I have some experience working in academia as well as industry and I think a person would have to evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of both for themselves. Personally I found that I prefer working in industry. The one negative I’m seeing about industry positions is the typical 9-5 schedule – for me I have had a relatively flexible schedule since I started working and don’t feel that restricted by it. I think a career in industry may provide greater opportunities going forward than academia.

In the case of academia while you may have a more flexible schedule of when you want to work, you may have to spend a lot of time in the lab, which isn’t for everyone. If someone enjoys spending hours in the lab then a career in academia may be more appealing to them than industry. I also think careers in academia may come with less pressure as there may not be as much time-sensitivity when it comes to deadlines that come up often in industry.