June 2004.Also see the resources listed in the “Research Careers in Industry”, “Research Careers in Academia”, and “Research Careers in Government” presentations in this series.