Questions tagged [early-career]
On issues affecting academics or researchers specifically in the early stages of their careers.
13
votes
3answers
4k views
How should I avoid being in the shadow of my PhD advisor after I have my own faculty position?
I would like to receive some feedback from the community about the following situation.
I have a permanent position as associate professor in an institution for some years now (3). This institution ...
2
votes
1answer
204 views
Does it look bad to have a PhD thesis unrelated to the rest of future research?
The short version of my question is: will it be perceived negatively to have a PhD thesis unrelated to the rest of my future research or work?
For more context, I currently hold a bachelor's degree ...
7
votes
3answers
339 views
How does doing a PhD with a pre-determined project vs. formulating your own affect your later career?
Between
Doing a PhD by joining a predetermined research problem
Doing a PhD by formulating one's own research problem
is it possible to say that option #1 is a more advantageous choice in terms of ...
3
votes
1answer
205 views
Risking declining a postdoc offer for a potentially better one
I have an offer of a good postdoc that I have until the end of tomorrow to accept or decline. It's a 2 year post at a decent UK institution, working on interesting applied interdisciplinary work. I ...
1
vote
1answer
98 views
Can a faculty on a 12-month appointment apply for grants?
I'm wondering if a 12-month appointed faculty (mainly teaching but also research duty, R1 university in the US) is allowed to pay him/herself from grants (especially NSF or NIH). I heard that they may ...
5
votes
1answer
172 views
How not to forget things we learned?
I have been a postdoc for many years now in a theoretical field. Thus, while progress in my career has been slow, I am not without experience. There is one particular thing that I feel keeps limiting ...
9
votes
2answers
948 views
Switching fields within biomedical sciences between PhD and postdoc?
I'm almost finished at my PhD, and I am currently looking for postdoc opportunities. My current field is quite a small one (a rare disease), and consequently all the postdoc positions I've found so ...
1
vote
1answer
96 views
When should I get business cards and how much do they actually matter as a graduate student who has not yet built up their CV?
Context: I am a graduate student within the social sciences, who will be obtaining their Master's degree on their way to Ph.D. (hopefully by the end of this academic year). Though I have not yet ...
112
votes
9answers
36k views
Googling my name reveals silly things from when I was younger. I am embarassed. How will this affect me in my future academic career?
I am a masters student at one of the top two universities in the UK and will be applying for PhD positions soon. When I google my (unique) name, the first few results are what you'd expect, my ...
6
votes
1answer
328 views
My supervisor is trying to “steal” my collaborators: what can I do?
I work as a postdoc in Prof. X's research group. I have my own funding and work on my own topics, which are related to X's interests. X is an expert in experimental work and I do simulations, on which ...
0
votes
1answer
71 views
What is Wise to Study For a Successful Career Outside of Academia? [closed]
Next year I will be starting an MS program in the Computer Science department (I have come from a grad-prep program). I have "learned" C++, C, Java, assembly, CS math, and OS.
When I enter this ...
3
votes
4answers
528 views
Disappointed about Academia [duplicate]
I was a first-year PhD student but was forced to quit although hard-working day and night! I am disappointed, I am now 27 and did not create family, left my home country. Problems from the past in my ...
4
votes
4answers
169 views
Accepted conference paper but changing job before the conference
I am a researcher at a company C and I'm going to submit a paper as main author in the next few days for a conference next spring. The thing is, I applied to a University U for a PHD and still waiting ...
5
votes
5answers
463 views
Alternative to PhD?
As a bachelors student in mathematics, I took various courses in Algebra, Analysis, Number Theory, Geometry and Topology. I am pretty much interested in every field and I don't want to specialize in a ...
2
votes
1answer
172 views
Supervisor complaining about research work is slow and not doing anything properly. Is it possible to continue with him for long?
I am about to finish my first year of MS leading to Ph.D. Our team works on cable Robotics. At first, when I joined prof asked me to do a computer vision problem of tracking. I spent 5 months to do ...
-1
votes
2answers
226 views
When it is wrong to pursue a PhD degree? [closed]
I finished medical school, and then residency, and wanted to pursue a career in medicine. Due to certain experiences, I'm now shifting into the public-health field, doing a master of public health.
...
