Science Careers

The Tough Choice of a Life Scientist: Industry vs. Academia

Author: Maria Zagorulya

The most obvious career choice for life sciences students is research, and the essential dilemma of aspiring researchers is the choice between industry and academia. There are certainly other career options—government positions and scientific consulting, for instance—but industry versus academia remains the popular set of choices for many biology students. This article provides a comparative overview of these different career paths.