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"I like the fact that I'm steering my own ship in terms of research. I feel like an entrepreneur." --Lance Silverman

"There is no doubt that having these kinds of unique tools available and having the strong multidisciplinary environment that allows for interaction gives us a lot of advantage to better understand science," says Jeff Blackmon, physics division, ORNL.

"I produce 10 data points that completely undermine what everybody thinks they know about the archaeological record here. It was really important and really interesting, and almost nobody believed me." -Joan Brenner Coltrain

"This idea of research was foreign to me. I'm sure that had it not been for that opportunity, I would not be a scientist today." --Wilfredo Colón

"Generally, I find that people are attracted to enthusiasm if it's unfettered and for the right reasons," says Hendrik Poinar, director of McMaster University's Ancient DNA Laboratory.

Here are six examples of behavioral scientists who have stepped off the academic path into some interesting territory.

"To me, having a Ph.D. and being a professor is a lifelong learning experience. The degree, to me, is to teach you how to teach yourself later on." --Adil Shamoo

"I explained what I wanted to do. I warned that it would be different from what they were used to. Then I asked if they could help me. And they all agreed." --Rita Thornton

The chance to encourage more women to enter engineering is another reason she joined the University at Buffalo faculty.

"Andrea treats me like someone who’s intelligent enough to run a laboratory experiment by himself, but she’s always there for questions. She’ll have a long conversation with a former student who’s visiting from med school, or talk to us about our futures, or hang out and discuss TV. She’s your friend, and she cares about you." --Matthew Mansh

Sometimes, accepting a contract position is what an employee needs to jump-start a career.

"Whether it's how we treat the environment or each other, it's all connected," says Martina Hoft, conservation botanist and real estate broker.

"I don't know anybody who hasn't been able to get a job that's been trained in high-temperature superconductivity, but the number of them who go on and study the same things is limited," says Christopher Lobb, a professor at the University of Maryland's Center for Superconductivity Research.

"I had the good sense to have a serious accident when the market was down." --Cynthia Robbins-Roth

"I feel like I'm making a useful contribution not only to the company but to the environment," says chemical engineer John Ma of Dow Chemical Canada.

All of them entered teaching because they love science and interacting with students.

Though it is often--and justifiably--maligned, it is ignorance--and recognizing where it exists--that drives scientists to do groundbreaking science.

Asian scientists are a major presence in U.S. biomedical research labs. So why do so few hold leadership positions?