Industry or Academia?

When I graduated I knew I wanted to stay in science but I wasn't completely sure where in science I wanted to be. When I was offered a job in industry I jumped at the chance to experience being a fully fledged, tax paying member of society with a decent pay packet.

However it turns out I didn't really enjoy my experience in industry. The particular job I was in often meant that just as one project became interesting it was finished (or was pulled) and I had to start on another. The size of the company also meant that although I gained a lot of useful experience in skills other than those related to lab work, I found that not enough of my time was dedicated to research.



There are lots of ways to go in science



And so I quit my job and soon returned to academia to pursue a PhD. Although I no doubt gained a lot from my two and a half years as a 'real person' I can't see myself returning to industry. I enjoy the intellectual freedom that academia seems to give and the feeling that all results are interesting and never overly disappointing in the pursuit of science rather than a product.

As I approach the half way point in my PhD I know that my experience was a one off and worry that my view is jaded and that having the option of working in industry would be useful.

Do you / have you worked in industry in science? Did you enjoy it? Do you have stories that you think could make me consider returning in the future? Or maybe you agree that academic life, although far from perfect, is better. Let me know below!