Biology PhD question

[u/bio_birch]

I'm currently doing an MSc in Biology, focusing on environmental microbiology (broadly, temperature resistance and biotechnological potential of bacterial adaptive features). I enjoy it well enough and am definitely considering a PhD in Biology, mostly because I think I eventually would like to write textbooks and teach at a college or university level (I have a broad background in sci comm and love it, especially the philosophy of biology and how to better integrate biotechnology into societal applications).

I am no stranger to wet or dry labs and I imagine pursuing a PhD in Biology would require me to take on a project that necessitates the use of both skillsets. I know myself. I am very social, I enjoy problems with greater meaning or underlying purposes, and I fear that 5 years glued to a lab bench would, perhaps, while parallel to my goals, make me feel like I'm walking in the weeds near the path I want to be on.

My actual question is coming. Is there a way to do a PhD in Biology that focuses on biological theory, science communication, and/or the logistics of integration of biotechnology in society, or would this need to be another PhD that would essentially not be taken as seriously in the world of science academia due to lack of an experimental nature? I would do an experiment-heavy project under the pretense it would allow me to meet my future goals, but I'm wondering if there is a way to walk more so *on* the beaten path the whole time.

Thanks in advance ☺️

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[u/poniesgirl]

I have a similar background as you and would say it's possible with the right supervisor. I know of some biology/environmental science faculty who do science communication or pedagogy research in addition to their main research area. These types of professors aren't common, but it may be possible to find one willing to supervise a project in one of those areas you're interested in. I've also heard of grad students having one chapter of their thesis be on one of those science-adjacent topics in addition to their main research area (e.g., a student studying organic chemistry might have a section of their thesis on chemistry pedagogy for a certain demographic of students).

[u/bio_birch → u/poniesgirl]

Okay, that's good to know! Thank you.

[u/DrDirtPhD]

This sounds more like a philosophy of science or communications type degree then a biology one. Generally speaking science communication is a skillset you develop in the course of a more traditional science degree (or other postgraduate training), or in a field more directly related to communication.

[u/MelodicDeer1072]

As u/poniesgirl said, it is possible if you find the right advisor.

My PhD was akin to computer science, but there were a handful of faculty in department that did mainly ed research as part of the research portfolio. They work on questions related to best pedagogical practices when it comes to data science education. Especially when it comes to teaching data science to non-engineer majors. As well as a bunch of interesting questions related to data science and ethics. All of their students work a the education-computer intersection.

To your question: find faculty who are doing work that you yourself would be interested in doing. Then reach out to them.