Science Alliance
eBriefing 
Pursuing Non-Faculty Careers in Higher Education
Reported by
Posted November 24, 2020
Presented By
For many years, the expected career path for graduate and postdoctoral students was to pursue a faculty position. The nobility of the teaching profession—and the prestige associated with being a professor—made it a very attractive way to make a living. But available faculty positions have declined in recent years, and the path isn't as clear. Fortunately, higher education offers diverse employment opportunities that serve as fulfilling careers for people with STEM degrees.
On September 22, 2020, the New York Academy of Sciences spoke with three scientists who chose different career paths after receiving doctorate degrees in STEM. Lesa Tran Lu, PhD, Harinder Singh, PhD, and Jennifer Chambers, PhD, outlined their career paths and explained how graduate school inspired them to help students and early-career scientists skillfully transition into the workforce.
In this eBriefing, You’ll Learn
- How the barriers these three scientists encountered as trainees informed them in their current positions.
- How the scientists approach professional development in a constantly evolving workforce.
- What personal values shaped the scientists' career paths.
- How to approach a career transition when developing skills as a bench researcher.
- What opportunities to look for when pursuing a career in higher education beyond faculty.
Career Paths in Higher Education Beyond Faculty