Suppose the doors to the lab featured a disclaimer for new graduate students saying: “Warning: years of hard work inside, with no guarantee of a career.” Some might think twice before entering. Although many graduate students recognize the pitfalls of striving for a position in academia, others still remain idealistic about their prospects.
At least one laboratory's website now offers a measured dose of reality (http://www.biology.duke.edu/johnsenlab/advice.html). “Before you apply to this lab or any other,” writes Sönke Johnsen on his group's website, “there are a few things to keep in mind.” Johnsen, an associate biology professor at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, stresses that graduate school in biology is not a sure path to success nor is it a certainty that students will achieve a career similar to that of their adviser. He underscores this argument by doing the maths. On average, a professor at a research university looks after 3 students at a time for about 5 years each, which equates to 18 students over a 30-year career. Given that the total number of academic positions has stayed roughly constant in recent years, these 18 people are, in effect, competing for one job.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution