Quote From UKPhDStudent:Quote From ub40:
Yep. This is it. If you read the terms of most postdoc funding calls in academia, you can only apply for them up to X amount of years after you have finished your PhD. Heaven forbid, you should go work in industry for a couple of years, learn loads of new knowledge and gain work experience. No more research career for you - academia doesn't want people with dirty real world experience.
Dear ub40.
I find your statement "academia doesn't want people with dirty real world experience" quote curious. I would request some elaboration on that conclusion that you have arrived at. Loads of new knowledge and work experience you gain in the industry can better be applied in academics as well. I bet you have never worked in the industry! Forgive me, if I am wrong. I am only human to make mistakes in my judgement.
As far as I have seen at my current university here in the UK, people with blend of experience from industry and academics fare quite good and sometimes even far better. I have seen such people holding positions of responsibility at my institution and they have broad and practical view point towards solving real life problems, if that is what research is about.
Thank You!
I worked at a number of companies in industry before starting a PhD at age 27.
Your university is wise then, that's not the case at my (ex)university. Working in the "real world" doesn't produce papers. They're not going to hire a senior researcher or professor who hasn't been producing papers.
And the typical funding calls for postdocs allow you to apply up to 2-4 years after your PhD has been completed. So if you go work for a company for a few years after your PhD, and then decided to apply for postdoc funding, you no longer qualify. You can always apply for young researcher funding, but you won't get that unless... you've been producing papers.
The situation might be different in the UK, but I doubt it.
