- #1
spectastic
- 38
- 1
I used to be a chemical engineer for a bad company that treats its employees very poorly. Ever since leaving that place, I've been trying to transition into the tech industry, because it's where all the new, and exciting stuff happens. I'm particularly interested in battery technology, because I believe renewable energy is very important, and energy storage technology is the bottleneck right now, but it's gaining more and more traction in the tech industry, so getting the skillset and know-how in device manufacturing, particularly batteries, will probably be more and more valuable (at least that's what I think). Right now, my ambition is to work in research and development that helps improve energy storage technology in companies like tesla, intel, samsung, panasonic, etc.
I have a BS in chemical engineering, and I have the opportunity to join a pretty good chemistry department, doing research for a professor in chemical engineering. If I go, I would be on the path to a MS in chemistry, but the professor wants me to do super awesome and have me go straight into a PhD. (I didn't apply to chemistry, I applied to Materials S&E, but they won't let me in for stupid reasons, so professor wants to pull strings to get me in the chemistry department)
Sorry for the long background, but here are my questions:
Truth be told, I don't want to spend 5 years in poverty. I love science, but not enough to do it at minimum wage. If getting a MS is adequate in finding a decent research job, then I'm all for it. However, I've been told that a PhD is usually necessary for jobs that I'm going after, and that MS research jobs will have problems moving up. In addition, I think a MS in chemistry will certainly not help me when I already have a BS ChE.. What do you guys think?
In terms of graduate degrees, I've been told that a ChE will have more merit than chemistry. I mean you see it with BS level jobs, where engineers get to be project managers, and chemists get to run QC procedures all day long. Will this hold true, somewhat true, not really, for graduate level positions?
I have a BS in chemical engineering, and I have the opportunity to join a pretty good chemistry department, doing research for a professor in chemical engineering. If I go, I would be on the path to a MS in chemistry, but the professor wants me to do super awesome and have me go straight into a PhD. (I didn't apply to chemistry, I applied to Materials S&E, but they won't let me in for stupid reasons, so professor wants to pull strings to get me in the chemistry department)
Sorry for the long background, but here are my questions:
Truth be told, I don't want to spend 5 years in poverty. I love science, but not enough to do it at minimum wage. If getting a MS is adequate in finding a decent research job, then I'm all for it. However, I've been told that a PhD is usually necessary for jobs that I'm going after, and that MS research jobs will have problems moving up. In addition, I think a MS in chemistry will certainly not help me when I already have a BS ChE.. What do you guys think?
In terms of graduate degrees, I've been told that a ChE will have more merit than chemistry. I mean you see it with BS level jobs, where engineers get to be project managers, and chemists get to run QC procedures all day long. Will this hold true, somewhat true, not really, for graduate level positions?