I've been through similar; my whole life growing up everyone said go into science and you'll have a wonderful career... but the truth is that the US employment base is not focused on technology development or science for profit, it is focused on services... There aren't enough careers for all these scientists, the best bet is to look for the number one employers-- the federal government or academia... for those who detest socialism in all it's forms, this makes for tough choices. She could try to start her own business, but since her education didn't prepare her for that it may not be as easy as it sounds. I do wish our education system counselled students on the reality, rather than what they think is best for society. My best friend (PhD ten years, over a hundred scientific publications in molecular biology, brilliant man and EXTREMEMLY hard working) just turned forty two and has never made over $38,000 a year... reminds me of Germany before the war... the train conductors and factory workers made 4 to 5 times as much as PhD's, which led to a new kind of socialism for the educated class; the "betters" to oversee the "workers"-- you and I know it as National Socialism... my point being a disaffected professional class and/or middle class historically has led to ruinous forms of government.
"My best friend (PhD ten years, over a hundred scientific publications in molecular biology, brilliant man and EXTREMEMLY hard working) just turned forty two and has never made over $38,000 a year... "
That sounds extremely odd, since a grad student with a few publications can make more than that on top of full tuition. Starting salaries are double that.
Although it's true that we are rapidly moving to a more services based economy, your statement ignores the fact that the U.S still leads the world in just about every area of technology. The direct impetus for technological innovation and progress is, and has been, the entrepreneurial search for profits and the competitive economy. We are more focused on science and technology now than at any other time in our history. Just one example: Ninety-percent of all new drugs introduced in the world today are created in the U.S.
There aren't enough careers for all these scientists,
There have never been enough good careers for all the scientists and engineers we graduate. Our universities graduate a large amount of mediocre talent. Only the best will be sought by industry.
the best bet is to look for the number one employers-- the federal government or academia... for those who detest socialism in all it's forms, this makes for tough choices.
Nonsense. If you're talented, highly motivated and know how to create value, then private industry should be the career path of choice. Many of the millionaires being created in Silicon Valley, and other tech heavy areas, have science or engineering degrees. One year recently, Fortune Magazine reported that there were more CEO's with engineering degrees than any other educational background.
(PhD ten years, over a hundred scientific publications in molecular biology, brilliant man and EXTREMEMLY hard working) just turned forty two and has never made over $38,000 a year...
He must be working toward a specific goal where paying these kinds of dues is required. There is no reason for him to be paid so poorly otherwise. We have bench chemists who earn much more than that with just an undergrad degree.
my point being a disaffected professional class and/or middle class historically has led to ruinous forms of government.
Anyone smart enough and disciplined enough to receive a PhD in any science has only themselves to blame if they cannot find a decent job. Of course, there are many of these people who have a very difficult time functioning in the real world. For them, maybe staying in the protected world of academia or even in government is the best place to be. However, to encourage anyone, who is self motivated and possesses the smarts to earn an advanced degree in science, not to pursue such a degree just doesn't make much sense to me.