Upon completing graduate school, young researchers often avoid experiences involving pilot plants because of preconceived biases. Pilot plant research may sometimes be perceived to be mundane, routine, or lack fundamental science. It is, however, neither mundane nor routine, but often provides opportunities to develop and exhibit personal and technical leadership at an early stage in a researcher's career. Many problems encountered in pilot plant research require either the development or the application of process fundamentals. It is through this solution process using fundamental science that a number of skill sets are developed leading to a rewarding career. Examples of these career paths will be discussed.