Switch career track to BioInformatics
I have been interested in Bioinformatics for a long while. Have taken courses in ML and done research with universities. But I can’t really move further now without a higher degree. My PERM is just submitted, so I am probably 1-2 years away from GC. But that’s not guaranteed, especially in this economy. Should I just drop everything, go for Master degree and chase the new career path? Or that’s just too reckless? I am 25 so I still have some bandwith. It’s upsetting to keep doing something I am not passionate about. But the GC carrot is too tempting…
I know this isn't exactly what you asked, but I just wanted to throw my 2c in. Bioinformatics isn't a great career choice. It's really interesting and great for society to have people working in, but isn't as rewarding as ML or general software dev. You'll probably learn nearly as much as a CS, chem, or bio undergrad would individually only to be working under someone with a bio PhD. Since theyre an academic, credentials will matter a lot, and since they're the PI you'll be viewed as a helper and they wont think you deserve better pay or conditions than them even though your development skills could probably get 3x as much on the market for developers. This is a specific example of saying try not to join places where you are seen as a cost center, but join a place where you're viewed as the main product, you'll be treated much better. A lot of bio PhDs view bioinformaticists as their helpers at best. There are good jobs out there at some biochem companies, but generally a software dev will get paid more, work less and better hours, have more opportunities, and need a lot less knowledge, schooling, or credentialing than someone in bioinformatics even though a bioinformaticist would be capable of doing the same thing at least at entry level. Generally all this applies to ML too.
This answer is missing a lot of nuance. The field is unsolved and someone with some entrepreneurial bent can make a lot of money. People with the intersectional knowledge needed are pretty rare, and startup options can also make a lot
Maybe so, but I'd argue anyone entrepreneurial, with access to capital, and highly educated could make a lot of money in a variety of fields. That's kind of a specific case when we don't really know much about OP. So an answer lacking nuance is appropriate. I'm speaking about the general case. I've typically seen bioinformaticists looked down upon by the people with advanced bio degrees, expected to work in university research lab conditions when they could probably just drop out and make as much as the person heading their lab in a few years if they took a software job.
What are you interested in