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I Regret Quitting Astrophysics

marcelhaas.com

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Re: I Regret Quitting Astrophysics

#61

Post by analog31 »

antognini wrote: post #53

I'm another astrophysicist who left academia for industry and this post definitely speaks to me. I wouldn't go so far as to say that I regret my decision to leave academia, but I will admit to wondering what could have been if I had stayed. After getting my PhD I had a postdoc position lined up with a professor I was excited to work with and had won the NSF astronomy & astrophysics postdoctoral fellowship. (It's not…

I studied atomic physics, graduated in the early 90s. I was extremely fortunate that both of my parents are industrial scientists (now retired), so I had good role models, and working in industry wasn't a foreign idea for me.

I've been in industry for 25+ years, with no regrets. I've told people that there's a good living to be made doing things that other people hate. In my case, I solve hard multidisciplinary problems, usually involving math and sometimes physics. Persuading people to hire me can be tricky, but persuading them to keep me is easy.

Re: I Regret Quitting Astrophysics

#62

Post by kergonath »

supernova87a wrote: post #60

Do I miss quitting astrophysics? Hmm, which do I miss? -- The once-per-year job cycle where if you don't find something you like, you have to wait another year to land your next soft money position? -- The lack of perception of fairness or clear criteria for how the top fellowships are awarded? -- The feeling that you're in an endless apprenticeship model like a pyramid scheme where only by the top people leaving do…

It’s funny how you can substitute many research fields instead of “astrophysics”.

Well, did I say “funny”? I meant “utterly depressing”. I’m in because I don’t think I would like any other job better, but I have a lot of sympathy for people who flee this broken system.

Re: I Regret Quitting Astrophysics

#63

Post by klipt »

Dig1t wrote: post #40
the_arun wrote: post #4

I think passion rules everything for most of us - unless we have passion for money :)

An interesting comment, sadly I find that most people I know are passionate about money and not much else.

Or you can be passionate about giving your family good opportunities (live in a nice area, good education, be able to travel) and having money enables that.

Re: I Regret Quitting Astrophysics

#64

Post by [deleted] »

antognini wrote: post #53

I'm another astrophysicist who left academia for industry and this post definitely speaks to me. I wouldn't go so far as to say that I regret my decision to leave academia, but I will admit to wondering what could have been if I had stayed. After getting my PhD I had a postdoc position lined up with a professor I was excited to work with and had won the NSF astronomy & astrophysics postdoctoral fellowship. (It's not…

[deleted]

Re: I Regret Quitting Astrophysics

#65

Post by supernova87a »

supernova87a wrote: post #60

Do I miss quitting astrophysics? Hmm, which do I miss? -- The once-per-year job cycle where if you don't find something you like, you have to wait another year to land your next soft money position? -- The lack of perception of fairness or clear criteria for how the top fellowships are awarded? -- The feeling that you're in an endless apprenticeship model like a pyramid scheme where only by the top people leaving do…

Ok, to be fair I will tell you what I do miss:

-- Seeing an amazing world I would never have seen through conferences, observing time, telescopes, etc.

-- Being able to read what I want, explore what I want, in the hours of the day I want

-- Being able to do something to the end, fully and well

For sure, sometimes I wish to go back to those positive things. But right now the reasons I left continue to outweigh the reasons to stay/go back.

Re: I Regret Quitting Astrophysics

#66

Post by beezle »

atemerev wrote: post #49

Went to the academia this year for the first time after 10 years of working as an infrastructure software engineer in finance. I miss the money, of course, but doing research makes me much happier.

From the author's post, I get the feeling basic research and the research environment are what he misses. There is something powerful about contributing to the universal body of knowledge vs say finding patterns in data to help better understand customers. That said, I'm sure there are industries where being a skilled data scientist can augment fundamental r&d work and feel a lot closer to being in academia.

One thing he said though I think applies more universally than he thinks: "There is strong competition and people typically experience quite some pressure to achieve." One could say that about positions in sales, trading and even programming. It is hard to stand still these days and not be run out of a job.

Re: I Regret Quitting Astrophysics

#67

Post by hosh »

Ikigai: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/chrismyers...

But I think there is one better: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51947019-the-regenerativ...

The key thing is (1) finding that within you which you want to contribute to something bigger than you (linking intrinsic motivation and to positive contributions towards society and community) (2) and then, growing the capacity to accomplish it.

Re: I Regret Quitting Astrophysics

#68

Post by supernova87a »

atemerev wrote: post #51
otras wrote: post #9

This reminds of a colleague's joke: what do you call a physicist a few years after they get their degree? A data scientist! I only completed my undergrad in physics before shifting to tech, but I've seen many instances of people working in software/programming/data science roles after their undergrad/grad studies in physics.

You also can do quantitative finance!

What I found, even by the middle 2000s, was that since there were entire grad programs now dedicated to producing quants, someone trying to switch from physics, etc. was already less attractive unless it was a very special company paying attention to the potential of former scientists.

The days of a physicist being a top hire for quantitative finance based on potential in a new field, are largely over.

Re: I Regret Quitting Astrophysics

#69

Post by kgwgk »

supernova87a wrote: post #68
atemerev wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You also can do quantitative finance!

What I found, even by the middle 2000s, was that since there were entire grad programs now dedicated to producing quants, someone trying to switch from physics, etc. was already less attractive unless it was a very special company paying attention to the potential of former scientists. The days of a physicist being a top hire for quantitative finance based on potential in a new field, are largely over.

And "data science" is not a new field any more. "Data scientists" are now being produced as such.

Re: I Regret Quitting Astrophysics

#70

Post by KKKKkkkk1 »

38298ruhdi9 wrote: post #47
in_cahoots wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I read it as being difficult to go back to the same type of work they were doing before they left. Marcel's expertise was in simulations and theory. As you note it's (relatively) easy to get a job in telescope software development coming from industry, but it's much harder on the theoretical (and probably experimental) side where it's less about technical skills and more about being up-to-date on the literature and a…

This is all highly field dependent but I doubt a thesis-like investment is required. Maybe being involved in a publication or two somehow without pay but not a thesis. Having been a tenured professor who left (sort of, not completely), these issues are really salient to me. I was surprised when I left how many stories I heard of others doing the same. They just aren't mentioned for many reasons, including institution…

Again, this depends on field, but a lot of academic hiring, at least at the level of faculty, is about branding of sorts, of building up a story of them being on a meteoric trajectory of genius so brilliant it can't be contained by fate or circumstances of any sort. I've read it referred to as the madonna-whore complex, which is quite accurate. It's hard to explain unless you've been on the side of faculty hiring, but it's very much about looking like the next super-Einstein-Nobel Winner in a room full of people who will never attain anywhere near that much fame (but who think they have), in a scientific process that is really about incremental contributions anyway.

What a brilliant way to describe it. But I must add that industry has the same problems. I work in big tech and we have people who are brought into leadership coming from a hot startup because they are perceived to be John Galt figures, and they turn out to be unqualified status seekers.

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