<p>Let me be real with you: I'm probably going to get my PhD in Pharmacoeconomics no matter what doom and gloom is said in this thread because, well, how exactly can it hurt? I mean, it's even better than a free degree: It's a degree that I get paid to do. Besides, I'm the kinda guy that likes the idea of career switching, so I plan on going to one or more professional schools.</p>
<p>So yeah, on to my real question: What kind of job market is out there for pharmacoeconomist? Also, is it possible to patent and sell my Master's thesis and/or dissertation?</p>
No, let me be real with you, you have a lot of aspirations. I certainly think you should pursue them all, at the same time. Let me know how that works out for you.</p>
<p>Well, of course I wouldn’t pursue them all at the same thing. To be quite honest, MBA and Pharmacoeconomics are both just “back-up” plans just in case I don’t make it into pharmacy school. I like to plan my failures ahead of time, because 'twill be truly lulzworthy.</p>
<p>Okay, now we’re dealing with a bit of reality so we can elaborate.</p>
<p>If you’re truly set on research, I would highly recommend you consider a MD/PhD program after undergrad. The MD is far more flexible than the PharmD, you’ll see once you work in a research/clinical setting such as a teaching hospital. Pharmaceutical companies bribe MDs, not PharmDs. If you’re dealing with the actual R&D of drug molecules, then that’s an entirely different field. You will probably benefit from a biochemistry background more than a PharmD background for sure.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about the MBA until later. I know Rutgers Pharmacy now has a PharmD/MBA program, but to be honest, I have to question the quality of the MBA education when nearly all the applicants for that program do not have substantial work experience.</p>
<p>Simply put, the ONLY advantage the PharmD really has is if you attend a 6 year accelerated program right out of high school and you attend a state school. When you factor in education cost, stability/security, time investment, etc. it’s a very good deal. However, if you’re looking for more “prestige”, consider another route.</p>
<p>Okay. Let’s get real. You cannot patent a thesis. You can copyright it.</p>
<p>If you are talking about patenting an invention that you create while writing a thesis, you’re still out of luck – sort of. Let’s just say that you are able to invent something while pursuing your master’s degree. First, your advisor is the co-inventor. If you did it in his lab, under his supervision, he gets credit. Next, the university will get involved, and they will determine whether the idea is patent-worthy. If they decide to pursue it, then they will hire the lawyers to see it through as their patent, with you and your advisor and whoever else was instrumental named as the inventors. Different universities have different policies about licensing fees and how much, if any, the actual inventors get.</p>
<p>And if you think it’s different in industry, you’re wrong. You might get a bonus of a couple thousand dollars when a patent is finally awarded several years after it was first filed, but you won’t control it. </p>
<p>Legally, work-for-hire is considered the property of the employer. If an institution or even an individual pays you and supplies the equipment and/or staff needed to carry it out, the patent belongs to them, although you do get credit. The only way an invention belongs solely to you is if you do all the work on your own dime without using knowledge gleaned from your workplace and then shell out the $15,000 or so it costs to file and complete a successful patent application that can later be defended. </p>
<p>If the underlying question was “Can I can rich off my master’s thesis?”, then the answer is no.</p>