The Life of an Industrial PhD Student: A Journey of Discovery and Balance
Entering an Industrial PhD program is a rather interesting adventure to undertake, as it combines academics with practical working experience. Industrial PhD programs differ from conventional PhD programs in that they aim at addressing the gap between academia and industry by enabling students to utilize their research work in practical situations. Let’s find out, what it’s like as an industrial PhD student?
Balancing Academia and Industry
Managing the demands from both industry and academia is often the greatest form of conflict an industrial PhD would attain. One of the challenges, disputes, and conflicts is usually the division of their time with respect to the university’s research and the sponsoring company’s workload. This requires self-organizational skills to properly allocate resources and manage time-intensive activities in defined periods of calendar time.
Real-World Impact
The most exciting aspect of Industrial PhD students is that they not only conduct research but also get to apply the research they perform into practice. The projects they engage in are usually based on the needs of the industries that the graduates are going to work with, thus, allowing their results to be put into practice. This practicality tends to be very encouraging and rewarding.
Figure 1 Testing in Leuven Canal
Collaboration and Networking
An industrial PhD embraces collaboration with people from different backgrounds, including industry supervisors, fellow industrial researchers, and colleagues. Such collaboration enhances the student’s experience as well as their networking capabilities in their respective fields. Such connections may be helpful when finding jobs in the future, whether in academia or industry.
Figure 2 Maritime Expo 2024
Developing Transferable Skills
An industrial PhD equips students with a broad range of skills that are highly valued in the job market. These include technical expertise, project management, communication, and problem-solving skills. The experience of working in both academic and industrial settings helps students become versatile professionals, capable of adapting to various roles and challenges.
Challenges and Rewards
It should be noted, however, that while the life and career of an industrial PhD student presents many opportunities, they also come with challenges. Balancing the demands of academia and industry can be stressful, and students must be prepared to navigate different expectations and work cultures. Yet, the outcome of pursuing an industrial PhD including practicing industry transferrable skills, making an actual difference in the world, and obtaining satisfying employment —is worth the effort.
Conclusion
The life of an industrial PhD student is active, multidimensional, and in many ways different from just earning an academic degree. It’s a course that involves a lot of commitment, fortitude, and zeal for creativity. In summary, industrial PhD programs are quite challenging, but for those ready to face the hurdles, they offer the promise of very exciting career prospects.
Are you considering pursuing an industrial PhD, or are you already on this path? I’d love to hear about your experiences or any questions you might have!
An article by AmirReza Haqshenas Mojaveri.
