A Nature survey of over 7,600 postdoctoral researchers across the globe reveals that over 40% intend to leave academia. While dissatisfaction with career prospects and work-life balance are primary drivers, many postdocs cited a lack of mentorship and mental-health support as contributing factors. The findings highlight a potential loss of highly trained researchers from academia and raise concerns about the sustainability of the current academic system.
The UK possesses significant untapped hardware engineering talent, hindered by a risk-averse investment landscape that prioritizes software over hardware startups. This preference stems from the perceived higher costs and longer development timelines associated with hardware, leading to a scarcity of funding and support. Consequently, promising hardware engineers often migrate to software roles or leave the country altogether, depriving the UK of potential innovation and economic growth in crucial sectors like semiconductors, robotics, and clean energy. The author argues for increased investment and a shift in perspective to recognize the long-term value and strategic importance of fostering a thriving hardware ecosystem.
Hacker News users discuss the challenges and potential of the UK hardware industry. Several commenters point out the difficulty of competing with US salaries and stock options, making it hard to retain talent in the UK. Others argue that the UK's strength lies in specific niche areas like silicon design, photonics, and high-end audio, rather than mass-market consumer electronics. Some suggest that the UK's smaller market size discourages large-scale hardware ventures, while others highlight the role of universities and research institutions in fostering talent. There's also discussion about the impact of Brexit, with some claiming it has worsened the talent drain, while others downplay its effect. Finally, some commenters suggest potential solutions, like government incentives, increased investment, and fostering a stronger entrepreneurial culture to retain and attract hardware talent within the UK.
Summary of Comments ( 121 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42777193
Hacker News commenters discuss the unsurprising nature of the 40% postdoc attrition rate, citing poor pay, job insecurity, and the challenging academic job market as primary drivers. Several commenters highlight the exploitative nature of academia, suggesting postdocs are treated as cheap labor, with universities incentivized to produce more PhDs than necessary, leading to a glut of postdocs competing for scarce faculty positions. Some suggest alternative career paths, including industry and government, offer better compensation and work-life balance. Others argue that the academic system needs reform, with suggestions including better funding, more transparency in hiring, and a shift in focus towards valuing research output over traditional metrics like publications and grant funding. The "two-body problem" is also mentioned as a significant hurdle, with partners struggling to find suitable employment in the same geographic area. Overall, the sentiment leans towards the need for systemic change to address the structural issues driving postdocs away from academia.
The Hacker News post "More than 40% of postdocs leave academia, study reveals" (linking to a Nature article about postdoctoral career paths) generated a moderate discussion with a number of insightful comments. Many commenters focused on the perceived lack of stable, long-term career prospects within academia as the primary driver for postdocs leaving. Several shared personal anecdotes or observations corroborating the study's findings.
One commenter highlighted the "tournament" structure of academia, where a large pool of postdocs compete for a limited number of faculty positions, creating a system where many are inevitably "filtered out." This competitive pressure, coupled with relatively low pay and often poor working conditions, contributes to the exodus from academic research. Another echoed this sentiment, pointing out the "pyramid scheme" aspect of academic career progression, where each stage requires more participants than the next, inherently limiting the number of successful transitions.
The discussion also touched upon the challenges faced by international postdocs, particularly with visa requirements and the difficulty of securing permanent positions in a foreign country. One commenter suggested that the high percentage of departures might be skewed by these international postdocs returning to their home countries after their postdoc appointments, not necessarily leaving research altogether. This raised a point about the study's potential limitations in differentiating between leaving academia versus leaving a specific country's academic system.
Another line of discussion focused on alternative career paths for former postdocs, with some commenters mentioning the transition to industry research positions in pharmaceuticals, biotech, or data science. These fields are often seen as offering better pay, work-life balance, and career stability compared to academia. A few commenters argued that the skills and training acquired during a postdoc are highly valuable and transferable, making these individuals attractive candidates for various non-academic roles.
Finally, a few comments criticized the nature of the research itself, suggesting that the focus on publications and grant funding often overshadows the pursuit of genuine scientific discovery. This, they argued, can lead to disillusionment among postdocs who are passionate about research but find themselves trapped in a system that prioritizes metrics over impact.
In summary, the comments generally agreed with the study's findings and provided various perspectives on the reasons behind postdocs leaving academia, ranging from systemic issues like the competitive job market and limited career progression to personal factors such as work-life balance and career goals. The discussion also touched on the valuable skills gained during a postdoc and the potential for successful transitions to non-academic careers.