Comments on: News Stop: The Life Sciences Conundrum

By: L

Sun, 04 May 2008 16:26:01 +0000

In terms of career options and prospects, it is always better to pursue a professional degree rather than arts or science degrees which are usually considered general. Research jobs are only for the top students of the cohort and don’t forget university award degrees based on bell curve. At the end of your four years, you could be ending up wasting your time pursuing a degree that cannot land you a decent paying job.

By: Benjamin Linus

Benjamin Linus — Sat, 03 May 2008 16:40:13 +0000

I recommend that for someone unsure of what they want to do in the future, pursue a degree that will be of value. Life science, is not appealing to many corporate employers, business and accountancy are. So why waste so much time trying to fight for a second upper where one can with relatively ease obtain the same standing in the 2 courses? Btw Business minor don`t seem to appeal to employees either.

So unless you don`t mind doing routine work and not being able to chart major progress in your life, or you are definitely sure of doing PhD, consider other options.

By: Anderson

Anderson — Sat, 03 May 2008 16:32:51 +0000

Speaking from personal experience, many undergraduates choose to believe in the rosy picture of being able to work in the life science industry, even as they are about to graduate. Many of my peers refused to see that the industry does not provide satisfaction for a degree holder. The job scope is routine, mundane, and ones output is just a minute part of the whole research project. As a lab technician, which many without a PhD will doing, one is at best expendables. One needs to ask if it is worth it to waste their time doing things that may not contribute much to the scientific community, not being able to put one`s talent to good use, and getting paid peanuts. I was told that even if you work all your life in a govt. research agency, your pay will not exceed $4000. Do you want to work in an environment insulated from the outside world, ignorant of “The Shock Doctrine”, or global affairs.

Indeed, life science is not an easy subject to excel in, and it take quite a bit of effort. Worst still, the course apparently does not appeal to banks and many non-life science industries. In applying for internship, I did not receive a single response from the banks(GS,ML,Citi,SCB,HSBC,DBS), 4 consulting firms, nor the 7 ad agencies which i applied, even with a decent CCA record. One really has to ask if it`s worth pursuing such as course.

By: Calvin Neo

Calvin Neo — Fri, 12 Jan 2007 01:09:04 +0000

I read the thread thus far and can’t help but feel there many LS students are facing serious difficulties. As a recent engineering graduate from NUS, I experience similar problems.

My advice is short and clear - What are you going to do about it?

I am sorry to say that if a PhD is the best bet you have, then risk is needed to pursue it. If money is the immediate concern, they take up a job first to meet your short term expenses. If Singapore is not good, look overseas. If you are bonded, break it or accept it…

I apologize for having to put solutions across in such harsh manner. But to all my dear friends, we made certain decisions and came thus far. Even if we were (unitentionally) led to where we are, the lesson is to recognize that we still move on but now hopefully became smarter.

By: HL

HL — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 01:02:58 +0000

Hi,
This is an interesting read regarding life-sciences graduates in Singapore.
I do agree that you will need a PhD to continue independent research, on the other hand, there may just not be enough opportunities for PhD holders. Take myself for example, I have a Masters degree in Clinical Neuroscience, and about 6 years of research experience in Cognitive Neuroscience. Due to funding problems, I couldn’t do my PhD, and now with each passing year, the opportunity cost of doing a PhD for me increases.
When I decided to look for jobs other than research, most of the employers have found that I’m too research-oriented, or that my area of research expertise is not what they are looking for. I have taken some business management modules at the undergraduate level, but that does not count for them. Sigh. I would like to expand my current field of expertise to the corporate sector, but the opportunities are too limited for me. At present, I’m still searching for a job in the biomedical sciences sector, but no success so far. This process is frustrating and depressing.
In my opinion, for Singapore to be a biomedical sciences research hub, it has to have a diverse range of neuroscience resarch, from molecular to systems level. Typically, a clinical disease is affected at each stage of neuroscience. I think to focus on a particular stage of neuroscience research will hinder our development to being a biomedical sciences research hub.

