All Questions
1,617 questions
-2
votes
1
answer
753
views
How unusual is this case?
I learned of the following career case: a student was accepted into a PhD program (some sub-discipline of physics) with stellar grades and theses. The PhD nearly failed - normally the PhD takes four ...
- 1,033
9
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Can one go to a postdoc second time to another mathematical field after receiving a tenure track position?
A young colleague of mine got Ph.D. in mathematics in a field A. He spent one year elsewhere at a postdoc. Then he got a tenure track position at his alma mater. Meantime he realized that he better ...
- 545
4
votes
3
answers
616
views
A career in academia which is NOT being a prof?
I would like to pursue computational biophysics for PhD but I know for sure that the path of academia being a professor is NOT for me. I love modelling and simulating biological systems (even human ...
2
votes
1
answer
365
views
Industrial PhD: which doors closed?
I want to pursue a PhD in computational/numerical mathematics. I am unsure about what to do afterwards, but I am gravitating more towards industry at the moment. Although I don't want completely close ...
- 1,911
8
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Junior professorships (W1) in Germany - does the 6 year limit before start apply to all states?
I am currently a PostDoc in Germany, recently finished my PhD. I come originally from Italy where I pursued my undergraduate degree, and have completed my master's and PhD in Germany (in different ...
- 81
3
votes
1
answer
196
views
Supervision/mentorship norms and options for assistant professor
Currently I am an assistant professor in a research group of a field which is not my main field. I do have a group leader of course, but I only see him for my yearly performance evaluations. I do have ...
- 131
1
vote
2
answers
322
views
Lab is moving to a new university, what's negotiable for research faculty?
I'm research faculty (early career scholar, with more extensive professional background) with a lab at a major R1 and the PI is moving the lab to a recently upgraded R1 in a major metropolitan area. ...
- 2,500
1
vote
0
answers
247
views
Postdoctoral funding for scientists with career breaks
I've finished my PhD in pure math in October 2013, did four years of postdocs in applied math/machine learning applied to computational neuroimaging. Following that, I've worked in industry in 2018-...
- 3,452
1
vote
0
answers
129
views
Need help advising my life-science / biochem daughter on choice of major, career, and internships [closed]
My daughter will be starting her senior year of high school and plans to study a biochemistry related field in college. (Makes me wonder if biophysics might be up her alley.) She participates in the ...
- 19
2
votes
0
answers
253
views
Would an internship at a private company in India make me competitive for post-docs in the US?
I am on the verge (4-5 months) of completing my PhD in micro-scale heat transfer engineering in India. My long-term goal is to get a post-doc in the US or Europe and remain in academia long term.
I ...
- 21
2
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Project progress massively impacted and supervisor leaving university [closed]
I am a funded PhD student in the U.K working on a practise based project within the field of design, although it is at heart a multidisciplinary project.
I am currently 2.5 years in to my 3.5 year ...
- 29
20
votes
5
answers
16k
views
How should I write leaving a PhD program after 6 years on the CV?
I started my PhD in engineering in 2018 right after finishing Master's. In my 3nd year, COVID happened and I couldn't continue my research for various reasons. I tried to switch topic, but after doing ...
- 201
12
votes
5
answers
8k
views
Is there a maximum time one can hold postdoc positions between the PhD and the more permanent positions in Mathematics?
As the title suggests, I wonder for how long one can hold postdoc positions after having done the PhD (specifically Mathematics, where I am currently a finishing PhD-student). In other words; is there ...
- 1,033
13
votes
4
answers
9k
views
Including divorce in CV
Suppose a postdoc spent 3 years going through a heavy divorce but was still working full time. But it meant he didn't focus on good career development. Can and should he include this in his CV when ...
2
votes
0
answers
194
views
Can I be a "Teaching Fellow" outside of the UK?
In the UK, a Teaching Fellow is a job position which has the same basic salary level of a postdoc, but allows permanent contracts and increases of salary because of seniority or important duties and ...
- 121
5
votes
5
answers
567
views
Studying a Subject in Addition to Pure Math [closed]
I am a sophomore at a competitive university, and I have been interested in mathematics for most of my life. As a result, I decided to take up math in university. I am ahead of most other students ...
- 59
2
votes
1
answer
284
views
Jobs similar to research that don't require a PhD [closed]
I am 2 years into my experimental physics PhD and I'm considering dropping out.
