23rd January 2008, 03:38 PM
Posted by Stephen:
Pay - generally a little better than archaeologists, but not much;
Career prospects - generally worse than archaeologists;
Working conditions - the system is highly exploitative. I know people who feel obliged to do a standard working day of over 12 hours; to work weekends; and, at least once a month, to work through two days and the intervening night without stopping. This is doing lab work - chemicals, glassware, operating high-pressure machinery, etc. Reports etc. required as part of the job, including publication articles, are generally written on your own time, so extra to the hours described above.
Supervision - really severe workplace bullying is very common, while the bullies are often protected by the institution, particularly if they have a good record of bringing in research funding or have a good publication record (which influences Govt funding for the department).
Watching a successful university-based scientific career develop over a 24-year period in parallel to my own archaeological career, I have never ceased to be grateful that I was an archaeologist and not a research scientist. That includes my 9 years on the digging circuit. The system depends entirely on the personal dedication of the people doing it.
The amazing thing is, they grumble far less than archaeologists do.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
Quote:quote:I am sure that there are research scientists who have similar feelingsI can certainly confirm that, as I have a close family member who is a research scientist working for one of our major universities.
Pay - generally a little better than archaeologists, but not much;
Career prospects - generally worse than archaeologists;
Working conditions - the system is highly exploitative. I know people who feel obliged to do a standard working day of over 12 hours; to work weekends; and, at least once a month, to work through two days and the intervening night without stopping. This is doing lab work - chemicals, glassware, operating high-pressure machinery, etc. Reports etc. required as part of the job, including publication articles, are generally written on your own time, so extra to the hours described above.
Supervision - really severe workplace bullying is very common, while the bullies are often protected by the institution, particularly if they have a good record of bringing in research funding or have a good publication record (which influences Govt funding for the department).
Watching a successful university-based scientific career develop over a 24-year period in parallel to my own archaeological career, I have never ceased to be grateful that I was an archaeologist and not a research scientist. That includes my 9 years on the digging circuit. The system depends entirely on the personal dedication of the people doing it.
The amazing thing is, they grumble far less than archaeologists do.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished