A new level of experiential learning: Ph.D. fellowships in industry
Sept. 3, 2024
—In the United States, students in STEM Ph.D. programs nearly always pursue the degree within their academic institutions. But there’s a growing number of Ph.D. students across the globe completing their degrees with an industry fellowship, leaving the classroom behind to work and learn inside company walls for a significant part of their program. In collaboration with companies and often financed with joint government-industry funding, these programs enable Ph.D. candidates to work for leading companies and earn credit toward their degrees. This approach can help build a better-prepared workforce, facilitate future collaborations, and empower impactful and applicable research outcomes.
Industry-based Ph.D. studies
Industry-based Ph.D. research work is different from a traditional Ph.D. research assistantship, where the vast majority of the work is conducted in an academic lab and funded by government programs or even industry. Candidates who spend a significant amount of time working in industry gain applicable experience that contributes to their coursework and career development. Typically, the fellowship lasts a year or more and, in some countries, is jointly funded by the industry partner and a government agency. Both academic and industry advisors guide student progress, and the work in industry contributes to their dissertation.
There are several examples of these programs around the world. U.K. Research and Innovation (UKRI) offers CASE Studentships, in which students spend three to 18 months at a corporate lab. Partner organizations (companies or public sector entities) provide students with training in their research methods and prepare them with the research requirements. CASE partners must supplement the studentship by paying at least £1,000 per year to the academic institution, paying any student-incurred expenses, and paying for any materials needed during the collaboration.
In the United States, Ph.D. studies performed at an industry site exist, but programs in which the candidate spends a hefty proportion of their degree program in an industry setting are few. Some universities have programs designed to keep doctoral students in pre-existing jobs while earning their degrees, but the employer fully funds them. For example, UIDP member Northeastern University offers the Industry Ph.D. program, in which master’s degree-level employees at a company may pursue a doctoral degree while continuing their career. Northeastern provides a faculty advisor, while the candidate’s research (and any potential intellectual property) remains with the company. In return, the employer partner pays tuition and fees (and presumably continues to pay the candidate’s salary).
Barriers and the future of programs
Financial and cultural barriers stand in the way of U.S.-based Ph.D. research work being conducted in industry. Tuition is higher compared to the UK and Europe, so the cost for companies to bear the entire cost is significant. As U.S. federal agencies seek new ways to expand the STEM workforce, jointly funding these programs, as the UK government underwrites much of the CASE Studentships, may provide the impetus for more companies to partner.
Other barriers would mean changing the way U.S. doctoral programs are structured. Despite the trends in post-graduation employment, faculty is often unwilling to accept that a career in industry has the prestige of one in academia, and doctoral programs are not currently structured to relinquish a year or more of a candidate’s time to an industry partner. Intellectual property and confidentiality terms are hard to balance with the need to publish a thesis (often in collaboration with university faculty).
Why it matters
Ensuring that the next generation of researchers is well-equipped and well-prepared to solve grand challenges is critical. Long-term, experiential learning opportunities, such as industry-based Ph.D. fellowships, give students the real-world knowledge they need to quickly succeed in corporate environments. From the university’s point of view, these programs can help deepen existing or develop new partnerships with companies and help drive breakthrough research outcomes.
We want to hear from you. What would it take for your organization to participate in an industry Ph.D. fellowship? Let us know on LinkedIn.