From the Experts: Transitioning from Academia to Industry with Ease

While in past decades, many people who earned a PhD in science chose to pursue a tenured research position, today’s doctoral and postdoctoral students enjoy a much broader array of potential career paths — in academia, government, and industry where they can work as scientists, project managers, policymakers, and much more.

Understandably, some graduates can be reluctant to trade the familiarity of the university environment for the unknowns of industry. Lost research independence, differences in work culture, and the lack of relevant industry experience are real concerns that prevent people from applying for positions that they are qualified for. Others want to make the move but don’t know how or worry that they are not cut out for the job.

Making the shift to industry does not have to be scary or stressful. In fact, many graduate and postdoc experiences translate very well to industry jobs. And graduate studies provide a broad range of experiences and activities that are essential to building a strong career portfolio that communicates your value to potential employers.

These were some of the insights that emerged from an alumni panel at the 2023 IEEE International Symposium on Information Theory. We convened a group of experts with roots in academia and industry to share some of their wisdom with a roomful of graduate students contemplating the next steps in their careers. The panelists were:

• Dr. Ananda Theertha Suresh, Research Scientist, Google Research
• Dr. Changlong Xu, Principal Engineer, Qualcomm Research
• Dr. Amin Shokrollahi, CEO & founder of Kandou Bus
• Dr. Meir Feder, Professor of electrical engineering at Tel Aviv University and founder of Run:ai

As with previous gatherings, both the audience and panelists were fully engaged with the conversation and asked great questions about what’s needed to transition from academia to industry successfully. Outlined below are some general themes that emerged from the discussion.

How does academic training in information theory and related disciplines translate to an industrial career?

When graduate students are plugging away at their classes, it can sometimes feel like much of what they are doing and learning will only be useful in the ivory tower. Not according to the experts. The panelists shared instances from their own careers in industry where they relied on ideas, concepts, and experiences drawn directly from their doctoral work. They also pointed out that graduate programs provide other forms of training that are important for a successful career:

• Critical thinking. Learning to ask fundamental questions that break complex problems into simpler tasks is an asset in many companies. Graduate programs are great spaces for cultivating these skills. They are also places for testing and refining new and unusual ideas and learning to communicate them effectively. Equally important is refusing to 
• accept unsatisfactory answers and learning to challenge them effectively. On the job, challenging group thinking may expose important process gaps that are not on the company’s radar. It is not always comfortable but at the end of the day, what ultimately matters to companies is that their products solve real world problems and provide value.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration. Graduate programs are a great time to experience working with people from other disciplines. In industry, the most successful projects and products often involve input from people in diverse disciplines. It is important to step out of your comfort zone and take advantage of opportunities to work with people from different disciplines during your academic program. And don’t forget to explore different topic areas that stretch your skill set. All of these experiences will be valuable further down the road.

• Are there research areas in information theory that make it easier to launch a career in industry?

  There are plenty of opportunities to build a wide range of skills and expertise that potential employers find attractive during graduate study. Some jobs require specialized knowledge. For example, these days, lots of companies are looking for people with skills in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

  But specialized jobs are just one part of the field. According to the panelists, for most students interested in industry, general training in information theory or a related discipline from a good graduate program provides a solid enough foundation for many jobs. In fact, some companies prefer people with a more general set of skills that are easily transferable. This does not mean that specialized knowledge is a bad thing – in fact the rewards of deep training in a single area can be substantial – but it might limit you to fewer career options early in your career. It may be better to cast a wider net and then specialize further down the road.

  Remember that while knowledge and intelligence are crucial, they are only part of the equation. According to the experts, companies are looking to hire smart people, but many employers have learned the value of soft skills such as social competence, imagination, and out-of-the-box thinking. And they actively look for evidence of these abilities during the interview process. Graduate study is the time to cultivate these skills. Demonstrating that you can remain open to new ideas and communicate effectively with others during the hiring process will help you stand out to potential employers.

  What are some common roadblocks that trip graduates up and keep them from being successful in their jobs?

  Getting the job or starting the company is the first hurdle. Very quickly, the realization sets in that the industrial environment is very different from the academic one. Tools and techniques that worked well during your graduate program may be misaligned with the job you now have to do. One suggestion from the panelists was to take time to think through your goals and identify the best approach to accomplishing them.

  One of the major reasons that some graduates struggle in industry, according to the panel, is a lack of flexibility. It is very easy to fall in love with an idea or method and it can be difficult to change directions even when things are not working. But not all ideas are viable even with hard work and it's important to recognize when the ship is off course and to pivot quickly. Even if it means jettisoning the original ideas that the company was founded on. It requires imagination and innovation but also humility to admit mistakes and courage to make difficult decisions. Negative results and feedback are not bad things if you think of them as learning opportunities.

  The information theory field is constantly evolving and right now is at an inflection point. It is too soon to tell what kind of influence artificial intelligence will have. But it's safe to say that human beings have lots of qualities that the machines of today have not yet developed. For the foreseeable future, companies will still need lots of smart, imaginative, flexible people to fill a variety of roles. There are still plenty of opportunities for people interested in industry careers to make their mark.