Are you a social scientist mapping out your career trajectory?

Have you thought about exploring career opportunities in the food and agriculture industries? 

Here are some things you need to know…

• First, these aren’t your grandparents’ industries!
• Second, there is an important role for the social sciences in food and agriculture that is being increasingly recognized and valued.
• Third, align, be agile and creative. And BRAND! (yes, I said brand)

Science thinks and the public feels. It’s the work of those of us in the social sciences and humanities to help bridge the gap between science and society. Today, exciting career opportunities are opening up across industries and sectors you may not have previously associated with social science, including ones with companies like mine with Bayer. As an established academic who joined the private sector in 2014, I’ve learned a thing or two about transitioning from academia to the private sector. Here is some insider knowledge to consider as you map out your career path and consider your altac (alternative to academia) options.

What is it like to work work in the agricultural industry today?

Bayer, for example, is people-centric, focused on collaborations, and mission-driven. Today, it’s all about the data and communications. Data fluency is an important skill to have. This doesn’t mean you have to be a data scientist, it just means you have to understand that data drives the business. From a communications perspective, information and media literacy skills are also key. Especially when we consider that most people are generationally and geographically removed from the farm and food production. While companies like Bayer continue to innovate and to provide farmers with the best and most sustainable products possible, industry is also aware of the need to continuously communicate and engage with the public about agriculture and food production. It’s very easy to problematize agriculture and it is very easy to view agriculture as a villain. Believe me, from a social science perspective, there is never a dull moment. Because of that, I love the challenge of working in this industry. 

At Bayer, we focus on issues around climate change, sustainability, with a particular focus on precision and digital agriculture. There is emphasis on preserving and protecting species and habitat while also ensuring that we continue to feed a growing global population. Whether people understand it or not, this is all part of the industry bottom line – it’s the value proposition. It is expected by employees, shareholders, and the public alike. Most of us in the agriculture industry understand that agriculture has been part of problems in the past. Because of this, agriculture knows that it needs to be part of solutions going forward. We need to partner across disciplines, sectors, and geo-political and institutional boundaries to meet the grand challenges. For example, at Bayer we partner with the National Fish and Wildlife Fund, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and others to support work under the Monarch Butterfly and Pollinators Conservation Fund. Additionally, our efforts with WEMA (Water Efficient Maize in Africa), works to provide resources to smallholder farmers so that they can support their farms, families and communities. 

So, what does this mean for a social scientist like you?

In my position as Social Sciences Lead with Bayer Crop Science, I engage with social, behavioral, political scientists and experts all over the world to better understand the relationship between agriculture and society. Much of my work revolves around networking and outreach, but I also read, write literature reviews, and – of course, research and publishing those works. My work now is not much different than what it was when I was as an academic. My focus now, however, is more on convening knowledge and less on creating it. A good day for me is when I organize a panel session for a scientific conference that brings together experts across disciplines to talk about complex topics like disinformation, food production and sustainability, and public health. 

Here are some other learnings:

ALIGN: If you are like me and identify as a scholar first, know this: industry can be a lot like academia. If you join Bayer, your primary focus is on personal and professional development. Essentially, you can morph into an “intrapreneur”, mastering your destiny and building your unique role. There’s a lot of latitude here to make the job what you want it to be. You just have to make sure that your ideas and goals align with company objectives. Make the case to do work you want to do that adds value. Know your strengths, play to your strengths, and actively earn the right to run with your good ideas.

THINK ACROSS BOUNDARIES: Academia trains you to know one thing and know it incredibly well. This is what differentiates academia from the private sector experience. At Bayer, it’s less important to be an expert in a ‘thing’ (because things come and go), and more important to demonstrate ability to think across things. It will always be important to maintain and develop your connections with academia: collaborate, seek opportunities for adjunct positions, teach, mentor early career scientists, etc. What is really valued in the corporate environment, however, is your ability to take what you know and learn and to cross disciplinary, vocational, cultural, and jurisdictional boundaries. Agility and creativity are key.

BRAND. Yep, that’s what I said. BRAND. One of the greatest learnings I’ve had with this job was to ‘brand’ myself within the organization and the company. When your role or the knowledge you bring represents something “new” and “different” to an organization, it’s really important to develop and execute an internal branding strategy. Your social license to operate within the company and outside of it depends on well-thought out strategies:

1. Work with colleagues to develop a comprehensive and flexible work plan.
2. Share your vision, evangelize it.
3. Continuously share who you are, what you do, and how that brings value to the organization.
4. Seek creative ways to equip others so that they can advocate on your behalf.

The agriculture industry is an incredibly dynamic and innovative one with plenty of opportunity for individuals from multiple disciplines. For social scientists, like you and me, it’s no different. As you map out your career trajectory, I invite you to keep opportunities in the private sector on your radar. And reach out … I’d love to chat with you!

Twitter: @CamiDRyan, Instagram: @CamiDRyan, Facebook: CamiDRyan, PhD, TikTok: @InformationWrangler, Camiryan.com

#socialsciences #MyLinkedInStory #AltAc #privatesector #careeropportunities

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STEM Job Talk. STEM Job Talk – Cami Ryan, UC San Diego Neurosciences Graduate Program, June 2021.

Ryan, Cami “So, you want to work in industry? Here’s what you need to know.” Pre-conference Workshop: Private and Public Sector Employment Opportunities: Thinking Outside the Box, Agriculture and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) Conference, July 31, 2021.

Ryan, Cami. “Monsanto was a strange land and I was strange in it.” LinkedIn post. September, 2018.

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Health Sciences Library. “Altac (Alternative Academic) Careers: What is Altac?”

Polk, Jennifer and L. Maren Wood. “Preparing for a Nonfaculty Job.” Inside Higher Ed. August 2018.