Interested in a bio pHd but in need of some guidance...

[DaemonZeiro]

Hi,

I know it's long but I would greatly appreciate it if you stuck through this post! (Sorry =( )

I recently graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Insitute with a BS in Biotech (focus in genetics and molecular). Right now I work at Mass Bio Labs as a Research Associate I in the R&D department.

I am really eager to get my pHd though and am hoping that in another year and a half or so I can pay off enough of my student dept to feel alright working full time at a phd degree for what little a phd stipend allows.

I have a series of dilemmas however...

firstly, I don't know exactly what I want to get into. I like what I am doing at work now and it utilizes a fair diversity of techniques; I have done FACS, Western Blots, ELISAs, Octet (Kinetics and Quanitation), numerous types of gels using SYBR gold and Coomassie Staining, plenty of cloning and even a little bit of mouse work (I still need to work on my courage on that one). This is all great and I usually enjoy my work, but I really want a position that is going to include some field work. My past cuts me out pretty well for heading in the immunology direction but I haven't yet seen one immunological project, non-ecology related, that included field work. I want both field work and lab work- is that possible?

I know that Ecology, Mammology and Environmental type bio includes field work and lab work; however it carrys a bit of a stigma for me... Please tell me if I am wrong because I would love to be wrong on this...but my perception that those areas not only pay poorly but are on the more easy and irrelevant side. I don't want to feel like my work is counting geese in the sky; something anyone could do. I really like animals and the mammologists that you see on TV always intrigue me but they just seem to observe and likely get paid peanuts for their efforts (unless you are super lucky and get to be that one on TV)

So that is my first dilemma: I want to do both field and lab work and get paid more than I am getting paid now as an Associate I. I really don't care if I am rich- I just don't want to be struggling with a job that pays 20-30k/year for the rest of my life. Right now I am getting paid 40k/year which I would be adoring if it weren't for my 80k in student loans, lol.

The second dilemma requires much less explanation: I don't want to be in college for another 6 years. I want to get into a shorter program. I would love to get my phd in 3 years but I definitely do not want to go over 4 years. I know some schools actually EXPECT 6 years and I need some advice as to which good colleges gear towards earning your degree in an efficient amount of time. I don't want to be greying when I graduate =P. Just so you know- I don't mind working hard. Senior year of college I was in lab, not being paid at all, until early morning hours trying to complete my work- and it wasn't because I couldn't make the deadline or had been procrastinating- it was because I wanted to do it.

The third dilemma which is much more a preferance than anything else and has little bearing on what I do if the other two are solved is that I am dying to go overseas but have been unable to find much information about them in regards to giving stipends. I can't live off of nothing. I do notice they typically have shorter phd time estimates but some of them seem to beat-around-the-bush when you begin to look into financial matters. Does anyone have any information on these overseas possibilities? I would love to go to a good college in Europe or Australia.

I know I just dragged you through all that blabber- thank you so much for reading it. I would love it if you could give me advice- any advice at all! Thank you!

-Daemonzeiro
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