8
votes
8answers
3k views
From a financial standpoint, how much more can I expect to earn after my degree? [closed]
While certainly there is value to learning something you are passionate about, one might also have to consider the finnacial responsibilities after college. Thankfully for me, what I am passionate ...
1
vote
1answer
111 views
I want to pursue topics from different fields (pure math,CS) as a researcher. Which one to choose for my PhD? [closed]
My background: I have two master degrees in pure math and applied CS. I am interested in working in both areas, and there are certain topics in each area (extensions of my -completely different- two ...
0
votes
0answers
106 views
Confidence issues
I ended up having a mad rush to submit anything within my registration deadline, and this resulted in the submission of an incomplete thesis with unacceptable formatting, broken figure captions and ...
4
votes
2answers
430 views
How to ask a, probably angry, PhD supervisor for a letter of recommendation after graduation from uni?
I was on good terms with my PhD supervisor throughout my studies. After graduation, I gave a talk at a symposium and my PhD supervisor was in the audience. I was planning to add a few sentences of ...
0
votes
1answer
85 views
Potential academic career in very different fields
There's this question about doing research in two very different fields, but my question is somewhat different. I have serious academic interests in two very different fields: one in computer science/...
6
votes
1answer
469 views
Does being unemployed after a PhD reflect poorly on my advisor?
I successfully defended this spring, and made it clear about a year prior that I would not be continuing in academia, with the goal of switching fields and entering the workforce. As part of this, I ...
3
votes
2answers
206 views
Seeking advice on if it is worth staying in my PhD program [closed]
Background: In school in USA, US citizen, male 26. Have B.S. in chemistry, and another in applied math & stats (but my main focus was chemistry), from reasonably good public school. After ...
7
votes
1answer
251 views
Is it reasonable to say I'm not happy at my current position at interviews?
I am working as a research fellow at a University in UK. Its a two year contract with no chance of extension or renewal. Although I have 1 year left, I have considered not staying for the second year, ...
7
votes
2answers
329 views
How to understand if it's the moment to become a team leader?
I am finishing my first postdoc in computer science, and I have to make a decision about what I want to do next.
I have basically two options:
Try to get a new position as a senior postdoc or junior ...
6
votes
2answers
296 views
type of experience required for masters
I graduated from university last year with a bachelors degree in Mechatronics Engineering. Good learning and GPA is quite good. I have planned to do a Masters degree from the US next fall with a focus ...
2
votes
0answers
116 views
Is it possible to get PhD in Statistics for an actuary?
The question is pretty straightforward.
I'm an actuary with a bachelor and a master degree in actuarial science. I have already worked in the insurance industry, I have programming experience and ...
5
votes
3answers
412 views
When should I begin publishing?
I am finishing my Master's degree in Mathematics and will be enrolled in a PhD program in the U.S. starting from fall. In my country (Russia) we have thesis as a mandatory requirement for all degrees (...
45
votes
8answers
16k views
Career prospects in theoretical physics after nightmare PhD
I will try to keep this as short and concise as possible.
I am a 3rd year PhD student in theoretical physics (condensed matter theory) in a US university. I worked for a certain professor for a year ...
13
votes
2answers
691 views
What is the most accepted time for a pre-tenure move?
I am a second-year assistant professor who is hoping to make a pre-tenure move to a school/location that is better for my family. It is not a situation where my current department is bad or toxic, but ...
4
votes
1answer
382 views
Is it normal that a PhD supervisor requires a student to apply for a grant?
I'm a 1st year computer science PhD student in Poland, who started about 6 months ago. I'm working on a nice project towards a publication. My supervisor recently made an ultimatum: either I will ...
10
votes
2answers
269 views
How to find enjoyment in teaching being a research oriented professional?
I have recently (one year ago) started work in academia as an assistant professor or a lecturer in NZ system. We don't have tenure track system which is great. I was wondering how long does it take ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
After PhD, no support from PhD supervisor
I am writing here to get good advice for my career. I completed my PhD in Mathematics last year. I was quite happy after my PhD that I have gained a PhD degree, but I don't have any idea what I could ...
1
vote
2answers
126 views
During a UG physics degree , what other certificate/diploma courses can i simultaneously pursue which would be of use in a physics career?
