• Question: do you get a lot of money for reaserch if so how much

    Asked by denhamal08 to Pete, Rebecca, SallyB, Sally, Sian on 15 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Sally Barber

      Sally Barber answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      After I finished my undergraduate degree at university I decided to do a PhD and during this time I got paid very little (about £8000/year). This was pretty tough since all of my friends who had graduated at the same time as me were getting paid much much more. Now I get paid about £30,000 which is a reasonable wage and it will (hopefully) go up as I get more experienced in what I do. No one I know in research earns loads of money but it’s enough. I don’t think the type of research I do is ever going to earn me millions and I love my job so I wouldn’t do anything else.

      p.s I’m hoping to win the lottery – just need to remember to buy a ticket!

    • Photo: Peter Styring

      Peter Styring answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      Not nearly enough. The last government really pulled a lot of money out of research. Let’s hope the new coalition government realises to be a successful nation you need to invest in science. If it doesn’t we’ll find many scientists and engineers moving abroad to the US and Europe where they are more valued.

    • Photo: Sian Lawson

      Sian Lawson answered on 14 Jun 2010:

      Research is expensive – with the biggest cost being employing people, followed by the equipment. Typically I’d apply for around half a million for a medium sized study over three years, but grants can go up to many millions. Unfortunately you don’t get to keep the money!

      If you meant how much do I get paid – around £50,000.

    • Photo: Rebecca Randell

      Rebecca Randell answered on 15 Jun 2010:

      I get enough to have a comfortable life. I love shopping and buying new clothes so I have to be careful how much I spend and make sure i don’t go too often. I’m quite good a budgeting my money and making sure I have enough to get things that I need. Being a scientist is all about the money though, i think i speak for most people when i say that we are scientists because we love it not for how much it pays.

    • Photo: Sally Fenton

      Sally Fenton answered on 15 Jun 2010:

      I don’t unfortunately because I am still a research student…I have enough to be able to do what I want to do like go shopping and go out with friends when I want to but I’m not anywhere near having enought money to buy a house or anything lik that! I have just bought my first car (for £300!) but thats about as expensive as it gets! Some scientists do get paid quite alot of money..especially sport scientists who work as consultants for top sports people (they could be their sport psyhilogist or nutritionist)! I hope to be one of those one day!

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