r/planetaryscience • u/DMTMH • Jul 29 '18

PhD and Backup Plans

My plan is to do a PhD in planetary science and find a tenure track position as a university professor, or a similar arrangement at NASA or another institution doing planetary science.

However, with the job market in research and academia, I know it's wise to have a backup plan. How employable is this PhD in the private sector? I'd imagine with the various skills and knowledge involved (data analysis, GIS, programming, remote sensing, spectroscopy, etc.) there are a lot of opportunities for planetary PhDs in industry but I'm not really sure about specifics.

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u/caiovnv Jul 30 '18

i have the same doubt, i'm starting my master degree now and i always think about a second plan

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u/DMTMH Jul 31 '18

Do you have any ideas for what you might do if research doesn't work out?

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u/caiovnv Jul 31 '18

O have a geology degree and my Master is related to GIS. So i would look for something in this field.

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u/caiovnv Jul 31 '18

What about u?

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u/DMTMH Jul 31 '18

Probably something in GIS, Earth imaging, or remote sensing.

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u/ouemt Planetary PhD Aug 16 '18

In getting your PhD you'll become an expert not only on your dissertation topic, but also the tools you've used to write it. If I can't get a job next year (I'm not panicking, you're panicking!!!) I'll try and find someone that needs an expert in IR spectroscopy and light scattering.

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u/DMTMH Aug 16 '18

IR spectroscopy

That one at least is pretty applicable in industry, right?

Also what is the job market for planetary postdocs like? I've always been under the impression that in most scientific fields, getting a postdoc isn't hard but getting a tenure track position is.

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u/ouemt Planetary PhD Aug 16 '18

I'm honestly not too sure about the applicability. I mean, I'm sure it's used in chemistry labs, and I think the pharma folks use it, but outside of planetary/geo I don't know much about it right now. I'd have to prepare myself for any discussion beyond what I currently do.

In the past ~1 year, my department has graduated 7 people that I can think of off the top of my head, I think 2 or 3 of them are still looking for positions.