The other path

摘要

Brian Godwin is a group leader in molecular sciences research at the biotechnology company 454 Life Sciences in Branford, Connecticut. But he has never done a postdoc. And he doesn't have a PhD. Godwin, a biotechnology researcher since 1997, has a professional science master s degree (PSM) in genetics from the University of Connecticut (UConn) in Storrs, where he earned his undergraduate degree in molecular biology. He says that he has never regretted his decision to eschew the conventional route of completing a doctorate, doing a postdoc or two and striving for a tenure-track academic research post. Industry, he says, is the right fit, and his degree provided the right background. "I was asked to stay [to get a PhD at UConn]," he says. "But I was tired of being in school and tired of not earning much money."