1

Industry vs. Academia – Some Thoughts

Dr. Joseph LoyallBBN Technologies

March 3, 2009

Research Directions in Situational-aware Self-managed Proactive Computing in Wireless Ad hoc Networks

2

Not Just Industry versus Academia

Product-oriented Companies

Service-oriented (R&D) Companies

Non-profit R&D(sometimes Univ. affiliated)

Research University

Teaching Univ. or College

Development

Research

TeachingResearch

Industry

Academia

3

My Suggestions…

Stay in school…– 2/3 of BBN’s staff have advanced degrees– Masters and Ph.D. degrees open doors

Finish your thesis…– I have seen too many ABDs never finish– The skills that enable you to write your thesis and defend it are

very valuable in the workplace

The same qualities that will make you a success in academia will make you a success in industry– Creativity, competence, diligence– Design, development, writing – Teaching, teamwork, presentation, learning, individual

contribution

4

Differences between Industry and Academia is in Extent not Absolutes

What do you like/want to do? Publish?

– Typically associated with academia– Researchers at BBN publish frequently (for industry)– Publication is part of the consideration for promotion

Develop software?– Typically associated with industry– Yet, many current open-source projects out of universities rival commercial

software Research?

– I believe that significant research exists in both academia and industry– There is significant collaboration between the two

Tenure?– Positions like tenure exist in industry also– BBN’s Science Development Program– Boeing Fellows

Teach?– Although not unheard of in industry, much more prevalent in academia

5

Bottom Line Is That Talented, Self-motivated, Creative People Can Be Extremely Successful and Satisfied in Either Environment

Industry

Academia

6

Boston Globe 100 Best Places to Work 2008

Boston Globe 100 Best Places to Work 2008Boston Globe 100 Best Places to Work 2008

8th Best Midsize Company

24th Best Overall

4th Best for Work-Life Flexibility

7

BBN Technologies