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"Scientists are always focused on experiments, gaining knowledge, but there is the human side that you need to be exposed to early on." -Anton Wutz

Systems Biology "is one of the areas as a postdoc that you have a chance to become a group leader early," Nicolas Le Novère, European Bioinformatics Institute, U.K.

Though the competition may be stiff, getting into such a high profile field has its own career rewards.

"Graduates are more or less offered leading positions at farms and wineries, and after a while you can find these young people in top positions of the wine industry."

[H]er team currently consists of an impressively diverse group including computer scientists, physicists, biochemists, and chemists.

Lewis, who trained as a geoscientist to doctoral level, describes her work at Dstl as 'research, but a different kind of research.'

"Although the job market is tight, there is always room for good people."

"You have a lot to learn, but when you can argue the case of your patent application successfully to a patent examiner, it's great," says Sarah Thompson.

People don't need advice, they need opportunities. It's a long struggle, but if I can help establish a lab, start a graduate course, or find fellowships [for students], I will be happy.

"I always tell young people to get a solid basis in their subject, whether it is chemistry, physics, or biology, and to specialise afterward."

Making courageous career choices, says Linda Ko-Ferrigno, is a lot easier when "you have someone cheering you on."

"The best thing about it [CASE award] is it gives you a feel for what industry wants." –Robert Phillips

Stephen James: "As a scientist, you must be willing to work toward making a product." Gaining new knowledge for its own sake it not enough.

By age 40, a mere 20% of astronomy PhDs have astronomy faculty jobs at universities (or scientific positions at observatories) in country …