Research has always been a boring and frustrating choice for many, perhaps for those who have not tasted the real flavor. But, for someone who has realized that a researcher is one who shapes the future of humanity, who brings future into his real life, would never complain about being in research. Of course there are roadblocks, challenges and difficulties at each step, the research career is still one of the most versatile and lively careers on Earth. In this blog I discuss some pros and and cons of the research as a career.
What brings you to decide your career choice? If its your parents will or a friends suggestion, forget about your success! Choice of a career should always be driven by your own instinct, your own inner voice and of course the strengths that you acquired during your formal education. Research has been one of the neglected and less preferred career choice (in India), due to the mindset of society and lack of inclination towards sciences, and this is one of the reason for fewer innovations compared to other developed countries, where research as a career is not a chance, but a choice. So convincing society and parents is yet another challenge for opting this career. If you are choosing research as a career, because after your masters you are left with no choice, or your fellow friends are doing PhD, or you would get a fellowship from government at least for five years, or you will get admission in some universities, its going to be difficult for you to fit into a job, or even if you become a scientist you will spoiling the organization (as a matter of fact many such people do!!), rather you should choose research as career if you are curious, if you have hunger to learn, if you are keen to study the basic phenomenon or you are looking forward to solve a social issues.
Have you ever wondered that, who develops the new features of upcoming iPhone? Who brings new medicines for unmanageable diseases? Who brings breakthrough in technology? It is the hard work of hundreds or thousands of researchers culminating into a meaningful information. They live and work in the future of humanity, they foresee the upcoming time. A researcher is one who is at the edge of future and present, they are driven by problem of present and passionate about a beautiful future of humanity.
As a researcher you should not be demotivated by lower salaries or non-appraisal or recognition unlike the perks of senators, civil servants, engineers, doctors etc. Its mere paradox that those who are highly paid and those who have authority to control more people (like IAS, IPS) are recognized more in our society. It does not however mean that other profession are not good, but they are also excellent choice if its chosen by someone with keen interest, and also the contribution of every person working honestly is equally well as a researcher. But, let look at the edge that a researcher has! Just as an example, lets talk about the greatest discoveries of the twentieth century, if Alexander Fleming would not have discovered penicillin, millions have died (perhaps I would not been writing this blog, as my generation would have also been swiped out). So who contributed more to society, a doctor who prescribed penicillin or its discoverer? Have you ever wondered that, who develops the new features of upcoming iPhone? Who brings new medicines for unmanageable diseases? Who brings breakthrough in technology? Its the hard work of hundreds or thousands of researchers culminating into a meaningful information. In fact everything that you see from morning till evening (metro train, refrigerator, telephone ...) all have been invented and then improved significantly by contribution of thousands of researchers. Engineers will just re-create them and finish them for our use. They live and work in the future of humanity, they foresee the upcoming time. A researcher is one who is at the edge of future and present, they are driven by problem of present and passionate about a beautiful future of humanity. This is what make research an elite career choice.This is something that drives a person to peruse research.
Its a steady game
Research is no gamble, or its not a stock of share marker that goes high or dips down overnight. Its something very robust but rises at a very steady pace. You must not expect a quick quantum leap in your job, in your salary, just because you have published one paper. You need to constantly work on to enhance and gather scientific aura around you to become a successful researcher. Career in Scientific research is a steady game, you have to patient enough to spend a significant number of years after your Master's degree, just to realize that how research is done, and what is it all about. Then as a postdoctoral researcher, you may begin as an independent person, grooming yourself to guide others with a parallel growth of yours. This takes another 5-10 years of your life. I have seen may researcher rushing for a quick job and quick ascent, they end up in either poor quality of research or merely spoilers of the system. This may be considered as a shortcoming of this career choice and hence those who see their brothers and sisters into some IT companies, or managers drawing a six figure salary, should never ever step into the business of research. Rather, moving into industries or switching to other sector is advisable. Research is less paid, (especially in India), but money is not something for which a true researcher is mad about, rather it is the curiosity, passion and answer to some unknown questions that drives a researcher to constant work with modest funding, intermediate facilities. A degree of patience, ability to face successive failure is essential for those who seek research as a career.
You never retire in Science
The best part of research career is that you never retire, and you never become incapable of doing research unless you choose to quit yourself. You become diamond, needed by everyone and your name alone can attract a lot of funding and facilities. I personally, have seen scientists of age more than 90 years (Prof. Watson is one such example) speaking on a stage with utmost passion and enthusiasm as if they live science, which is more than a life time inspiration to choose research as a career.
The best part of research career is that you never retire, and you never become incapable of doing research unless you choose to quit yourself. You become diamond, needed by everyone and your name alone can attract a lot of funding and facilities.
As you grow old in Science, your value and recognition keeps on increasing (provided you constantly work), and unlike may other professions where you are shown the path of your home by employer,research can be perused as long as you are alive. A number of research grants, honorary professorships and fellowships are available for post 60 research in India and abroad.
Research is not bad for money lovers also
Some have more interest in minting money out of their skills, and that is not at all a bad choice as far as you do it honestly and do not cheat people. But, most people believe, that research does not have money, you can not become rich and can not fulfill your life's dreams with research as a career. They are wrong!. Patents and entrepreneurial activities can make you super rich. There are many great examples, several spin off companies from Harvard, Cambridge are making millions and their owners are really rich. So, its just a matter of quality of research the level of effort you put in. A single patent can be good enough to feed your generations.
Keep the spark alive and stay curious
In order to succeed in research one has to keep the spark for research alive, i.e the curious nature and ability to work. A famous saying in research called "Publish or Perish" is not a lie. In order to compete, to gather more funds to run your research you need to prove your self each and every day. If you start believing you have done you have done enough research, now its payoff phase, you are already dead as a researcher and you don't have any right on science.
Research in science is therefore one of the elite careers in the world and if your find yourself fit and passion to do research drives you opportunities are endless.
This is an article worth reading for both who are not associated with research, as well as people like me who are in their initial stage of research.
Those in research do get a little demoralized many times due to family and societal pressure (specially in India), which easily distracts them from their aim and passion in science; makes them forget the "reason" that drove them to choose a research career. Alongside, this is extremely unfortunate and disheartening that this career is not appreciated by many people in society because it needs time and patience and is less paid. But, we all need to realize, that world needs researchers, just as we need people in any other profession. Every profession…