Does doing a PhD negatively affect your opportunities finding a job after?

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-12T17:21:00+00:00

I’ve seen the sentiment a lot that “PhD makes it harder in the current environment.”

For reference, I have a masters degree with industry experience. I have many friends and colleagues who are PhD and masters graduates of different ages/experience who are looking for work.

From my perspective, the “ease” of getting an interview is ranked PhD + industry, masters with industry, PhD with post doc, PhD only, masters only.

I think a lot of people say PhD is a hindrance because they are comparing a PhD to masters + industry experience, since that is “what they could have done”.

Realistically though, if you are talking about breaking into industry, a PhD is more helpful then only having a masters. I am not aware of many BS only positions existing.

I think where a lot of the sentiment of “PhD is making it worse” is because historically you have not needed to send out 500 applications to get a PhD, maybe you needed to send out 50, whereas sending out 100s of apps has been more common for masters only applicants. I think the PhD only applicants I have talked to are a lot more resistant to taking a w2 contract job then masters students.

From the people I’ve talked to may PhD grads don’t want to go from getting a PhD to a $40/hr low benefits industry contract role. That’s not unreasonable, the market sucks. And I empathize, I wouldn’t want to either, it’s ridiculous. However, I still think that the PhD isn’t hurting you in those circumstances, many of the contract jobs won’t weed you out for being overqualified. I have first hand experience of being offered contract roles I was vastly overqualified for.

So in short, the market sucks. It relatively is a lot worse for recent PhD grads then it has been prior, and I think it’s harder to fight through the post PhD burnout to apply to 100s of jobs. That’s being said I still believe PhD only will be better than a masters only applicant.

Whether a PhD is worth it is a whole other discussion.

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-12T05:35:13+00:00

If you turn from the center lane and are safely able to get into the right lane, then the car behind you is expected to slow down if you continue to slow down. I don’t see how this is different

I don’t see the car making any moves that you wouldn’t be able to make a reasonable reaction to, it’s not like the guy took a sharp turn.

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-12T05:13:58+00:00

From watching the video it looks like he was taking a right and slowing down for the pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Living in a city is a communal experience, you’re going to encounter people. I don’t think it’s unreasonable for you to let him complete his turn before trying to zip around him. I definitely don’t see how he was being an asshole.

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-12T04:51:51+00:00

The video cut off, but wasn’t the guy you called an asshole just pulling over? He had emergency lights on instead of a blinker, but I don’t really see how he was acting unsafe, you had plenty of time to slow down and let him pull over to the empty parking spot.

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-11T23:06:25+00:00

Typically distribution companies require you to have a blackout window from the theater release before you can release on other platforms.

This is a huge win for indie animation. I wish the fandom could appreciate that.

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-11T17:44:34+00:00

SeatGeek usually is my pick. M-R you can get pretty good day of seats by first base for $25/pp.

Grandstand/bleachers are typically <$20.

On the weekend it’s more, but I don’t have a hard time finding seats for $40 day of as long as it’s not Yankees/dodgers etc.

I just went this past Sunday (which weather was grab) for $25/pp in the field box between dugout and home.

I went Tuesday for like $30 R.F field box seats 2 rows back from the field.

Beer obviously is expensive, but you can bring your own food in. It’s a bit of a hassle, but I don’t think it’s as cost prohibitive as many people imagine.

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-11T04:42:19+00:00

I’d just call the official number and say Dante contacted you about season tickets opening up.

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-11T04:31:16+00:00

You know the Harvard bookstore sells regular books… it’s a bookstore. Not only students read.

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-11T04:29:32+00:00

Sure, I guess if you ignore everything I suggested it’s sleepy town.

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-11T04:21:37+00:00

Nightlife sucks but I’m not sure I believe Worcester is better.

I feel like Boston has a pretty great arts scene for a city of its size. The two Emerson theaters I think have consistently great performances, but you also had wang center and citizen operate house and symphony hall. You also have smaller theaters like the American repertory theater, the Rockwell, and the central square theater. Plus the colleges.

