Some students asked me why I decided to leave IT industry and become an academic. I think the real question is whether I think it is a good idea to try to become a professor. And the answer is a firm no. I must emphasize that I am not advocating for abolishing PhD programs. It is important for a society to push for advancement in science and humanity. What I meant is that for the vast majority of people, a career in academic is not a good choice....
<center> Photo by ThisIsEngineering from Pexels </center> The joke A friend sent me an article titled Is Science a Pyramid Scheme? posted on viXra, an e-print archive. The abstract is as follows – A grievance expressed by some PhD students and Postdocs is that science works like a pyramid scheme: Young scientists are encouraged to invest into building scientific careers although the chances at remaining in science are extremely slim....
I started searching for a permanent position academic position since last July and eventually got an offer in February. Here are some of my thoughts about the process. Tips There is very high competitions in academics. Be ready to leave for the industry at any time. Learning some practical skills that can help you get a job outside universities. Apply early. The pandemic slows things down a lot. Do not apply for too many jobs....