<p>I'm in my Junior year majoring in Biology wanting to gain my Ph.D with the hopes of leading a lab one day. I'm dead set on working in the industry after it's all said and down. I'm well aware of not "owning" my research and that doesn't bother me in the slightest. I also know it isn't unheard of to do 2 years of research after graduating to gain experience for graduate school. But since I'm going into the industry would it be preferable to gain industry experience as opposed to working in a department? Does it even matter the research experience?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>When I informed my undergrad advisor that I had landed a job with a Fortune 500 close to graduation, he said that I should accept their offer. Not because the job paid alot, but because it gave me a real sense of R&D in industry v. what I had experienced academic settings.</p>
<p>This is literally the only reason to take a job straight out of college in industry. Other than that, you may be wasting your time. Industry jobs are hard to come by for B.S. natural science majors (Biology, Chemistry,etc). And even if you are luck to land one, you most likely will be doing routine analysis, and not doing anything earth shattering. If you are lucky like I was, and land an actual R&D role in a major company, deliver some products to market (which may on may not happen, had three projects killed in 2nd year in industry), win awards, and get alot of international leadership experiences; then, the experience will be valuable. But that was my experience, and is totally atypical. </p>
<p>Many of my friends who were BS chemist got these opportunities/assignments, but that is only if you land in a major company. </p>
<p>You have to also consider that you will be possibly wasting valuable time that could be spent in gradute school. I spent 4 yrs in industry, and I am just starting grad schools 5yrs after undergrad. In that time, I could have finished my PhD (if I was lucky).</p>
<p>If you aren’t guaranteed a patent, or a 1st author pub within 2-3yrs of starting your role, you really are wasting your time. When I told my boss that I wanted to go to graduate school, he told me that I was wasting my time where I was, even though I was making $60K/yr.</p>