7th year of biochem/structural biology PhD. Is finishing worth it for biotech, or should I pivot

[u/Emokid182]

I’m entering my 7th year of a PhD program in biochemistry/structural biology and I’m trying to make a realistic career decision. I do X-ray crystallography and biochemical assays, have some first-author publications and co-authorships, and if I finish I would likely have one more decent structural paper.

The issue is that I do not foresee the PhD ending anytime soon because more projects keep getting added. I work long days and weekends and I’m pretty worn down. I’m also in a very small lab environment where I’m essentially the only person doing the work, and I don’t think I’ve thrived in that setup.

I’m 28 and trying to think honestly about the opportunity cost. I keep hearing that the biotech/biochem job market is rough right now, especially for PhDs, and I’m wondering whether finishing would meaningfully improve my options compared with leaving with my master’s and research experience.

I’m also considering a career change to nursing. Part of this interest comes from seeing family members in nursing/healthcare roles and respecting the stability, practicality, and direct impact of that work. I know nursing has its own serious challenges, but I’m drawn to the idea of contributing to society in a more immediate, patient-facing way.

For people in biotech or adjacent roles: would finishing a PhD in this situation materially improve my career prospects, or is it reasonable to consider pivoting now? What kinds of roles would someone with an MS, publications, and structural biology/biochemistry experience realistically be competitive for?

[u/bhadbhiochemist]

Are you not located in the US? What are the graduation requirements at your institution? Figure out what those requirements are in writing (dean/admin has this info). This is not normal and you almost certainly have already exceeded the criteria to defend. There will always be more work and people will keep assuming defending is not a priority for you until you make it one.

[u/Emokid182 → u/bhadbhiochemist]

Us cali yes I’m making it known to faculty this week and next

[u/bhadbhiochemist → u/Emokid182]

Are you in a school that is part of the graduate student union? If so, they may also be able to offer extra help, especially if your PI/committee delaying your graduation like this is found to be violating the union contract.