The main reason for this is that I am unsure whether I want to continue in my specific field (optics and photonics). I ...
- 21
1
vote
2
answers
472
views
Is it possible to become an editor for a journal in a field you don't have research experience in?
I have a PhD in Materials Science and have published quite a bit (10 papers in >4 Impact factor journals) on surface engineering topics.
I have left academia 2 years ago and have been working as a ...
2
votes
1
answer
225
views
Can I get into a career that specialises in mathematics writing?
Ever since I learned about math writing in LaTeX, I have really enjoyed it.
Over the summer before my freshman year of college, I spent hours rewriting a few papers I had written in google docs (yes ...
- 245
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Post Doc position in USA after j-1 visa?
I don't know if this is the right section.
I am a Ph.D. student in Italy in my second year (next year, It will be the last one). I have been accepted for a research internship at Cornell from June to ...
- 121
2
votes
1
answer
438
views
Looking for a PhD but I don't know how to find an advisor and my chances of success
To begin with, I must point out two things: first, to read this post faster, you can skip directly to the questions and the paragraph before them; second, although I mention a specific field of ...
- 359
5
votes
2
answers
438
views
To Master or not to Master (again), or how do you fill a gap year?
Ph.D. Applications went wrong this year
I am currently a master's student in pure mathematics at a top university in the UK. This year I applied for PhDs across Europe and the US (10 applications), ...
- 53
0
votes
3
answers
426
views
Emailing physics department professors for a PhD position in condensed matter/ atomic and optical physics
I am currently working in the field of my undergrad study in "computational systems and microelectronics". I have pursued my graduate masters project in Quantum Transport which have gotten ...
24
votes
7
answers
9k
views
Decline promotion because of teaching load
Short version:
After spending 4 very successful years as a postdoc at a top university in Switzerland, I was offered a promotion. However, the new contract comes with a very high teaching load (75%) ...
- 343
2
votes
2
answers
204
views
Advise on selecting between Consultant Position at University Center or Postdoc in Research Institute as step for Professor of Applied Science-Germany
I am currently near the end of my postdoc position, and now have to choose for my next research job. Field of research is Computer Science and in Germany. What I have in hand is offer to work either:
...
- 23
1
vote
1
answer
172
views
Transitioning, First Name Change [duplicate]
I have begun my transition (MtF) and my PhD. This includes, once I have jumped through all the legal hoops, changing my given name. I already have a publication, its very minor, but still I would like ...
- 539
28
votes
10
answers
9k
views
I feel like I'm pursuing academia only because I want to avoid industry - how would I know I if I'm doing so? [closed]
I've posted a few questions regarding research and I'm trying to make my progress on a project more fruitful, and while the answers/comments have been quite helpful, it still doesn't seem like I am ...
- 425
0
votes
2
answers
146
views
How to maneuver publication requirements for postdoc, while being an industrial PhD?
I did a 3-year industrial PhD joint programme between a university and a company.
Working for the company, I vastly improved their technology, but got no patents in my name.
I wrote some papers, but ...
- 1,572
16
votes
9
answers
8k
views
Importance of PhD grade for future career in physics research?
I recently obtained my PhD in physics from one of the Max Planck Institutes in Germany. Unfortunately, I only barely passed with a "rite" grade (the lowest passing grade here in Germany). ...
1
vote
1
answer
413
views
I want to do a research project in Mathematics. But I am getting rejected due to no research experience. How should I proceed?
I completed my undergraduate in Mathematics in 2018 and masters degree in 2020. After that, I taught in a college for two years. I was not satisfied with my masters degree, and also was getting ...
- 43
3
votes
1
answer
611
views
Tenure positions competitiveness among schools
Below can be categorized under career questions.
I am currently a 2nd year PhD student studying PDE at a big state University. I am extremely stressed by the competitiveness in academic careers ...
23
votes
9
answers
8k
views
Are reduced working hours in a PhD a reasonable idea?
I live in Germany. I've just recently finished my M. Sc. in computer science and I'm now thinking about pursuing a PhD. I've been offered a full-time position on a topic which I'm quite interested in (...
- 241
0
votes
2
answers
196
views
Career path/growth outside of academia [closed]
The question is mostly addressed to those ho have crossed to the other side (i.e., left academia): what are the options for career growth outside of the academia?
Note that the question is not about &...
