The academic world is being shaken by an unprecedented migration of young life scientists.

Rayyan Gorashi is still considering her choices. She's still a second-year Ph.D. bioengineering student at UC San Diego, after all, and there are a ton of professional options to choose. Since a college course she took, patent law has been at the top of her list of priorities. Regulation-related matters are another. Additionally, science publication sounds intriguing.

The 24-year-old can picture working a lot of different occupations. Except for one, that is.

"I knew going into graduate school that I didn't want to work in academics. As sad as it is, the system is harsh and does not benefit those who are not systematically favored, according to Gorahi, a daughter of immigrants from Sudan who earns just $36,000 year. A third of the cost of an on-campus housing is rent.

It's not just her. Unprecedented numbers of young life science researchers are quitting their academic positions in favor of attractive careers in industry. Many of them, like Gorashi, are attending graduate schools with the knowledge that they do not intend to work in academia for an extended period of time, turning their time in the ivory tower into a pit stop rather than their ultimate goal.