Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!uunet!bionet!kristoff From: kristoff@genbank.bio.net (David Kristofferson) Newsgroups: bionet.molbio.bio-matrix Subject: Re: No Insults Intended, But... Message-ID: Date: 5 Feb 91 21:42:46 GMT References: Organization: GenBank Online Service Lines: 64 > Furthermore, as the economic situation get tighter, researchers > that fit between disciplines will have more trouble getting jobs, > grants, etc. Frankly, this is not new, although it may be worsening. The gist of the report was that funding did not rise as fast as the number of baby boomers who want to get a slice of the pie. This shouldn't be news to anyone. Coming from a BIO-PHYSICAL-CHEMISTRY background which included substantial computing, this kind of interdiscplinary "lack of identity" problem had a lot to do with my own career choices and with why I am now at IntelliGenetics. Suffice it to say that I was the first in one of my advisors groups to go into dreaded industry in 1986. However, I would like all of you to know that there is life in industry!!! I was told by one person a long time back (being one of their "prize students") that if I ever went into industry he'd "cut off both of my legs." While I am sure that this was stated with a slight amount of exaggeration 8-), it nonetheless reflects an attitude in academia that I encountered repeatedly. No, I am not doing "real science" any more, but, frankly, I am happy in my job and have no regrets. In fact, when I think back about the academic position that I turned down prior to coming to IG, I sigh with relief at the choice I made. The thing that bothers me about the situation above is that so many young people are essentially brain-washed into thinking that, if they don't make in in academics, they've failed. This is absolutely asinine and a complete disservice to them as part of their "education." High tech companies are not the mindless industrial mills of the 19th century, and capitalists are not vampires who suck blood out of widows and orphans. What is sad is that a more positive attitude towards industry is not fostered in academia. For example, the Genome project will undoubtedly lead to all kinds of new jobs for people in this area, but many of those jobs would be in the private sector. Thus one is confronted by the protest of young academics who are concerned about their money being sucked away. I believe that if one looked at the overall picture without rose-colored glasses, one might actually find that these people might be better off if they considered other options. I would be the first to applaud if Congress decided to expand scientific funding to the point where all qualified people could get grants. However, this is not the case, probably won't be the case for some time to come, but still isn't cause for total despair. There are other options. It takes a lot of exertion to change one's mindset and realize that, unfortunately. Sincerely, Dave Kristofferson GenBank Manager kristoff@genbank.bio.net P.S. - I don't expect the above to be especially popular and am prepared to take my lumps 8-).