To PhD or Not to PhD: A Growing Question in the Life Sciences
An increasing number of PhD students are concerned about their career prospects. Currently, only around 5-10% of PhD graduates remain in academia — the vast majority have to navigate an unfamiliar job market, where industry demand for their highly educated profiles appears to be in decline. Is a PhD still the best route to professional success? And what can students do to prepare themselves?
An Evolving Degree
The doctoral degree originated more than 800 years ago in medieval Europe. It was initially conceived as a qualification for the professional training of lawyers and physicians, serving primarily as an entry point into academic careers.
“Since its inception, the doctoral degree has undergone two major transformations,” says Liesbeth Demuyser, Talent Development & Communications Project Manager at Biovia. "During the 18th and 19th centuries, the doctorate nearly disappeared. This was partially due to political instability, but also to growing public criticism of universities, which were seen as being too distant from ‘useful’ societal and professional needs,” she explains. "At the time, alternative forms of knowledge production and professional training began to take off, providing non-university options for higher education."