NRR: Have PhD, should I go for the MBA?

Non-Running Finance/Jobs

14 years ago 09/04/2009 6:09pm EDT

Three years ago, I got my PhD in neurobiology. Did some postdoc work, didn't like it too much. Now I'm looking at my options for the future.

My problem with science is that it is so dependent on getting a grant in academics. Grant ends = Job ends. I can handle the reality of this, but the constant treadmill of looking for funding stresses me out, and is made all the worst by the arbitrary nature of the grants system. Now I'm thinking about going into the private sector. The problem is, I have no business training whatsoever. Getting an MBA seems like a good way to get around this and make myself more marketable. From where I stand, breaking into the business/administrative side of things seems like a way to get a steady paycheck with a little (lot?) more stability.

If it matters, I'm sure I could get into a pretty strong (possibly top 10 program), and I have little debt now, but I'm wondering if I'm not seeing some potential downsides to this urge. Does anyone out there have any advice for this sort of crossroads?

And I'm spent.

14 years ago 09/04/2009 6:16pm EDT

re: Tard

no, u have too much education already

14 years ago 09/04/2009 6:26pm EDT

re: Tard

MBA is probably a good idea if you really want to leave academia, or even if you don't want to completely leave and instead run a think tank or clinical program or what have you. I met a guy who got an M.D., Ph.D., and MBA; he's now running an institute and makes appro. $400k a year. But he's just one guy, what do I know.

14 years ago 09/04/2009 6:50pm EDT

re: Tard

I have a PhD in Pharmacology. You don't need an MBA to get a job. The folks in academia love to make you believe that you're not employable anywhere else and have no skills aside from working at a laboratory bench. Not true.

You actually pick up a lot of skills while getting a PhD that translate well in just about any business setting. Getting a PhD teaches you to: think critically and creatively problem solve, effectively work with difficult personalities (lets face it, many PhD programs are full of arrogant jerks), manage your boss (you don't get out of grad school unless you learn how to stand up to your advisor and manage them, otherwise they'll keep your cheap labor ass indefinitely),and present a convincing and logical argument both verbally and in writing (there's plenty of salesmanship involved in presenting research). Surviving a PhD also means you have a good work ethic, which will serve you well anywhere.

With three years postdoc experience you can probably get a job in the private sector without too much trouble. You may have to start in the lab, but not necessarily. Once you get in somewhere and learn the ropes it's not that hard to move around into different areas of the organization.

Personally, I got my PhD and ran like hell. I wanted nothing to do with academia or doing a post-doc. Got a job with the government and am happy there.

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NRR: Have PhD, should I go for the MBA?

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