While earning a Ph.D. degree can open up a range of career possibilities in several different fields, most doctors tend to remain in research. However, in China, there seems to be a slight shift in attitude, with many now favoring moving out of academia into the private sector.

Yang Ying, 27, is in the final year of her Ph.D. degree in mineral engineering at Beijing's University of Science and Technology. But unlike some of her fellow doctoral students, who are just eyeing up a career in the so-called "ivory tower", Ying believes she might be better served taking a different career path.

"I have applied to more than six private and state-owned companies. I think PhDs do have their strengths. With the help of a more structured academic background, Ph.D. students have higher research abilities and a more comprehensive understanding of the industry," said Yang Ying.

And Ying certainly isn't alone. After completing his Ph.D. journey, Lou Shuqing decided to start his own business in 2017. He and a fellow doctor now run a neuro-science tech start-up that develops brain science products and AI-based technological applications that can assess and instruct people with brain-related challenges. However, he said while a Ph.D. could bring valuable skills to non-academic roles, they needed to be aware of the so-called "boffin tag," or how their strengths could suddenly turn into weaknesses.

"Sometimes, we might concentrate too much on details that may drag efficiency. Too much time might be spent on a project by looking at the detail, at the expense of ensuring the design, structure, and content are fit for purpose and suitable for end-users," said Shuqing.

Today's doctoral students are increasingly opening up to non-academic careers. Take Tsinghua University as an example: in 2018, nearly fifty percent of new PhDs chose to work at private or state-owned companies. But here comes the thing – can these companies challenge doctors in the way the Ivory Tower can, or can they really provide the resources the doctors need to make a difference?

To learn more about this, I spoke to Xu Huan, the marketing director at Chen'an technology company in Beijing, who herself is also a post-doctor. She said that with China's recent focus on creativity and innovation, the industry welcomes with open arms the so-called "X-factor," which doctors can bring to the table.

"Ph.D.s master a field of study and even advanced that field through peer-reviewed discoveries, so they are expert innovators and sophisticated problem solvers with a keen analytical sense. They can provide foresight and strategic vision for a company's development, which is very valuable for today's China," said Xu Huan.

Meanwhile, Yang Ying says she hasn't excluded the possibility of entering the ivory tower if she's not satisfied with her new line of work. But what matters the most is for them to put their unique talents to the best possible use, whether they choose an academic route or otherwise.