<p>Just curious, is it possible to work for a university as a researcher without being a student or professor? My brother told me that it may be possible.</p>
<p>If so, what are the qualifications required to work as a researcher? Would a Bachelors degree be enough? Could I research whatever I want or do I need to do research according to what my boss tells me to do?</p>
<p>It would be another possible avenue to explore for me and I would prefer to do some kind of research related to aviation since I am knowledgeable in aviation and have a Bachelors degree in Aviation Administration.</p>
<p>Leading your own research you generally need either to be a professor, or to be working in a commercial or government lab. There are postdoc positions in STEM where you are doing research all the time (as part of your boss’s project), but these are generally seen as short term roles between getting your PhD and getting an academic job. Permanent tech jobs may be possible without a PhD, but would not normally involve independent research. Doing the PhD is basically your training as a researcher.</p>
<p>Non-STEM subjects may also have soft money grants from the government for research projects - that is, the money doesn’t come from university funds directly, but the researchers are all paid from that grant money. The lead person at least is again almost certainly going to need a PhD, and you would be employed for that specific research project.</p>
<p>Talk to your professors about possible careers in research and what route they would advise. </p>