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"The market [for science Ph.D.s] is enormous and the options are huge." --Paul Redmond, University of Liverpool

You may discover that lab technicians or the person ordering supplies can profoundly affect the course of your research and the quality of your experience, so be sure to give everyone the respect that they deserve.

Part of the insecurity for both scientists comes from the fact that molecular gastronomy still has some way to go before it is fully accepted as a scientific field.

"If [a career framework] is just going to be a lot of woolly phrases that don't help anyone, then there is no point." --Lee Higham, Newcastle University

The last year of your Ph.D. is distinctly different from the ones that have come before it, because you'll focus primarily on transforming your hard work into thesis chapters.

Sandrine Etienne-Manneville "knew exactly what she was doing, where the project was going, and what needed to be done," says former postdoc supervisor Alan Hall.

"Low salaries make many bright people decide to leave research because the joy of discovering something new is simply not worth it when you face problems like having a family and paying a mortgage." --Petr Svoboda, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Prague, Czech Republic

How should you spend your time if your goal is to be a successful, well-rounded, happy person?

"It's like the television show
The Apprentice: If you see someone for 6 weeks, you are a lot more convinced that they are the right fit for your company than if they turn up for an hourlong interview." --Rebecca Dowsett, University of Nottingham

Like any big undertaking, writing a thesis is easier if you break it down into smaller steps.

Due to the high volume of questions received, the CareerDoctor cannot answer all queries on an individual basis. Look for an answer to your question published in this column soon! Thank you!

"Once you've been infected with the virus called 'science,' you will never be cured."

"There are no age limits; it is the extent of the researcher's experience that counts."

"They think of us as scruffy and geeky. In return, we think of them as stupid and greedy."

"The merger of molecular biology, micro systems technology, and chemical catalysis will revolutionize our way of synthesizing molecules. ..."

"For new students, bachelors, masters, and PhDs alike, these programs and proposals offer great challenges. They will be the people really shaping a more sustainable future for our society."

"It was time for me to go and find new challenges and learn new techniques before I became part of the old furniture of the department."

"The work in international cooperation and development is particularly challenging because it calls for knowledge of social geography, communications, and intercultural affairs--in addition to specialist scientific knowledge."