By: Sigh

Sigh — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 15:13:54 +0000

Anea
Like anyone who obtained a second lower, it is diffcult to pursue a PhD here even by self-finance. The universities must first approve your application, and both NUS and NTU request for a second upper. I reckon they have too many applicantions and has to adhere to a quota. I agree with wolf, the best way is to approach the PI of the lab, email may not be the best mean, try calling the PI. Try sale position, you will meet more PIs this way and also will allow for more time to understand their research. A good service establishes a good relationship between the PI and you. Maybe after 1-2 years, if your passion is burning, approach the PI.

By: wolf

wolf — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 08:52:55 +0000

Anea,

The 2nd lower requirement is very frustrating for us at the research institues too whenever we want to hire people; we find a lot of good candidates who we have to fight for because admin/HR will throw them out without even looking just because of grades.

My advice is not to submit your resume directly (ie via the official online channel) to the institute/company where you intend to apply, but contact the principal investigators and project leaders if you can and talk to them directly. Ask to see their lab and express an interest in their work (if you ask for a job directly, they may just tell you to submit your resume to HR). Sometimes they have positions (mainly GAP/research officers) available - and sometimes not advertised either - and if you can convince them of your passion and skills, you can push your resume and job application through them. The chances of landing a position are often higher this way compared to submitting your applications cold.

By: claris_tan

claris_tan — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 13:41:34 +0000

True passion lead to greatness.
Until we see education and academic as a mean rather than as a end, we probably not going anywhere.

By: claris_tan

claris_tan — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 13:34:22 +0000

Anea,
that’s pretty sad that a foreign talent like you will land in such a state.

Yes, I strongly believe the system here is wrong. Having local and foreigner to compete against each other in a dog-eat-dog world and the so called free-market, and that grading is ultimate criteria for high flyer promotion doesn’t sound like Singapore is going to attract and groom great talent. It is more discouraging than encouraging. Instead of collaborating, we are competing.

It is perhaps with such kind of system that permeates the working environment that ppl cannot find true passion in their work, let alone find greatness.

Hope gov will review its policy and stop implying that academic=intelligent. I find many talented ppl here of many fields that is downplayed because of poor academic result, but i can say their work achievement generally suppress those of so called “academic achiever”.

By: Anea

Anea — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 15:31:00 +0000

I am a foreigner who studied in the NUS. My english was so bad when i came. I gave up the medical education in my country which is free for me and it was one of the top medicine school. I woould not having any difficulties to be recruited even i had worst grades. And if i can persue the specialty i would be rich. However for the passion of the research i came here. I did not know they were having 500+ students for life sciences in NUS alone. My grades are not excellent now… it is honours with second lower…Well why did i get a low grade isnt it? There are lots of reasons of course. But i should tell you people who get much greater grades are not better than those who get less. When i did study to my lessons (the ones i find interesting) i got top grades (i am not kidding i was in first 10 people) then there are lots of stupid classes which i refused to study because they teach nothing to you. Instead, i read my juornals on my own interests and at the end of course i did no good in those classes. Okey there maybe an arrogant behavior here but many of my professors regarded me well knowing person. Another thins, in NUS you can not see your final paper.What the most stupid thing on earth!!! Then what is the point i am taking classes. Prof’s do wrong, they do grade wrong and it happened to me for many many times which we corrected in the midterms. Than what about finals? so you think there is a very fair judgement going in. This part is very annoying so i stop here because i dont think i can continue without swaring (God forgive what i do wrong). In addition, I find no flexibility in here, everything is just about grades… They do not look your ideas or anyhing (they look if you have the grades). This was also told by one of the high end scientist in Biopolis (i can not remembr now) whom Singapore brought from overseas. I graduated this year and i am looking for a job, i could not find any yet… Many do not except because i do not have PR and Singapore citizenship, PhD or experience. I want to do PhD with self-finance (as i can not get any scholarship) but if no one recruits me i can not do that either. Now it is over one month now and my family can not support me to stay here anylonger. Goverment is asking me to stay 3 years as a bond. And do you know what! i am going to leave if i can not find a job within another month because i have no other choice. Is it a bad thing? yes maybe, but what do you call what the government did to us? ruining our lives. And they are recruiting more foreigner students. I had no slightest idea it would be like this. Now even locals can not find job. But i think one local should thank me because i occupied his/here place in university so that he/she would not be jobless but me :) well you see the irony isnt it? Well ther is much to tell but what will change anyway? (not a question demanding answer)

