| An article at CNN lists academic research scientists as | | | | The salary for a Ph.D. in a postdoc position is a mere |
| one of the top three "Big jobs that pay badly". The | | | | $38,000. And the average number of hours a |
| article states that this career track has "one of the | | | | postdoc works in a typical week is 51. If you do the |
| most disproportionate ratios of training to pay". | | | | math, it becomes apparent that a postdoc's hourly |
| I believe it. | | | | wage is just under $15/hour. This is less than the |
| As a one-time research scientist myself, I | | | | average salary earned by recent college graduates |
| experienced the low pay first-hand. In all honesty, it | | | | with only a bachelor's degree. Once again, let me |
| was barely enough to support my modest living | | | | remind you of the average salary of a Patent Agent |
| needs, let alone a family. I found myself in the | | | | -- $74,900 a year. |
| uncomfortable position of actually making less than a | | | | And it's not all about money. A career as a Patent |
| full-time waitress. This was with my Master's degree | | | | Agent has its rewards. It's a highly respectable and |
| in Molecular Biology working at a prestigious academic | | | | honorable career where you may put your |
| institute. | | | | knowledge to the test and solve fascinating technical |
| And as much as I'd like to say it gets better with | | | | and legal problems. It is your opportunity to really use |
| more education, I can't. Unfortunately, the salary and | | | | that science degree (or the degrees) you worked so |
| job expectations only seem to only worsen with the | | | | hard to get and earn the prestige you so deserve. |
| degree level. If you're a postdoc, you know exactly | | | | You will be right on the cutting edge of research and |
| what I mean. | | | | development, quite possibly even closer to it than |
| Decades ago, the postdoctoral position was merely a | | | | you are today tucked away running experiments in |
| "stepping stone" on the road to something bigger and | | | | the laboratory. You will be positioned to learn about |
| better. But today, many postdocs are trapped in | | | | new and exciting discoveries before anyone else. |
| their temporary positions. Some spend as long as a | | | | In addition to the prestige offered by a career in |
| decade, or more, just biding their time, searching for | | | | patent law, there is virtually unlimited potential. Patent |
| their "big-break" into the small pool of permanent | | | | law is one of the few legal specialties that is actually |
| Ph.D. positions. | | | | growing. And since many biotech innovations truly do |
| Even those that make it are forced to go where the | | | | advance society, you will have the opportunity to do |
| money is, which might not be where their ideas and | | | | something positive for mankind (which is probably |
| dreams would take them. | | | | why you became a scientist in the first place). |
| I can imagine if you're in this position, you're probably | | | | And you may always choose to get a law degree |
| wondering why I'm bringing this up. To rub in how | | | | after you gain experience as a Patent Agent. As you |
| incredibly underpaid you are? No. Instead, I want to | | | | might guess, you can expect a higher pay and even |
| let you in on a little secret. | | | | more challenges as a Patent Attorney (in fact, the |
| It's a shortcut actually. | | | | average pay for a Patent Attorney is $100,000 with |
| You see, my story changed when I found out that | | | | some partners earning well over $200,000 a year). |
| as a scientist, I qualified to begin a career in patent | | | | So with all the benefits of a career in patent law, |
| law. All I needed to gain status as a registered Patent | | | | why don't more scientists opt for this opportunity? |
| Agent was pass an exam conducted by the United | | | | Especially when all that stands between them and |
| States Patent and Trademark Office. Upon passing | | | | this career is an exam? Well the truth is, many just |
| this exam, I would be legally eligible to write and | | | | don't know the opportunity exists. My goal is to |
| prosecute patents in the U.S. | | | | change that. |
| Chances are you qualify to take this exam and | | | | As you can see, passing the Patent Bar exam can |
| become a Patent Agent too. | | | | open an entirely new career door for you. It can |
| A licensed Patent Agent (with no law degree) makes | | | | pave the way to a higher salary and a highly |
| an average expected salary of $74,900 a year (as | | | | rewarding career. So if you're interested in a career |
| reported by in 2005). Contrast this with the $45,000 | | | | change of this sort, please seek out more |
| average salary of a Research Associate in the field | | | | information today. As you know, shortcuts don't |
| of Biotechnology. That's almost $30,000 more in a | | | | always last forever, especially when the word gets |
| single year. | | | | out. |