- 1,470
1
vote
1
answer
193
views
How to judge "Impact" of Early Research [duplicate]
I am an undergraduate and a soon-to-be graduate student. Basically, I am in very early stages of my research career.
I would like to know how to judge the "impact" of the research I'd be ...
- 738
0
votes
1
answer
405
views
Declining an MSCA fellowship a few months into the program for a complicated personal situation: could it impact my career
My current situation is the following:
On the positive aspects:
I am currently working in a lab "X". There, my boss is a really great person. She gives me a lot of freedom in my research ...
- 627
11
votes
5
answers
6k
views
No relevant postdocs - maybe a second PhD instead?
I am finishing PhD studies in a field of physics, and I want to do something similar (but more advanced) for a postdoc. However after browsing Linkedin, Researchgate, Nature Careers and some others, I ...
- 1,572
0
votes
0
answers
329
views
Transitioning from academia to industry
I am currently doing post doc at the University of Toronto with quite a renowned scientist and my tenure will end in the next month. I have been awarded Marie-Curie Fellowship with Research Centre (...
2
votes
1
answer
247
views
How relevant is post-graduate experience in industry for a successful and sustainable academic career?
With practical experience before and during my studies, after graduation, I took up the role of a junior research engineer in an international company (halfheartedly trying to develop some research ...
- 1,501
1
vote
2
answers
200
views
What different can I do in Computer Science other than ML and AI? [closed]
I see everyone in my university learning about machine learning and artificial intelligence. I understand they might have a genuine interest in it but is it the only subject that computer science is ...
- 11
23
votes
6
answers
7k
views
Do famous people really have the power to ruin the career of unrelated researchers?
I am a graduate student in some subdiscipline of mathematics and have had the following impressions. One of the senior faculty members (a professor) at my (not too famous) university mentioned, when ...
- 1,033
2
votes
1
answer
267
views
Should I indicate to my boss that I will not stay beyond next academic year?
I have been suffering from depression for some years now until I feel I almost want to give up on my job. I have to evaluate my mental condition year by year and keep pondering the point of time to ...
- 489
1
vote
0
answers
596
views
I have a PhD from Russia, is it realistic to find a postdoc/job in a field unrelated to my degree in the US? Should I do another MA or PhD?
As mentioned in this very good post (How) Can I switch from field X to field Y after getting my PhD?
In some cultures/fields, it is common to take a short master’s degree, summer school, or “boot ...
4
votes
1
answer
556
views
What "non-research" items belong on an academic CV (postdoc)?
Context: I'm a final-year PhD student overhauling my CV for academic postdoc and grant applications (in Europe and the US). During my MSc and PhD, I was very active in Outreach, Teaching/TAing, held ...
- 3,068
1
vote
0
answers
215
views
Postdoc v industry future [closed]
I am currently a postdoc and well aware of the 'postdoc trap' scenario, as well as biases in favour of going to industry etc. However, the situation I currently find myself in is rather peculiar so if ...
- 111
3
votes
1
answer
229
views
Are informational interviews helpful in academia?
I'm not yet on the tenure track, but would like to be. Over my 8 years of contract work at the faculty level, I've racked up a lot of accomplishments (research, teaching, collaborations, mentorship) ...
- 4,631
0
votes
1
answer
450
views
What is the difference between project leader and postdoc at Max Planck?
I can't find info on the project leader position at the Max Planck Institute. I know it is not the same as group leader. Is there a difference between project leader and postdoc at Max Planck?
- 3
4
votes
0
answers
348
views
What is satisfactory progress for a postdoc?
I am a first-year postdoc in the field of material science, and this is a new experience for me. The most difficult question here is self-evaluation.
For example, during this year I have prepared an ...
- 75
8
votes
3
answers
444
views
Whether or not move upward to better universities: What factors should be considered
Short version: For tenured professor in small and less prestigious universities.
What are the factors to be considered and balanced when
making the decision on whether or not to try hard to move to
...
- 81
23
votes
5
answers
7k
views
How to spot abusive/incompetent supervisors in advance
I would wish to have some summary advice for the specific scenario of looking for a new postdoc position and trying to avoid ending up with a terrible supervisor. Let me narrow this question down by ...
- 496
4
votes
1
answer
309
views
Choosing between a good postdoc position and an assistant professorship [closed]
I have done a PhD (mathematics) at an average university and, while absolutely loving my line of research, these years were quite unsatisfactory, for diverse reasons. While working hard, I ended up ...
- 43