How real is it to become a "formal" researcher (that is someone holding some research position) after earning a PhD at the age of 40? Sometimes it so happens that people discover their true interest only later in life. But because society is used to follow certain established patterns, it may be difficult for such people to readjust their lives. I believe there exist certain biases or prejudices about what people are supposed to do at a certain age, which may hinder one's path socially, emotionally, as well as professionally.
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2Don't worry, I got my PhD when I was 37 (am 40 now) and doing okay – Apr 25 '17 at 07:27
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@Saturnus Are you a postdoc? – sequence Apr 25 '17 at 07:28
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research fellow, independent researcher, author among other things – Apr 25 '17 at 07:29
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@Saturnus I mean can you be considered a "formal" researcher, as per my definition above? – sequence Apr 25 '17 at 07:36
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2of course you can - my PhD supervisor (now a Professor) got his post doc at 43 years old – Apr 25 '17 at 07:39
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4and yes, I am a 'formal' researcher – Apr 25 '17 at 07:45
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something else to consider - postdoc is not the 'be all, end all' of being a formal researcher. – Apr 25 '17 at 08:46
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@Saturnus One can also be a professor, as per my understanding. Also, from what I've read, postdocs usually earn less than professors. – sequence Apr 25 '17 at 09:13
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@Saturnus I don't get that sentence. Of course postdoc is not that. Pretty much by definition of a postdoc in fact. – Tobias Kildetoft Apr 25 '17 at 11:02
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1Just so you are aware OP, places like this are not conducive to "uncomfortable truths". Academia in general is not really conducive to uncomfortable truths... – Wetlab Walter Apr 25 '17 at 17:32
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@WetlabWalter Can you please elaborate? – sequence Apr 25 '17 at 18:22
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It depends a lot on the field you are in. In some fields, almost everyone who ends up being a professor has had a previous career outside academia. An example is education where your previous background will be considered a plus and there is no stigma attached to being older.
But there are also fields where yours would be a very uncommon career trajectory and where people have the perception that researchers' best contributions come when they are still young. Mathematics would be an example. In these fields, you will probably have a harder time finding a career as a researcher in academia, though I suspect that it makes little difference if you are going for an industrial research position.
Wolfgang Bangerth
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Do you mean that it would also be a harder time finding a career as an industrial research mathematician or that it would be less hard and there would be little difference with an academic position? – sequence Apr 25 '17 at 18:25
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I think that industry cares more well-educated, productive employees who have the experience to work in groups on projects. Whereas research universities seem to place more emphasis on "promise", "brilliance", etc. I suspect that industry would value any previous experience you have, where at universities it may get in the way more than help. – Wolfgang Bangerth Apr 25 '17 at 21:30