It doesn't pay to do a Ph.D. - Lab Rats

It doesn't pay to do a Ph.D.

Seema Singh - Sunday, September 14, 2008 2:51 PM

I know this blog title is blasphemous, at least for the sci-tech community. But read on... it's the conclusion of a mathematical analysis of salaries drawn at one of the respected scientific universities in the country - Cochin University of Science And Technology (CUSAT).

It's published in September 10 issue of Current Science by none other than its vice chancellor and you can read it here. It shows, given the current scenario and incentives for Ph.D., an academic is better off not taking a Ph.D. as far as the net financial returns in long term are concerned.

This rather provocative conclusion once again raises the issue of salary and scientists in India. The 6th Pay Commission's recommendations might have brought cheer to many sections but the scientific community isn't swooning over it. The Confederation of Atomic and Space Scientists & Technologists (also called Coast) says the immediate net increase in the pay due to the new recommendations is ‘merely' 18 %. (Given the present economic turn, I think it's a decent raise, though it's another issue that this would do little to compensate for the negligence of the past.)

Most government scientific establishments are bleeding as scientists leave for better private sector salaries (and sometimes working conditions). ISRO, DRDO, you name it. You can read this interesting debate among scientists on money and science in India.

There's no easy fix for this, but it's certainly worth pondering.

 

 

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4 Comment

From Manu

September 15, 2008 10:30 AM
Frankly Seema, this study is frivolous – its like saying in India more deaths happen due to road accidents than say – cancer; therefore people should avoid going on the roads as often as compared to discouraging children from smoking. I wish, professor Gagan had focused on personalities too rather than converting them to statistics. India, for its development, needs more Phd’s and Indian Science students need better equipped schools. Government can help in the later by moving itself out of premier schools like IISC and IITs. These institutions are capable of generating their own funding. The other issue that you sited about scientists leaving DRDO etc., is purely because of these institutions being so close walled. There are many who would, like me, would give-up anything to be part of missile or LCA research but its impossible to think of getting into a project which has clear goal but an ever meandering terrain to tread – LCA a good 5 years objective took 20 years to produce a prototype!

From Seema

September 15, 2008 12:19 PM
All your points are valid. I've reported this because even as a statistic it says a lot about the way Indian scientists are paid, groomed and motivated in this country. I've spoken to Gangan Prathap before and believe me he is one senior scientist pushing high end research (you can see part of his comments in this story: http://www.livemint.com/2008/04/10000407/National-will-needed-for-resul.html I guess this is a desperate attempt to draw govt attention!

From Brij Kumar Singh

March 3, 2009 8:47 PM
6th pay commission report brings out clearly that the right hand has given maximum to the left hand leaving the others bone dry. In this country, it is a common practise to bargain collectively,and that is what has been done by all the different desciplines be it teachers, babus, defence personnel and only the lower and middle level officers of scientific departments have suffered the most. Defence forces by emotional blackmail got the pay band revised for their personnel and they are further doing it by surrendering their medals for equal pension for same rank. Nobody has the courage to say that the nation is a living body where every part is working its assigned role and the nation can not remain alive if one of its part stop functioning.All employees must be told in clear term that strikes or protest will not be tolerated on one hand and the pay revesion for different departments will be done by a body with one of its member being from the organisation whose pay is being revised.

From Brij Kumar Singh

March 3, 2009 8:47 PM
6th pay commission report brings out clearly that the right hand has given maximum to the left hand leaving the others bone dry. In this country, it is a common practise to bargain collectively,and that is what has been done by all the different desciplines be it teachers, babus, defence personnel and only the lower and middle level officers of scientific departments have suffered the most. Defence forces by emotional blackmail got the pay band revised for their personnel and they are further doing it by surrendering their medals for equal pension for same rank. Nobody has the courage to say that the nation is a living body where every part is working its assigned role and the nation can not remain alive if one of its part stop functioning.All employees must be told in clear term that strikes or protest will not be tolerated on one hand and the pay revesion for different departments will be done by a body with one of its member being from the organisation whose pay is being revised.

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