A bridge over troubled water. The difficult crossing from academia to the `real world´ of industry

Addresses the integration of junior scientists and technologists in industry and briefly reports some of the findings of a major survey conducted in Portugal among doctoral students and newly graduated PhDs. This paper examines career prospects and assesses the extent to which postgraduates are receptive to a job in industry. The findings show that postgraduates generally feel they are over-qualified for most jobs in Portuguese industry. Their reluctance to pursue a career in industry depends mainly on their attitudes towards science and towards academic values and academic ways of doing things. Their receptiveness to a career in industry also depends on how they feel about getting involved in activities usually associated with the business environment, such as management and production-related activities. Implications for the individuals, the business organizations and the educational system are explored