Ever wondered what pursuing a career in science is like? The perks and disadvantages of being a natural science researcher.

"Did I make the right career choice?" Is a question many of us ask ourselves at some point in our lives. Sometimes we wonder what it would be like to have the lifestyle of someone with a certain job that sounds interesting. 

My involvement with science started very early, fostered by my parents who studied Biology themselves and by my grandfather, a Renaissance man with an insatiable curiosity for understanding how things work, from a diesel engine to photosynthesis in plants. The story of how I developed a love for science since my childhood days might be interesting to some, but that will be the subject of another post.

So far, I have spent almost half of my life deeply immersed in science theory and practice. Despite it having some considerable downsides, I mostly like it and find it very inspiring, even though sometimes it can be really unnerving.

Ever wondered what pursuing a career in science is like? I must note that my experience is on the field of basic research, as the work conditions of people working on applied science or closer to the industry might be quite different. Here are some of the biggest perks and disadvantages of working as a natural scientist:     

The Good:

Travelling for free or very cheap, sometimes to unexpected destinations, due to conferences, meetings, collaborations or other special events.

Skiing in the Austrian Alps during one of our lab retreats.

Visiting the lost city of Petra, in Jordan, as a day trip activity during a Symposium. Can you spot me in the group?

Opportunity to live in some of the most interesting cities in the world, filling your life with exciting discoveries and adventure.

That's how I ended up in my dream city, Berlin! This was taken during a speaker's dinner after an international conference on novel strategies to fight cancer.

Stimulating intellectual environment: Being constantly challenged with new and interesting knowledge, as well as having to come up with strategies and hypotheses to solve problems, keeps things exciting and your brain in top shape!

Meeting interesting people with very diverse backgrounds from all over the world; opportunity to learn a lot about other cultures and mindsets, broaden your taste and knowledge and becoming more open-minded.

Flexible schedule and lack of a dress-code. As long as you get the work done in time and form, usually nobody really cares about your looks or work schedule.

And the not so good...

Low wages compared to the amount of work you actually do. Also, short contracts that make for job instability and an often nomadic lifestyle, having to relocate frequently in order to find a job position that suits you.

Endless frustration. You will work long hours for unpredictable returns; sometimes things don't work no matter how much effort and time you put into them and it all just feels like a HUGE waste of time.

Really awkward people with antisocial tendencies which makes for some really uncomfortable interactions. Also, some people just cannot shut up about science and there is no way to make them talk about other subjects.

Blurry or sometimes nonexistent work-life delimitation. Also, depending on your boss, things like working during weekends and holidays can be either appreciated, encouraged or even expected. This is without any extra monetary compensation, of course.

In the end, I believe that there is no such thing as the "perfect" job. One of the lessons that I have learned throughout the years is that everything in life is a trade-off; every decision you make, no matter how ideal and beneficial for your life it seems, will unavoidably close the door to other possibilities. The key is making sure —in as much as you can—  that the overall balance is positive for you, that the sacrifices are worth the end result.

In short, no job is all fun and games all the time; you just have to find the one that has the right balance for you. Also, I think it is very important to try and get first hand experience in the field you are interested in by volunteering and doing internships —that way you will get a taste of what the job is really like, and could make a more informed decision about it being right for you or not. The grass is always greener on the other side, but when you find yourself there, you might find that it feels very different than you expected!

This is a really interesting topic, so I would love to know about your personal experiences. 

For those who work in science: What has your experience been like so far, was it the right choice for you? Do you agree with the perks and disadvantages that I listed (or have others to add to the list)?

For everyone: What do you think would be your ideal job? Have you had the opportunity to experience it, and if you did, did it live up to your expectations?

Cheers, have a stellar rest of the week...

Irime