During a UG physics degree , what other certificate/diploma courses can i simultaneously pursue which would be of use in a physics career ?
I hear many colleges offer such optional courses along with ...
4
votes
1answer
178 views
Should startup-company founder accept peer-review requests?
I'm a relatively recent graduate putting together a startup company, and I've just received an offer to peer-review a paper for a reputable journal.
As with prior questions on SE.Academia, e.g.
As a ...
7
votes
1answer
530 views
Is there any valid reason why we should NOT reduce the number of PhD offers? [closed]
DISCLAIMER
I am about to complete my Ph.D. (< 2 m.).
I had a very busy advisor, brilliant and intelligent, but acting as an ‘obstacle’ rather than an ‘incentive’ to complete the thesis (...
4
votes
6answers
521 views
To what extent will your choice of PhD topic restrict your career?
Obviously, if you choose to either do a PhD in English literature, or in mathematics, this choice will heavily determine the possible career paths you can later take.
But to what extent does the ...
5
votes
2answers
257 views
Career Suggestion: Should I try to improve my manuscript or try to increase paper count after submitting PhD thesis
I am a PhD student in Applied Mathematics. I submitted my Phd thesis and starting to apply for postdoc positions.
In my PhD thesis I have one work published in a tier 1 math journal and the other two ...
53
votes
7answers
8k views
In academia, does the amount of material that one has to learn diminish as time progresses?
From my own point of view, the first year of a PhD is heavily packed with new information, theory, techniques, conventions, experimental abilities, etc. Let us call all these elements "material". This ...
1
vote
0answers
22 views
What are the best avenues for employment for a new Doctor of Management Information Systems Technology?
I will have my degree soon. I am waiting for QRF approval and preparing for my Oral Defense. Suddenly I feel a bit unsure about how I will make this degree pay for itself. I am not sure that my ...
8
votes
4answers
453 views
Does all computer science research involve heavy usage of mathematics?
I am starting my graduate studies in computer science this year and am confused as to what quality research (some new innovation or discovery) domain I would choose specifically amongst virtualization,...
66
votes
10answers
11k views
Stay in academia or become professor without overworking, is it possible?
I am referring more to young scientists after the PhD than professors, although I am also wondering about people with a stable position.
I see many people overworking themselves, burning-out, being ...
8
votes
1answer
337 views
How much the region you get your PhD is important to your career path?
I am about to make an important decision for my career. I have a good PhD position (fully funded with a good stipend) in East Asia. The university is one of the top 50 in my subject, which is ...
-5
votes
1answer
194 views
How long to get confidence in writing a decent academic paper? [closed]
I am an early-career scientist within the applied physical sciences. I have got good ideas that I want to explore, but it is really difficult for me to decide how much analysis is needed for a decent ...
4
votes
1answer
304 views
Does it make sense to accept an early career identity in academic publishing?
There are multiple academic competitions developed for young researchers. Some of them make perfect sense to me, e.g. a prize for the best poster at a conference. But there are cases when special ...
24
votes
6answers
4k views
Advisor pushing for dead end topics
I am new to this forum. I am encountering a problem in my doctoral studies that I haven't been able to find in an existing thread so I wanted to ask here. Any advice on how to navigate this would be ...
4
votes
2answers
182 views
The route for a 2nd year physics PhD student to have a career as a data scientist
I am a 2nd year PhD student in physics. Tenure-track positions are highly competitive and I do not love research enough to pursue it as a life career. Since I like programming and playing with data, I ...
1
vote
1answer
246 views
Loss of perspective after short-term postdoc [closed]
I'm a physicist and I might have figured out too late that I really like research, even if it hurts. I had a tough PhD, during which I worked in isolation on a new technique. I didn't publish along ...
3
votes
0answers
331 views
What is the advantage of having a 'doctor europaeus' certified doctorate degree? [duplicate]
Universities in European Union countries have the possibility of issuing a PhD degree that is certified as "doctor europaeus" if the PhD student fulfills a certain list of 4 requirements, although ...
5
votes
2answers
2k views
What is expected in my academic CV as a new PhD student?
I just started my PhD a few months back after completing a MSc. I've been asked for a CV but I don't know what to put in it, and various templates are hard to use because:
I don't have any papers nor ...
