Gap Year Help

[bob_the_builder]

Industry R&D for Gap Years

Hi everyone, I was curious on how admissions committees view industry/government research and development. I'm a disadvantaged student who recently got the opportunity to participate in a scholarship that awards full tuition + a stipend for up to 4 years in exchange for 1:1 DoD contractor work. It requires security clearance which may limit my ability to discuss research specifics. Has anyone done research gap years in industry rather than academia? How might it be viewed by admissions committees? It's a pretty good experience from what I've gathered so far. Thanks in advance!

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[Mr.Smile12]

Welcome to the forums.

I'm hoping some of the APSA folks and faculty here can comment on it. I would encourage you to look into it; it's definitely a different culture, but I'm sure people would be very interested in what you could share. You might be the next Oppenheimer. 😉

 

[Fencer]

It depends on the job type that you do in industry. Are you actually doing research in your contractor work? I understand the difficulty discussing specifics, but I have seen several successful interviewees describing their research at a very high level (i.e.: compound A does this, etc.)

 

[bob_the_builder]

Welcome to the forums.

I'm hoping some of the APSA folks and faculty here can comment on it. I would encourage you to look into it; it's definitely a different culture, but I'm sure people would be very interested in what you could share. You might be the next Oppenheimer. 😉

Thanks! Maybe I could be, but I would hope it would be in a more defensive capacity!

It depends on the job type that you do in industry. Are you actually doing research in your contractor work? I understand the difficulty discussing specifics, but I have seen several successful interviewees describing their research at a very high level (i.e.: compound A does this, etc.)

From what I have gathered, my role would actually be doing applied research which is also hypothesis-driven. I may be able to speak towards specific processes, developed skills and broader research topics, however specific objectives and outcomes may be considered sensitive i.e. if a countermeasure to a nerve agent was successfully developed or not, which process was observed, etc. Publications would be wildly unlikely as well.
I'm thinking it would be okay considering general advice about what admissions committees want to see from applicants.

 

[Fencer]

One key element would be the recommendation letter from a PhD supervisor. That would be critical. Would you be having access to that?

 

[bob_the_builder]

One key element would be the recommendation letter from a PhD supervisor. That would be critical. Would you be having access to that?

Yes, more likely than not. Most assigned supervisors/mentors are seasoned in academia or industry and have a PhD in a relevant field.

 

[Fencer]

Then, it should not be much of a problem... Do the best with the opportunities that are available to you. Just keep in mind that the NIH is restarting the Post-Bac program again, and that is possibly a better PAID choice of experience than what you are describing (sure, it also depends upon your ability to move to Bethesda). If you need, PM me...