When someone asks "which is better: academic or government research?" the answer is usually "it depends." However, I imagine that if the question was posed to doctoral candidates in the life or biomedical sciences, the majority would likely respond that academia would serve them better than any other career path. When asked to describe their thoughts about government research, they might respond that the facilities are not as glamorous or that everything moves at a slower pace, and perhaps they are right. But of course there are other differences as well.

What follows is a brief description of my observations in academic and government research settings in several areas that are of interest to researchers. This perspective is aimed at life or biomedical scientists and makes the assumption that academic researchers enter the field because they want to become full-fledged professors and federal researchers join the government because they want to establish a solid career in public service through science. 
 
Research Aims:

Academia is the place to be for those who like to let their imaginations run wild, to contemplate and explore all the possibilities in the biological universe. The extent to which the output of the research produces tangible benefit to a societal need depends on several factors, including the practicality of the discovery, whether the investigators have plans to translate the research, and whether the potential benefits of the work is recognized. Of course there is also a lot of research that focuses on improving current processes as well as applied research programs that try to solve existing problems, and these contribute a great deal to the direct benefit of society. But underlying most academic research is the fundamental end goal of publishing novel discoveries and results to add to the repository of scientific knowledge. For many, it is simply “publish or perish.”

The research aims of a federal department such as Health and Human Services (which includes NIH, CDC, and FDA among others) is geared specifically to understand, diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases that impact public health or protect the public from the potential harm found in consumer goods. The focus and resources are usually directed toward current issues that need to be addressed in order to protect and promote the welfare of the public. For example, when there is a pandemic (H1N1, HIV, etc.), food-borne outbreak (salmonella, E. Coli, etc.), or consumer health threat (contaminated heparin, pet food, and drugs, etc.), these agencies are the first to be called on and are usually asked to analyze and produce scientific data to direct response efforts. The goal is typically to “cure” or “protect” using applied research approaches while publishing along the way. The NIH, however, is very similar to academic institutions with its excellent basic research programs.

Research Funding:

The constant battle for funding, and the need to establish a reputation, makes academic research very competitive in nature. There are limited dollars to go around and the average age for a principal investigator (PI) to get his/her first major grant is now above 40 years. Since funding is what keeps an investigator above water, a great deal of time goes into coming up with novel research ideas which then must be very skillfully translated into a well-written grant application. There is certainly a high level of pressure and stress that is associated with having to rely on grants to fund your own work (and perhaps even your salary). If grant funding is not forthcoming, then PIs are at the mercy of the university or department for support.
In the federal research arena, seeking outside funding through grants still applies, but the importance of winning grants is less critical and generally there will be some level of support awarded by Congress in the fiscal budget for research. The big question is always "how much?" and whether the amounts provided can adequately support the projects you have in mind. The ability to illustrate how your research contributes to mission-critical goals of an agency will go a long way in procuring financial support. NIH is the primary beneficiary and contributor of funds pertaining to life science and biomedical research, so PIs at NIH should have ample funding opportunities.
  
Fulfillment:

If your sense of fulfillment is measured by the number of publications in high-impact scientific journals, novel discoveries that could result in the start up of companies (leading to much financial reward), or becoming a professor, then an academic research setting is the place for you. Scientific breakthroughs that we hear about in the press and many of the technological and medical treatment advances in our society come from basic research programs conducted in academic institutions, and practical discoveries can be licensed out to companies or be the basis for new companies. As a professor, you would hold the noble responsibility of fostering the creation of new knowledge within the scientific/medical community and grooming the next generation of young scientists.

If your idea of fulfillment is to serve as an official who can impact the passage of guidance, policy, and regulations, then federal service is the path for you. Your level of recognition would depend on whether you are in the public eye, perhaps as a member of a scientific team charged with handling a major crisis or passing a major initiative, person of interest testifying to Congress or interacting with elected officials, or representative of the government in public forums. Your research will not be conducted in a vacuum simply as an intellectual exercise, but may affect how practices, policies, and regulations are modified or created.
 
Communication:

In academic and federal research settings alike, there is a lot of freedom for individuals to propagate their scientific work in the form of manuscripts, presentations at conferences, and other venues. Academicians usually have the choice to freely communicate any message of their liking, whether the message is mainstream, controversial, or adversarial. A federal employee represents the government and is under the purview of Freedom of Information Act. As a result, extreme care must be taken to ensure that what is said or written is clear and not inappropriate because it can show up on the front page of the Washington Post the next day with negative consequences. Internally, structures such as scheduled lab meetings and one-on-one discussions between PIs and subordinates are similar in both environments.

Learning and Personal Development:

As an academic PI, there needs to be a high level of self-motivation to read the literature, attend conferences and seminars, and stay abreast of the newest developments so that your research plan is current, relevant, and interesting. The extent to which you learn is almost always dependent how much desire and commitment you have in your area of expertise, and this "fire" is of great importance to long-term success (as is recruiting qualified graduate students who share the same enthusiasm). A major advantage of academic institutions is the availability of state-of-the-art equipment and a wealth of scientific knowledge from which to utilize and draw upon. The ability to collaborate with other departments or schools within the university also offers many opportunities for learning, growth, and expanded research portfolios.
 
As a federal researcher, there are many learning and training opportunities as seminars or workshops spanning science/research, personal development, and government policies are regularly available. Where better to learn about grant writing than grant-writing workshops offered by NIH, or about regulations and public health than the agencies (FDA, CDC) directly responsible? The technical resources available may not be as abundant as in academic settings and the pace is typically slower in federal research labs. However, the federal research paradigm encourages and takes advantage of partnerships with external partners, and strategies such as forming collaborations with academic institutions or companies when possible can open up access to the more advanced technologies.

Overall Career Path:

To be tenured as a PI is quite an accomplishment. It has become more and more difficult as the proportion of PhDs who actually become academic PIs has decreased over the past few years. The requisite number of long hours spent working in the laboratory, writing grants, and politicking with department heads also require a lot of dedication and hard work. But there is potential for tremendous reward to those who are successful in their journey, particularly if tenure is granted and you make a name for yourself.

In federal research, striving to become a PI is really not a goal. The system is not set up to produce PIs and it would depend on many factors such as time of service, the political environment surrounding your work, a reorganization, or the retirement of a current investigator for you to have the chance at becoming a PI. Scientists in federal agencies should be content with a stable research position that offers many opportunities to move about the government and increases in responsibility through promotions that come with achievement or time of service (staff fellows, however, must also go through a tenure process for conversion to a permanent position similar to the tenure process of academics).

These views of academic and federal research are just the opinions of one person, but you can use it as a guide based on your own personal expectations and preferences for a work environment. While PhDs will have already experienced the academic setting, their impressions of government research are mainly obtained through hearsay. With an increasing number of fellowships available and a recent presidential memorandum that calls for reform of the federal hiring process to make it easier on applicants, PhDs have many opportunities to explore government research if they so desire. Ultimately, the diligent pursuit of research that you feel passionate about will increase your chances of having a satisfying career.