"This creates a unique opportunity for another type of sequence: careers. Those with specialist knowledge in a core business domain combined with cross-functional knowledge about automation will thrive as the industry begins to grow. "
How to best pick PhD programs and advisors with this in mind?
Building a career in a rapidly developing space is a bit like being an explorer who is having to draw the map as they go. Since you can’t create a list of steps to get to an unknown destination, the single most important thing is to have clarity of what you know and what you can do with that knowledge.
In the case of selecting a program and an advisor, you want to make sure that you will receive rigorous skill development and be supported to explore your adjacent interests. Whatever you do, do it professionally and do it well; you never know which of those experiences will turn out to be especially valuable.
It’s difficult to explain without a specific example, so here’s one from my life. My PhD was cell and molecular based, but I was also the president of our graduate student association. This let me be involved in re-negotiating the student health insurance plan, resulting in better coverage for the most common health issues faced by graduate students. This type of contract negotiation is highly valuable and turned out to be helpful in getting my first jobs outside of academia.
"This creates a unique opportunity for another type of sequence: careers. Those with specialist knowledge in a core business domain combined with cross-functional knowledge about automation will thrive as the industry begins to grow. "
How to best pick PhD programs and advisors with this in mind?
Building a career in a rapidly developing space is a bit like being an explorer who is having to draw the map as they go. Since you can’t create a list of steps to get to an unknown destination, the single most important thing is to have clarity of what you know and what you can do with that knowledge.
In the case of selecting a program and an advisor, you want to make sure that you will receive rigorous skill development and be supported to explore your adjacent interests. Whatever you do, do it professionally and do it well; you never know which of those experiences will turn out to be especially valuable.
It’s difficult to explain without a specific example, so here’s one from my life. My PhD was cell and molecular based, but I was also the president of our graduate student association. This let me be involved in re-negotiating the student health insurance plan, resulting in better coverage for the most common health issues faced by graduate students. This type of contract negotiation is highly valuable and turned out to be helpful in getting my first jobs outside of academia.
Fun article and clear writing