My Word

Why industry?Erin Bradley

Traditional scientific indoctrinationleaves most PhD’s believing — evenholding as an irrefutable truth — thatthe only true scientific research ispursued in the hallowed halls ofacademia. Therefore, many mightfind it inconceivable or at least ironicthat, after asking the usual question,‘Academia or Industry?’, I should findindustry the easiest place to pursuescience. Here, I avidly consume myhours at the bench uninterrupted byfund-raising responsibilities and freefrom administrative hassles, politicalmaneuvering or the need to managehordes of subordinates.

I was first attracted to industrybecause of my abhorrence ofteaching, a not uncommon trait. Ioften hear ‘light teaching load’ listedas a major plus in an academicposition. Nothing could be lightenough for me. Industrial positionswere also enticing because they donot require grant-writing, a major andincreasing time-sink for the averageacademic. Finally, I found the ideathat my research would directlyaffect the world at large immenselyappealing.

After choosing industrial research,I discovered several unexpectedadvantages. The most important ofthese was presented to me in myorientation session where I wasinformed that eventually I wouldhave a career question to answer:‘managerial or research ladder?’ It isnot clear to me that you get thatchoice in academia. If you aresuccessful you fund and manage aresearch group, and spend very littletime at the bench yourself. Youusually do get this choice in industrialsettings, and for me it’s a tremendousadvantage. It translates into a

diversity of job possibilities that canaccommodate many differentpersonality types and their differentstrengths in the scientific arena. Onecan seek the right role in which toexcel, and not necessarily conform tothe stereotype of the high-poweredlab head. There are varying degreesof self-directed research, varyingdegrees of scientific and/or politicalcomplexity in each role, variouslevels within the hierarchy to aspireto, and various levels of organizationalresponsibility to be taken on. Chooseyour favorite socio-politicalenvironment and you can find it.There are plenty of hierarchicalladders to fight your way up, butthere are also opportunities to workon teams where people cooperate tomove projects forward. One must stillface budgets and sell one’s ideas tothe higher powers, but you can oftenchoose how much of this you do.

In this diversity of professionalpossibilities, how does one choose arole? It helps to know what motivatesyou. Curiosity, or the need to knowwhy, is what led me to science in thefirst place. I take great pleasure insolving the mysteries of why andhow things happen. Working out howto get the answer is also extremelygratifying. It doesn’t really matter tome if I was the one to pose thequestion originally, or if someoneelse thought it was important to ask.It is equally satisfying to me toprovide the answer or to helpsomeone else find it. And howeverthe problem is solved, there is a veryclear connection between the factthat it is solved and a possiblebenefit to the human race. OK, that’sgrandiose — but it’s also true, and itmakes me feel good about what I do.

Oh, that is not to say that otherswill not try to intrude on thisscientific idyll. There are alwaysthose with a compelling drive forpower and a need to dictate, who willtry to build an empire and includeyou in it. There are always politicalminefields to negotiate — after all

we are talking about working withpeople. And there are managers whogive lip service to teamwork and theteam players, and the credit tothemselves. But then, this is the realworld and not a fairy tale. You mustdeal with colleagues of all sorts, nomatter where you pursue yourresearch. But here I can choose whatI battle or maneuver for.

One of the most valuable piecesof advice I have received in myprofessional career was “keep youreyes on the prize.” The prize for meis coming up with solutions. I havethe motivation and the skill to dohigh caliber research but my need tobe the boss or dictate researchobjectives to others is minimal. Ineed to have responsibility for myresearch and scientific decisions, butnot for the direction of a large groupof subordinates. So my politicalmaneuvering can be minimalcompared to my scientific andtechnical efforts.

Of course this kind of life willonly appeal if you don’t mind beingan indian rather than the chief.Working on teams, with colleaguesfrom various backgrounds andspecialties has proven a stimulatingand productive environment for me.And again, the bottom line is thatI’ve been able to stay at the benchand do hands-on science.

Industry, and biotechnology inparticular, has offered me a greatcompromise between my desire topursue high-quality research, and myloathing of political maneuvering,fund-raising, and administrativepaperwork. This allows me to be atthe leading edge without having tobe the leader. I can also excel atinnovative problem solving, withouthaving to select, prioritize, anddefine all the problems myself. Bestof all I can mature as a scientist andprofessional, without having to leavescience behind for managerial tasks.

Address: Chiron Corporation, 4560 HortonSt., Emeryville, California 94608-2916, USA.

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