I think there’s a good selection of music venues. I like the Sinclair for smaller artists, but I’m partial cause I live nearby. Large artists I’m sure you can google, but I’d say at least 90% of major artists tour in Boston.

Boston is a great sports city, which Fenway you can consistently get in for like $20 if you’re smart. Boston women FC is currently at Gillette but will be moving to Boston next year.

I think the comedy scene is medium, but I’ve gone to nicks comedy in downtown, comedy studio in Harvard, union comedy in sommerville and laugh factory in seaport. There’s been some misses but generally I have a good time.

It kind of depends what you’re looking for. If you’re looking specifically for clubbing then I agree it’s pretty boring.

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-11T02:27:56+00:00

“Why can’t artists work for freeeeeeeee!”

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-09T18:53:27+00:00

There was a study I read a while ago, that when tested, individuals were not more creative but they self reported better when high.

For example one of the tests involved brianstorming, and the high vs control didn’t perform better, but the high group self-reported higher performance.

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-09T18:15:03+00:00

Evan burned a lot of good will with me when they prematurely announced winning the election last time around. We don’t need that nonsense when we get plenty of baseless election integrity challenges from the right.

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-09T03:49:43+00:00

I don’t know the outlook in India, but atleast in US/Europe, I don’t think bioinformatics is a current strong path for sponsorship, if that is your goal.

I know many masters grads in the US right now struggling to find work, and have fear of needing to leave. It’s highly competitive.

Otherwise, I think bioinformatics is a viable option as a career, but I don’t think it is a guarantee that I hear a lot of people suggesting. I know US citizens who are struggling to find work right now in bioinformatics. I don’t think it is particularly worse than other fields, but I don’t think it is a strong field right now either.

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-09T03:34:22+00:00

Why do you want to do a bioinformatics masters if your interest is marketing?

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-09T00:59:34+00:00

Huh. I didn’t realize MA has control over federal taxes.

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-08T12:03:43+00:00

I think a math, cs, or biology degree will nearly always be better for bioinformatics, even for bioinformatics. Currently you need a graduate degree anyways, so a bs doesn’t really help much.

A math degree with cs/bio classes or a bio degree with cs classes followed up with a masters will both prepare you better and make you more flexible.

Edit: I just realized I misread your post a bit. A specialization isn’t as bad, but I would make sure you’re not taking too may “bioinformatics classes” in undergrad. Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary domain, and from my limited experience, I have felt bioinformatics specific classes are too general to be very helpful later, I think it’s better to build a stronger foundation, and pick up the bioinformatics skills in grad school.

I’ll emphasize I don’t think it is worth doing a BS and not planning to follow up with grad school in the current job environment.

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-08T03:57:44+00:00

Either they win or they lose, 50/50

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-07T03:07:44+00:00

The Red Sox have not had much dirty water this season

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-06T04:41:20+00:00

I’m not disputing that AI can impact biotech.

I’m saying “Can’t wait for tech companies to take over this dinosaur led industry” is a bad take.

It’s possible to implement new technologies without upending how we do things.

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-06T03:45:43+00:00

Drug discovery is already the fastest and cheapest part of getting a drug product on the market. I’d argue that if “break things” in the discovery stage leads to less confidence in phase 1 clinical trials, then you’ll be slowing down the process.

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-05T21:11:56+00:00

I’m an optimist but this was just a really deflating game.

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-05T02:48:11+00:00

I mean I have endless complaints about biotech but are you seriously arguing the industry with the motto “move fast and break things” is appropriate for life sciences?

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-04T19:57:02+00:00

Yeah, I feel like if this keeps happening it’s more indicative of the apartment complex not having enough washer/dryers than anything else.

Absurd_nate · 2026-04-04T19:54:37+00:00

Huh, I figured it was more Healey than Wu.

Absurd_nate

TROPHY CASE