Once the ultimate academic accolade, a PhD is now just one of many paths in science. Katy Linkens outlines what it can truly offer beyond the lab coat.
As I reach the end of my three year PhD journey – attending leaving drinks, saying farewell to my lab bench, leaving the cafes where countless coffees fuelled experiments or procrastination, the quiet rooms where I sneaked a nap, and the focus spaces where I locked into analysis or writing – one question keeps resurfacing: Would you recommend doing a PhD?
It’s the very thing I asked countless others before starting, and the one I continued asking myself throughout these years.
When I first considered a PhD, the advice I received was wildly contradictory. I heard it all; career suicide, financial strain, inevitable stress. Others promised great fun, academic growth and a fast track to a fulfilling career. So which side is true?
Current industry landscape
The life sciences sector is evolving faster than ever. The value of a PhD now depends more on your technical specialism, transferable skills and adaptability than on the qualification alone. Technical advances in gene editing, cell therapy, AI-based drug design and platform technologies are accelerating the translation of discoveries from lab to market. This pace creates demand for scientists who can bridge research, applied science and commercial strategy. In these areas, PhD-trained scientists often thrive.
Opportunities in life sciences extend far beyond big pharma. Start-ups, contract research organisations, contract development and manufacturing organisations, venture-backed companies and incubators offer increasingly interdisciplinary roles. PhD graduates can be hired into a broad range of roles, including R&D scientist, translational researcher, data scientist, product manager, medical writer, regulatory associate and business development analyst. These positions require people who can design experiments, evaluate technologies, communicate complex science and collaborate across disciplines.
While some still believe a PhD locks you into academia, the divide between academia and industry is shrinking. Most PhDs transition into industry or hybrid roles at some point in their career. New graduates may need time to adjust to commercial timelines, cross-functional work and business priorities, but are generally wellaccepted on their entry to industry. Academic paths offer the chance for deep scientific exploration, mentorship, and discovery-driven research. While industry roles provide exposure to fast-paced projects and interdisciplinary collaboration. Regardless of the path, the skills gained during a PhD are highly transferable.
What a PhD is not
Going into a PhD, many of us have great expectations. Intellectual freedom, pushing the frontiers of science, weekly eureka moments and the ever-blessed flexible schedule. Early on, you’ll hear sage advice from final-year PhDs and postdocs: ‘Don’t leave your write-up too late’ or ‘keep a detailed lab book, three years will go fast’. And of course, you brush it off.
But one thing is almost guaranteed: a PhD rarely follows the plan you imagine. Students often encounter periods of uncertainty, setbacks and challenges that test resilience and adaptability.
Transformation comes from the experiences unique to a PhD such as leading your own research project; presenting at conferences and defending your ideas to experts
You may imagine yourself emerging as a trusted expert; in reality, a PhD marks the start of your professional journey, where job security and prestige aren’t automatic. While the degree offers many opportunities along the way, reaping the full benefit requires initiative, stamina and seizing opportunities.
Furthermore, many picture academia as a haven of pure intellectual freedom. In practice, funding constraints, supervisory styles and deadlines can heavily shape your projects. Yet it’s precisely by navigating these challenges that independence, problem-solving and critical thinking develop. With the right mindset, engagement and proactivity, a PhD can be genuinely career transforming.
What a PhD actually gives you
A PhD develops obvious skills; technical expertise, experimental design, data analysis and problemsolving. But the less obvious gains can be even more transformative; resilience, self-belief and professional networks to name a few.
Before my PhD I viewed my career as a standard nine-to-five job, just enough to live comfortably. But I wanted something more from my career, an itch I scratched by undertaking a PhD.
Through the experience, my mindset shifted. I learned to set my own goals, measure progress independently and pinpoint what really drives me. During a PhD, it’s unlikely you’ll have anyone telling you what to do each day, how to measure success, or what milestones to aim for. That freedom and responsibility reshapes you.
Transformation comes from the experiences unique to a PhD such as leading your own research project; presenting at conferences and defending your ideas to experts; supervising students or interns; writing papers, grant sections or patents; learning coding, statistics or new technical platforms; navigating setbacks and redesigning your approaches.
Getting the most of your PhD also comes from the extracurricular experiences that no one will force you to do. I would recommend the following:
- Seek mentorship. Guidance from supervisors, postdocs and industry contacts can open doors and provide fresh perspectives.
- Join a society. Particularly look for leadership roles and networking opportunities which build soft skills and recognition.
- Present your work. Public speaking and storytelling are invaluable skills across all roles and industries.
- Explore careers in parallel. Internships, shadowing and networking help clarify what drives you and can open doors, helping shape your post-PhD path.
- Reflect regularly. Assess your skills, progress, and ambition to turn experiences into strategic decisions about your career.
A PhD becomes transformative when you engage actively and treat it as a launchpad, rather than a linear academic conveyor belt. Make the PhD your own, this is your playground for developing curiosity, independence and resilience. The full benefits come when you step off autopilot and make the journey your own.
What next?
So where does a PhD lead, where do students end up? Honestly, everywhere. Some remain in academia, but the majority move into biotech, pharma, start-ups, consulting, regulatory affairs, data science, science communication, product management, or roles that didn’t even exist five years ago. The degree doesn’t dictate your path. It is your interests, skills and experiences that shape it. The key is recognising that a PhD gives you the capacity to learn any scientific or strategic role quickly, alongside deep technical expertise and management skills. Understanding this, the world opens up more than you probably expected.
When not to do a PhD A PhD
is a significant time and energy commitment, usually three to six years, often with modest pay. Career outcomes may feel uncertain, with some modern industry roles prioritising applied skills over a research thesis. So how to decide if a PhD is for you? I would suggest you consider the following:
- Motivation: Are you driven by curiosity, career ambition or academic prestige?
- Learning style: Do you enjoy independent, open-ended challenges?
- Risk tolerance: Are you comfortable with uncertainty and long-term commitment?
- Career goals: Do your target roles require or benefit strongly from a PhD?
- Role models: How did people in your ideal job get there?
There are alternative pathways into biotech, including working your way through entry-level roles, biotech apprenticeships, data science bootcamps, entry-level medical writing, industry internships, or specialised courses.
These routes can build skills and credibility without the long-term commitment of a PhD. Above all, networking accelerates every route. Connect with professionals to learn from their experiences and chart your path.
Whether you pursue a PhD or an alternative path, the key is thoughtful planning, proactive engagement and clarity on your own goals. Invest in your growth, explore widely, stay open to unexpected opportunities and make a deliberate choice. Knowing you have done this, you will make the right decision and set the stage for a bright and fulfilling career ahead.
Katy Linkens is currently completing her PhD in Molecular Biology at UCL, where she has spent the last three years developing gene therapies
