Online Program

Which Path Should I Choose? A Discussion of Employment in Academia, Industry, Government, and Nonprofits (309896)

Keywords: career path, early-career, academia, industry, government, nonprofits

Given the many paths for someone with a degree in Statistics/Biostatistics/Data Science, how do you choose which career is right for you? Differences in emphasized skills, duties, and expectations (as well as the required academic credentials) for possible career paths are not always apparent. In this session, listen to early-career researchers in academia, industry, government, and nonprofits discuss the details of their jobs and how they chose their path. We will discuss pros, cons, things you never thought to ask, common stereotypes and misconceptions (e.g. if you want to do independent research you have to be an academic; outside of academia there are only 9 to 5 jobs; etc.), and give tips for breaking into and succeeding in these various sectors. We will also compare and contrast important workplace considerations, such as workplace environment, work-life balance, and attention to diversity, equity, and inclusion.