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thepatriots
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I am wondering about the advantages/disadvantages of pursuing a career in physics at a univeristy vs. government research. Do government research projects greatly restrict what work may be done?
Actually a fair amount of research at universities is funded by corporations, and in some cases, particularly biomedical, the initial research maybe government funded, but then the university may sell rights to private companies, or private biotech companies actually fund research in exchange for exclusive rights.Moneer81 said:Most university research is funded by the government or the NSF (which is part of the government as well) ... unless you're talking about something top secret like nuclear weapons or matters of national security, which is still funded by the government but probably not carried out at public universities where students might have access to. My understanding is that private research in physics (research done by private companies or private universities) does exist but not nearly as big as government funded research.
That really sickens me. Companies are scaling back R&D so that the managers can make a few more bucks, and the government is scaling back to pay for a questionable war. Our priorities as a country are really screwed up right now.R&D expenses cut into profits at companies, and the government has to worry about big spending deficits.
The main difference between university and government research is the source of funding. University research is typically funded by the university itself or through grants from private organizations, while government research is funded by taxpayer money through federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation or the National Institutes of Health.
University research tends to have more flexibility and freedom compared to government research. This is because universities are not bound by strict government regulations and can choose to pursue research in a wider range of topics. Additionally, universities often have more autonomy in deciding how to allocate research funds.
The goals of university and government research differ in terms of their focus. University research is typically more focused on advancing knowledge and understanding in a particular field, while government research often has a more practical and applied focus, with the goal of solving real-world problems and improving society.
Government research is more likely to result in commercial applications compared to university research. This is because government research often has a more practical and applied focus, and government agencies often have the resources and connections to bring research findings to market.
Collaboration between universities and government agencies can bring together the strengths of both types of research. Universities can provide expertise in specific areas of study and access to advanced technology, while government agencies can provide funding and resources for large-scale projects. This collaboration can lead to groundbreaking research with real-world applications and benefits for society.