As with research jobs in industry, those in government are difficult to generalize. Jobs for scientists and engineers exist in government research labs or departments and in areas such as policy and management. These jobs exist at the federal, state, and local levels. With the current push to downsize the federal government, many believe opportunities at the city, local, and state government levels will increase, while federal opportunities will decrease.

Being a government scientist differs from being a scientist employed by a university or private research facility. Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, former chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), once described the difference as a trade-off.

"Government scientists," she said, "perform research that is relevant to the missions of their agencies. While this research may still be in areas of fundamental science, the agency must be able to envision an eventual societal benefit and may sometimes require the individual to direct his or her inquiries in a certain field. In return for this, government scientists are granted certain freedoms, most notably a certainty that they will indeed be employed in research."

Dr. Steve McCormick, a research physiologist with the National Biological Service of the U..S Department of the Interior, agrees. "Certainly, a characteristic that differentiates government research jobs from jobs in academia is not always needing to write grants to secure funding. But, on the down side, you don't have the freedom to pursue your real research interests because you're often constrained by the agency needs."

McCormick adds that the emphases of government agencies change as the government responds to changing research needs. He cites the NIH as a symbol of success in government-sponsored research. "The core mission of NIH has remained the same over the years, but individual focus areas and priorities change all of the time. This is necessary and important."

In addition to his government position, McCormick has an affiliation with a university, a combination he considers a real benefit. Such an affiliation, which can involve teaching and advising students, is generally feasible for government researchers and is fairly common.

Dr. Alexander Shor is a program director in the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Ocean Sciences Division, where he manages funds that will be distributed through NSF's research grant programs. Because federal government is in a down-sizing trend, Shor doesn't see career growth in his field, though he does see increasing opportunities for scientists to serve in temporary positions, something he recommends. If working at a federal research agency is something that interests you, Shor suggests getting research and/or teaching experience in that specialty before planning to shift into the funding realm.