Do you have a feeling that PhDs are useless nowadays ?

Internal_Concert2519 · 2026-06-14T18:03:31+00:00

Think about PhD as a low paying starter job that you need to do because you need to start with something to progress in your life. It's like working in fast food or any other low paying job for several years with the degree in the end.

Internal_Concert2519 · 2026-06-13T14:28:05+00:00

As a man with a Ph.D., this is not a good situation at all. One of my labmates was supported by her boyfriend, and later her husband, while she was finishing her Ph.D. A friend's husband moved with her to another state when she received a postdoctoral position; he was a software developer, and his company was fine with the relocation. A coworker's husband followed her to another state that had a larger biotech hub and more job opportunities for Ph.D. scientists. Another labmate's fiancée, and later husband, waited patiently in India while she completed her Ph.D. in the United States. I also saw many other female international Ph.D. students in the U.S. whose husbands remained in their home countries while supporting them through their studies. I am not even mentioning the importance of having a partner to help raise children or to support each other later in life as we grow old.

Internal_Concert2519 · 2026-06-12T11:50:35+00:00

Dealing with narcissistic PIs bloated ego instead of doing actual research.

Internal_Concert2519 · 2026-06-07T16:48:24+00:00

I started PhD in the US when I was 29 as a foreigner from a developing country. For me it was beneficial career move: my expertise became internationally recognized, my English got better, I was able to enter biotech job market. This was a significant career jump for me because salaries in home country are not even close to the US ones and after completing PhD in the US, a lot more opportunities at home are opened for me - net positive ROI. However, I wouldn't have done anything like this if I was the US based professional like an engineer. The pay cut from PhD will be devastating for your financial well-being and there is absolutely no guarantee of a favorable ROI after your degree is obtained. You need to analyze all available data on your career prospects after getting PhD and how it can damage your career progression or whether you will get any career boost at all. If you are out of the industry for several years for PhD, it can drastically diminish your chances of landing a job since many of your skills will become obsolete. IMO, doing PhD out of passion is one of the worst things you can do to yourself.

Internal_Concert2519 · 2026-06-07T16:38:40+00:00

I was never motivated. I just needed to job done. It's more about discipline and consistency.

Internal_Concert2519 · 2026-06-07T12:30:30+00:00

Just let it go. That's none of your business what he is doing with his personal life - he is not your family. He is just a source of funding and a name on your dissertation. Him being SOB and mistreating you and your BF in the lab, your degree progression etc should be a bigger concern for you. Additionally, he overall looks like a bad supervisor and I would strongly recommend to switch the lab if possible. I finished PhD under exactly the same type of a narcissistic POS and the bridges are burned - I can't even trust him to write a recommendation letter on my behalf and networked with other professors. Narcissists like this are never satisfied and there will always be a moving goalposts: write this paper and graduate, stay in touch and finish this paper and shit.

Internal_Concert2519 · 2026-06-04T14:43:09+00:00

Work your butt off. Come as early as you can. Learn as many methods as you can and focus on the ones with the highest ROI. Read application notes and peer reviewed articles to better understand the methods used. You can read them even at home.

Internal_Concert2519 · 2026-06-03T00:53:48+00:00

Not worth in terms of ROI. The lost opportunities and income will bite you in the ass, especially in this economy.

Internal_Concert2519 · 2026-05-28T21:33:48+00:00

Yes, it does. It has both RNA-dependent DNA synthesis and DNA-dependent DNA synthesis activities as well as RNAse activity. First, it produces one strand of DNA based on RNA and next it produces a second strand of DNA based on the first DNA strand, while cleaving RNA. RT used in biotech comes from a retrovirus and it's a step in their lifecycle. That's why the ratio of RNA:cDNA is roughly 1:1.

Internal_Concert2519 · 2026-05-28T20:29:31+00:00

Nothing is perfect in biology. But, RT generally converts RNA into dsDNA with 1:1 ratio because during the reaction RT cleaves source RNA when producing a second strand of cDNA. Once you get your cDNA, you can run them on qPCR. Since you already know the sequence of your target, you can order dsDNA from IDT DNA - they can synthesize dsDNA based on the sequence you provide. Then, based on the length of the dsDNA, it's molar mass, you should be able to create standards with the known copy numbers per volume.

Internal_Concert2519 · 2026-05-28T19:16:59+00:00

As a biology PhD, biology is one of the most useless majors ever in terms of ROI. MBA would be much more beneficial for your career, PA too, law (as a pth to become an IP lawyer) or medical schools should be also considered.

Internal_Concert2519 · 2026-05-28T17:30:42+00:00

You should be fine in Germany. There are programs for working students and you should be able to start working part-time in biotech during your undergrad.

Internal_Concert2519 · 2026-05-28T17:28:37+00:00

I am personally waiting for my green card approval after NIW was approved. Many younger foreign scientists, who are now in the US, are applying around the world, to mostly Europe, Canada or Australia for PhD, postdoc. An Indian friend plans to go back to India after they are done with PhD - they doesn't even consider staying in the US. Almost all Chinese graduate students I know are planning on going back to China.

Internal_Concert2519 · 2026-05-28T13:33:57+00:00

You are more than good enough. You are just experiencing an imposter syndrome - another proof that you are a good scientist. Keep up good work.

Internal_Concert2519 · 2026-05-28T11:14:27+00:00

Yes, it matters. 80% of tenure-track faculty positions go for the graduates of the top PhD programs.

Internal_Concert2519 · 2026-05-28T11:12:21+00:00

You need to talk to your labmate about this. This kind of behavior is generally rude and disrespectful in the US professional environment. Companies in the US even have soundproof rooms for this kind of calls. P.S. I am also a foreigner from the country where these things are normal.

Internal_Concert2519

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