Science & Research

Would you stay loyal to a company that froze promotions or start interviewing immediately? My organization says budget constraints require a pause on advancement but expectations have not changed. I a… more

Do you find yourself getting anxious off of the most repetitive tasks at your job? For me it’s during my one on ones with upper management. I’m always anxious they will mention something negative.

What’s the average number of years your team members have been in the same position? On my team is about 5 years average now which I think is good-ish

Earlier in my career, I said yes to almost every request because I wanted to be seen as helpful and committed. Over time, that led to being stretched too thin. I’m now learning to set better boundarie… more

When you have to choose between two qualified candidates for your team what is a non-resume factor you look at? For my team it’s speaking experience/skills

How in the world do people network in this field? There's not much coming from asking my former professors for advice or posting in LinkedIn groups like "I'm looking for a research positi… more

👀What’s the worst or most awkward question you've been asked during an interview?

For a long time, I measured success mainly by publications and titles. Lately, I’ve started thinking more about work-life balance, job stability, and whether I actually enjoy my day-to-day work. My de… more

Is there anything you have negotiated during an interview that wasn’t salary? I’m thinking about negotiating being remote but not sure if that is too far fetched

In my first few research roles, I felt like I was constantly learning things on the fly and worrying that I was “supposed” to already know them. It took time to realize that most people are learning as they… more

I’m managing three active projects and mentoring junior staff but my salary has barely moved in the past two years. Grant funding is stable but raises are minimal. I enjoy the work but worry about sta… more

I’m going to be transitioning roles in a few weeks but will be double-hatting in the meantime. I’m sure many of you have dealt with this before - any advice on managing tasks through this period? I do… more

I’m finding it harder to disconnect from work even outside scheduled hours. Study timelines and participant issues come up constantly and coverage is thin. PTO exists but feels hard to use fully. How … more

Hi everyone,
I have got my degree in PhD in crystalography and I am looking for both researcher and R&D positions in pharmecutical company. what advise do you give me before starting my career sear… more

I was talking to my friend who is a writer and they are so passionate about their jobs! I cannot relate even though I like my role and see myself in it long term. For those who don’t work in their pas… more

When I started my training, I imagined a very linear path: PhD to postdoc to maybe a teaching role. Instead, my career has been much more winding, with detours and uncertainty along the way. It’s not… more

Third-year Biochemistry student at UBC seeking a co-op opportunity to build on my IPS summer internship experience. This past summer, I developed strong laboratory, research, and problem-solving skill… more

How far outside your background are you looking for a new job? I’ve noticed a lot of people applying to my team that have very different backgrounds from what I’m used to seeing.

In my last role, my lab director was very hands-off, which gave me freedom but also left me feeling unsupported at times. In another role, I had much more structure and feedback, which helped me grow … more

I noticed a lot of science majors dream of making six figures. Do you feel like out of all the STEM majors science is the least profitable?

I love watching innovative sci-fi that could be a possibility in the future. For instance I loved Westworld and their idea of uploading cautiousness to a robot. What’s your favorite sci-fi show?

Just saw a wave of layoffs at my previous company. I’m glad I left when I did they’ve done two big waves since I’ve been gone. Do y’all’s keep tabs on your previous jobs after you leave like this? I u… more

If you could restart your science/research career with what you know now, what would you change? Different degree? More networking? Earlier industry move?

I am starting to question whether steady raises are even worth waiting for. My pay has gone from $138K to $145K over 3 years while my scope expanded a lot. But I'm told that's normal?

Does managing everything actually limit your career options? I oversee 10 staff, manage safety compliance, and control a $900K annual budget. But after 6 years I still make less than 6 figs.

I’ve been binge watching bridgerton and it’s crazy how having an expansive vocabulary was the norm (even though it is fiction). Do you think poised cooperate talk should be the norm?

How much mindless data entry do you do per week? I end up with at least an hour or so each week but this week I’ve done like 8 hours of just data entry

Do conferences actually help your career anymore? Curious what people are getting out of them now — jobs, collaborations, visibility. Without a funding source it can be hard to justify sometimes.

Is anyone else stuck paying out of pocket to do their job? I spend about $250 a month on conference travel meals, software, and small supplies because reimbursements take forever. My salary is $101K a… more

How normal is chronic understaffing in research teams? We have been short 2 coordinators for over a year and enrollment targets never changed. I make $72K and routinely work late to keep studies compl… more

Why does healthcare research expect unlimited availability on a fixed salary? I manage 8 active trials, take calls outside normal hours, and make $102K. PTO exists on paper but I have not taken more t… more

Some friends in other industries have been freelancing for extra money instead of leaving their secure jobs. Would you ever consider this?

What are. career options if after 5 years post doc I cannot find any jobs

Which is worse for you, a 8:00 meeting on Monday or a 4:30 meeting on Friday? I’ve been having both lately and it’s the worst.

👀At what age do you think you’ll be able to retire?

How do you deal with micromanaging at your job?

Do you adapt your communication style, set boundaries, or address it head-on?
Have you found ways to turn it into clearer structure or has it been a sign to seek a ne… more

What is a non-standard benefit that you’ve started looking for in new potential company? My current job pays for wellness reimbursement, it’s pretty nice and broad too. I usually get a new pair of run… more

If you had to name one major unanswered question in your field that deserves more funding and attention right now, what would it be — and why? I’m interested in hearing both mainstream and niche answe… more

Why can I hardly get responses to my job applications? I know people often think there are problems with the resume, but I have already carefully revised it and tailored it according to different job … more