Question: Does working in the public or private sector as a scientist have any significant impact on your career?

Robert Bowles answered on 21 Nov 2014:

Many people move back and forth between both the public and private sector quite regularly in science. I’ve working in both. They can be very different though. Working as a private sector scientist you tend to be more commercially focussed, solving a particular problem or developing a new product for your customers. And you need to get your product or service to market as quick as you can. Your research can sometimes be narrow as a result of this.
In the public sector this may not be the case. You may have the chance to research something for more holistic reasons, ie. looking at climate change or studying the environment, but the funding may not be as good and you may need to keep having to reapply for funding. Your research publication record, ( how much of your research ends up in scientific journals for others to read) is more important in the public sector. Often if you work in the private sector your research is kept secret by the company you work for as it might be commercially sensitive.