tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post1917219432257231699..comments2024-03-27T21:23:40.339-04:00Comments on Chemjobber: What is Scott Lockledge trying to say? Chemjobberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15932113680515602275noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-91837840274213155232014-02-18T11:12:09.105-05:002014-02-18T11:12:09.105-05:00I think he's saying that there's still lot...I think he's saying that there's still lots of interesting things that chemistry can do, which is true. However, if no one will hire, train, or pay anyone to do them, then they aren't likely to be done, because the number of people willing and able to do it themselves - to generate a technology, design and start a company, and make it succeed - is pretty darn small. If the few places willing to hire people to develop those technologies want to pay people not very much to do them (while nothing else gets cheaper), and want them to be disposable, then there won't be too many people to develop those technologies (because the people who could will do something else instead), and the technologies won't be developed.<br /><br />I'm guessing he's focusing on biochem because of his interests and because people are going to need medical technologies. Since the current business models in those sectors appear to be founded on someone else (aliens, dwarves, unprofitable startups, or unselfish people in other countries) developing products for cheap or for free, and on insurance companies (or individuals) paying lots of money for very small improvements over cheaper current products, I'm not sure how that will happen.Hapnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-15482467255563650872014-02-18T08:40:21.246-05:002014-02-18T08:40:21.246-05:00The cynic in me says 'Maybe tiptek has a new r...The cynic in me says 'Maybe tiptek has a new range of AFM tips that it's marketing at the life sciences sector...'Philliphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11027906511764488130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-60868336991883552422014-02-18T08:39:02.028-05:002014-02-18T08:39:02.028-05:00"At no time has it ever been better to be a c...<i>"At no time has it ever been better to be a chemist or a chemical engineer than today. Never." even as he stipulates "record high unemployment, the limited job opportunities for recent graduates, or the salaries lagging behind those of other professions"?</i><br /><br />I translated this to mean: "It's freaking great to be Scott Lockledge"The Aqueous Layernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-83533864885800173882014-02-17T12:46:01.348-05:002014-02-17T12:46:01.348-05:00He says: "At no time has it ever been better...He says: "At no time has it ever been better to be a chemist or a chemical engineer than today. Never"<br /><br />Maybe in terms of lifespan. But not in terms of a sustainable career in science, from all of the blogs I read and anecdotes I hear.<br /><br />I think a lot of these well-paid types really have their heads in the sand and dont understand what the average science type goes through.<br /><br />Or maybe he just wants his name to appear one more time on Pub-med (if you author an editorial on C and E news, you get a pubmed entry). Makes your publication record look better for when you return to academia after your company.Bring the Moviesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-5021378258434145842014-02-17T11:51:39.677-05:002014-02-17T11:51:39.677-05:00It's kind of strange. AFM has a lot of uses in...It's kind of strange. AFM has a lot of uses in material science and chemistry but he chooses to focus on the biochemical end. Either business for them is really bad or what?<br />Anyway, anyone preaching this is the best of times isn't talking to new graduates.Dentonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08810776884651700820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8964719845369935777.post-23672264687649784312014-02-17T09:34:06.706-05:002014-02-17T09:34:06.706-05:00Good point. I would add in another question; even...Good point. I would add in another question; even if one's training is in biochemistry or molecular biology, considering the number of people entering those fields, are the job prospects really all that great? Expanding demand won't help job prospects if the supply of qualified applicants is increasing at at least as fast a rate.CChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00182261071929779898noreply@blogger.com