I’d really like to study genetic engineering because I find it a cool skill. But at the same time, job positions for genetic engineers are few and far inbetween. So while I’d potentially be good at something few people can do (=high paying). If I studied something like law, I’d be much more flexible geographiclally in terms of finding employment. So I’m wondering whether to aspire to a more common career and take GE as a hobby that I’m studying, or if I should double down on GE and work in a café until I find a job in that. (I might decide I want to pivot away from GE once I learn it anyway.) What do you recomend?
Take the thing you wanna do as long as it’s even kinda profitable.
With luck, you’ll do it for decades. Enjoying it is nice
And even if OP doesn’t end up working in genetics, there’s a good chance their studies will lead to other great opportunities.
The choice is clear.
Boomer advice.
Take steps to be able to best support your family. Rather work a job I hate in an apartment than look for a job I love living in my car.
Boomer, but definitely valid.
I find it a cool
=high paying
Just highlighted the important parts
Ok but genetic engineering wil probably pay quite well no? Or is it inaccurate to think that jobs that require big expertise will always pay reasonably well?
If you’re in the USA, I wouldn’t do law. The field is saturated with lawyers and a reason for AI development is to replace lawyers.
Aren’t the machines for doing DNA duplication and other fundamental things for GE expensive as fuck? Like in the 6 figures of cost?
I don’t think there’s GE as a hobbie.
And btw, working in GE means that you are going to end working in Monsanto or other biotechnology firm trying to privatize life.
OPs alternative is law.
I’m not sure the ethics of their employment are of much concern.
Law was just an example. There’s a ton of other more commonplace careers I’d consider.
Oh, I didn’t mean doing GE as a hobby, I meant studying it at university (as a ‘hobby’) but then doing something else for a job because there are only a couple of locations in my country where I could geta job with it.
I am in biotech in the US (currently in infectious disease monitoring, previously in cancer diagnostics). I’m going to assume you are in the US for this answer.
As long as you are willing to live in/near a biotech hub, there will be plenty of opportunities. These cities include Boston, San Fransisco, Denver, or any city that has a well respected research university (Duke, Ohio State, etc). If you choose to stay in academia, that opens up even more locations. There are many thousands of options outside of Monsanto. Depending on the area of the country you pick, you may start out in the 50-80k range, but it won’t take long to make over 100k a year.
Ok that’s not too bad tbh.
