Career Prospect of Robotics PhD

[iwantphd]

Hi, so I am in contact with my professor in NTU Singapore for a dual PhD program. Basically you spend two years here and two years in CMU and get two PhD degrees in the end (funded), in robotics/mechanical engineering. I will just skip the interest/motivation part, I am keen. But I am rather worried about job prospect after PhD, more and more PhDs are coming up and it seems that job opportunities can't cope with it. Do you guys think its worthy to take up the scholarship? Personally, I think the bright point is the CMU degree. Anyone knows how top school PhDs are doing nowadays on average?

Please feel free to comment. Thanks in advance!

[starmaker]

I don't know how top school PhDs are doing, but as a current job-hunter in, among other things, robotics, I can assure you that there are job opportunities in robotics right now for people with advanced degrees.

[beanbagchairs]

If PhD is want you want, then go get it... Dont get a phd for a better job prospect (unless you want to obtain a professorship, then phd is a must), because the job prospect after phd is, uh oh, uncertain..

With that being said, I dont think anyone can resist the "charm" of a graduate from ***CMU*** and to a lesser extent, NTU. It will be more true if you manage to have great pubs..

Some people can only dream of going to CMU, so.. yeah make the best of it..

cheers

[Golden Monkey]

Do you guys think its worthy to take up the scholarship?

I'm just going to answer that part with "yes."

[meche]

the industry in which a PhD will help you out *the most* versus a BS or MS is robotics. Both in finding a job, and actual work.

Just intern at robotics companies if possible and make sure you study what you actually want to work on.

[matchalatte]

I am in the same situation as iwantphd. I am offered the NTU-CMU dual PhD program. At the same time, I have a funded offer from UMN as well.

The specific area of research is control engineering.

As for the prospect, I believe CMU has a very good reputation in robotics. But having spent only half of the program (2 years out of 4) in CMU, will it somehow cause any disadvantage?

Would a full UMN PhD or an NTU-CMU dual PhD be better?

Thanks!