Rethinking the Career Landscape for Nicotine and Tobacco Trainees and Early Career Professionals

Unprecedented economic, scientific, technological, and social changes have made it necessary to reevaluate the type of career tracks available to trainees and early career scientists and clinicians. The impact of these changes on science-related career tracks has been discussed more generally in recent years,1,2 but less so with respect to nicotine and tobacco science. The goal of the present commentary is to reflect on our collective experiences as early career nicotine and tobacco scientists working in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands to provide information, resources, and additional considerations for trainees and early career scientists navigating careers in nicotine and tobacco science. We have identified four key developments that have affected career planning in nicotine and tobacco science, and each is discussed in greater detail in the following sections: (1) employment opportunities, (2) economic and financial challenges, (3) scientific and regulatory environments, and (4) clinical and social environments.