P.S. I did UROPS and FYP and one summer internship overseas

By: coal

coal — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 08:59:30 +0000

Hi wolf,
Yes..Maybe I am lucky in some sense. Though things may be slow, at least there is progress. But i believe it takes 2 hands to clap. Students initiative to learn and mentors’ passion to impart knowledge. Probably, luck plays a small role as well. To meet the right people, to learn from the right people.

By: e pur si muove

e pur si muove — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 15:15:25 +0000

Change of leadership at A*STAR…

From the corporate site of A*STAR:
Mr. Philip Yeo (59 years old) will be stepping down as Chairman of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) A*STAR at the end of March 2007. On 1st April 2007, he will assume Chairmanship of the Standa…

By: wolf

wolf — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 09:51:39 +0000

Heya coal,
Well, you’re in a lucky position then. In the past 2+ years that I have been working, I’ve had to rescue a few students from their supervisors. Maybe it’s a supervisor attitude thing, or a cultural thing, or simply just a language thing - seriously, even with higher chinese and all, how many singaporean kids can communicate scientific jargon and concepts in a second language?

The culture at some places is also pretty much “do whatever the master says”. And unfortunately in way too many cases, many bad and even dangerous work practices are blindly propagated along in this fashion (how bad? Let’s try chemical handling - including HF for wafer cleaning - without goggles or proper gloves). And the students are often asked to do this without an understanding of what they are doing, or of the dangers involved. Sure, it’s test-tube washing, and an important process since the cleanliness of your gear and samples will affect the result of your subsequent nanofabrication steps. But the significance, importance and related hazards should be emphasized to the students.

Again it’s numbers - it doesn’t matter whether your student learns anything, he’s just another figure to boost your performance appraisal at the end of the year.

There’s really a big gap here between how a scientific culture operates, and how “the administration” thinks a scientific culture operates. Yes, it’s slowly changing for the better, and I am proud of being part of that process, but it’s awfully slow and frustrating at times!

By: coal

coal — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 04:19:43 +0000

Hi wolf,
Be positive. I do not say there are none of these kind of scientists around, but rest assure that what I see have been very positive so far. Researchers have been patient and supportive to their students overall. Sometimes, we also need to consider the students’ attitudes. Afterall, it takes 2 hands to clap. As a mentor myself to some students myself, I feel that we should be fair. Give recognition and support to the right people, right students. I am not too sure by what you mean when you say “wash test tubes”. But I can tell you even my mentor does her own washings. Lab duties are done by all. Does not mean that researchers will do the experiments and the students do the clearing up. Not true. One batch our jc students complained to me before, that they are here to do experiments, not to clear rubbish. A totally wrong attitude. The rubbish generated in the lab are not ordinary garbage, they a hazardous waste, bioharzards. We have cleaning aunties here but they never touch our waste. They are not to, since the researchers are the trained people to know how to dispose of these waste correctly. I must emphasize that waste disposal is an important work. It is the last and final step to an experiment. Proper disposal will ensure we are not polluting our envt and waters. (I do see students pouring toxins down the pipes. Where do you think these toxins will go to? Yes, to the sewage systems, to the canals, to the seas, to the oceans.. I do not need to elaborate further)

By: coal

coal — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 03:57:59 +0000

Hi BL,
I am glad to hear that. Appreciates your efforts. If there is any help you may need, I will be glad to help.