I 2nd this question. I'm all for hating on universities, i work at a big one, but pretty hard for Thiel to create a comparable ecosystem for those fellows in it for long-haul scientific pursuits.
I do think that the Fellowship can be an interesting venue for young scientists to explore the cracks between basic science and industrial progress. A grounded student with a clever project can make good use of the fellowship understanding what it takes to bring that project closer to the real world.
Translational science can seem rather opaque, and being thrust into that world without a ramp to learn is hard.
I definitely don't see the fellowship as a substitute for a proper academic training in the sciences. A solid training is important; I have benefited greatly from my academic roots and support (Harvard).
In that context, the fellowship represents a supplement to my academic training, exploring the translational science that lies between basic research and commercialization.
I'm taking a detour from the traditional course of study primarily so that I can spend some of my time working in the aspects of translation that extend beyond the lab. In my biomedical field, that is everything from medical workflow to regulatory affairs to product pipelines to validation studies.
More broadly, I'm doing this exploration in the context of a tractable project that has involved both research and commercialization. It's at the intersection of my scientific interests, and is fueled by a desire to help people in a tangible way. The timing is such that it makes sense for me to dive into it full-time with my existing training.
I'm still learning many things, some in academic research settings and others in commercial settings. The fellowship simply serves to focus my limited time to the intersection of those two areas.
You bet I'll be back in academia after this, but in the meantime, taking a small bite out of cancer seems a worthy detour.
Feel free to shoot me a mail (email in profile) if you're curious.