Differences in development of scientific identity between industrial and academic PhD students

Abstract

Industrial PhD students are enrolled in PhD education at a university while typically having their main place of work at an external partner. This report explores similarities and differences in development of scientific identity between industrial and traditional PhD students through interviews with six supervisors with ample experience of supervising both industrial and traditional PhD students. 

The supervisors all agree that there is a huge variability between industrial PhD students, more so than traditional ones. Even so, industrial PhD students often develop a wider set of skills (referred to by one supervisor as double scientific identities), whereas traditional PhD students tend to be more focussed. The dual environments are generally seen as beneficial by the supervisors.