Originally Posted by
spectastic
where do you work?
I also have a question about necessity of a graduate degree to do research. My understanding is that a PhD makes it a lot easier to start out in a leading role in a research project, while someone with a MS or BS may plateau being a research assistant, and maybe later move onto a managerial position, which I don't want. I think I'd like to stick to the technical side. is phd a good idea for the long term? or is a masters adequate. I actually had a 1 on 1 with the R&D manager on our site once, and he told me that he was on the fence like I am right now. He chose to work in industry with a BS, but his entrepreneurial mindset naturally led him to take on projects that led him to work in R&D. From my conversation with him, he wouldn't recommend getting a graduate degree when you have the option of working in industry for much greater benefits. I don't know if he's actually right, if this logic is exclusive only to certain companies or industries, or if he was just blowing smoke up my ass in order to make me stick around this company.
I'm a PhD student, so my only input here is what I've heard from career talks. If you want to be seen as a scientist, you need a PhD. The field is flooded with them now, so to be a good researcher with a MS will basically get you nothing in a research based career path. Business or management? Sure, but you should then plan on getting an MBA while you're working. I went to a career talk/workshop for two days at the New York Academy of Sciences, it was ~$300, sold in a week. So many PhDs now and so many looking to get out of academics.