I think a British phd is far less stressful. Its shorter (3 years) and you only have 2 examiners (one external and one internal). I actually enjoyed mine a lot, far more than university which was just one long exam conveyor belt (12 exam modules a year, 36 in total).
US PhD is totally different. The length of time has nothing to do with it. It's just that the actual requirements are completely different. But, no offense, given all the extra requirements to get a PhD in the US, I think that we're better trained.
I'm guessing that at the end of your second year you didn't have to write an original research proposal (completely unrelated to your research) and orally defend it to five people for two hours?
I totally enjoyed my PhD. The real question is though, if you had to go back and do it again, would you? I liked getting my PhD but here's no way in hell I would do it again.
Your assumption is correct and I'm always glad to have another understand the trauma that is 'finishing' a PhD. I have not, in fact, submitted as yet. It is currently under a silly 'internal review' system, which is a failsafe for my Centre (Forensics) mainly for Masters students to prevent the submission of sub-par material that may embarrass the Centre. I don't have much to worry about beyond typos/spelling/grammatical mistakes though and will submit in early June when I return from Rome. As you quite humorously put it, any major corrections will be answered with a finger. No guesses as to which one
The trauma...oh god the trauma...Not only do I feel numb but it has driven me to mistakes I wouldn't normally be prone to e.g. misplacing passport and getting mixed up with the wrong girl...
Ok I'm off topic. Sorry. Postdoc in Zurich! Wish me luck in my interview
You would be right. However I think it varies between universitites with some even spreading it over 4 years, which includes a year of postgraduate training. However in my day and at my University it really was just my supervisor and me, there was a postgraduate board who approved progression from year 1 to 2, but apart from that they were a pretty benign influence. After I finished I actually had 2 postdoc interviews in Switzerland (aged 24) and it was obvious that I was lacking in certain key areas like writing grant proposals, teaching and supervising undergrads. Having said all that I still do not believe that the quality of thesis or research was in anyway diminished.
I would not, but only because I've been in industry for over 6 years and am now used to being told what to do
You're in good company. George Whitesides, the world's most cited chemist and my tip for this year's Nobel prize, was asked to assess the state of British chemistry by the Royal Society of Chemistry. His quote, outside the formal report , was "the british PhD is nart an object of booty"....
I have been exploring a post doctoral position at the University of Zurich.
I am married and want to know what would be the rough monthly expenses, such as for rent, electricity, transport etc and most importantly, the taxes. At what nett salary would one break even? I am also looking to save quite a bit
What is the average pay scale at UZH for postdocs?
Your take home package in Zürich will be between 4200-5000 CHF/month nett (depends on the group you are in). No further requirements for taxes as it is all deducted before you are paid. However, if you are married then expenses may be fairly high. As a scientist you will qualify for reduced health insurance, but your wife will not be so lets say at least 250- 300 for this (it is mandatory). A bus ticket with a special half tax card is 73CHF/month and will cover all travel within the city but you could just as easily bike.
Rent could be quite expensive if you choose to live in the city. Expect at least 2000- 2800 CHF for a decent two roomed (this means 1 bedroom here) apartment but they are often high spec and no need to buy major major appliances for the kitchen... except a microwave.
In short, my opinion is that if you are willing to not follow the usual high standard of living here (eating out, grabbing a pint, shopping at expensive stores etc..) then you could save a "reasonable" amount.... but in comparison to standards of living elsewhere a swiss post-doc salary is, in my opinion, on par with what one would earn in the UK or the US.
PS: You may be wise to negotiate the university processing the paperwork for both you and your wife. It is not obligatory for them to do it for anyone else but you. It makes things a lot easier and this decision rests solely on your potential supervisor.
When do these guys do any work ? This is university, Master,Phd. All very well for a purely academic life , but its going to make later integration into the real world a little difficult methinks.
dave
"In Switzerland a PhD work is usually started immediately after the master theses (usually at the age of about 25 to 28 years). The average age of PhD candidates at the end of the PhD is 31."
1) Have you even bothered to read the previous posts in the thread? and 2) You're a post-doc making CHF 75,000/year, what kind of salary to you expect? CHF 80,000? CHF 85,000?
You're fine.
But it would help if we had any idea what sort of field you were in.
I moved to Zurich in 1987, with 3 yrs experience in the US and a BSEE. my starting pay was about 58K CHF/year. It seemed good at the time (single, no dependents), but after a while I realised that is one of the reasons they hire foreigners: they can trick us into thinking we are getting a good deal as compared to what we got in our home countries. Fast forward, the raises came year by year, usually 3-5%...after 10 years I was pulling in 108K CHF (1997). Then I started changing jobs, and as the tech sector was booming, each move I could pulling in 10-20% more pay, plus perks like stock options, bonus...etc. My income peaked at about 150-60K CHF/yr. base, a level I could maintain for about 7 years. Then the tech bust came, the Swiss Franc strengthened (making foreign skilled workers more competitive here), and lo and behold, I am back to about 100K base with 10K performance bonus. What a roller coaster. Without a working spouse to help absorb the variations in income, it would not be viable here. Not to mention the fact that after 45 your employability here drops like a rock (check out the job ads...they usually state "35-45 yrs old". Age discrimination is alive and well here in Switzerland (as is sex discrimination, skin color discrimination..and if you are from the Balkans, forget it).
Postdoctoral stays are not supposed to be permanent. Indeed the Ausweis which is issued to a postdoc in Switzerland, despite their being a salaried employee, is effectively a student visa. Earning a little less, in return for some high-impact publications, and the chance to do research abroad is for most, a good exchange. Also, a postdoc is generally required for many (frequently, but not only - academic) positions thus it is a stepping stone to something else. And, to add to that, we are paid more in Switzerland than in most other countries.
Additionally, most University research is funded by government bodies and some charities, not by the profit-making technical sector. Granted, there are exceptions, but I am speaking generally. As chemgoddess said earlier in this thread - if you want to earn money, get a job.