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> There's just very little domestic interest in math and physics, despite both feeding into rather favorable job markets Oh yeah? What jobs are there for a phy

by munin 10y ago

> There's just very little domestic interest in math and physics, despite both feeding into rather favorable job markets Oh yeah? What jobs are there for a physics PhD to do physics in that isn't academia? Government research lab? Military aerospace contractor?

johncolanduoni 10y ago
Both quantitative finance and more general data science draw heavily from physics PhDs (you can see this if you look at job listings for these jobs; physics is almost always listed next to math in the list of desired PhD degrees). Depending on area there can also be a significant number of industry pure-research positions available; quantum information is a good example. As long as you are willing to go into industry, you're looking at a 90-100k starting salary[1]. That's pretty damn good considering that in the US nobody pays for a physics PhD; the average TA stipend is around $30k with tuition and medical insurance covered. You also have a decent chance of getting a research assistanship to provide the stipend once you start working seriously with an advisor. The high number of physics PhDs getting postdocs off the bat is driven by people who want to go into academia/research, not by a lack of industry options. Admitidely if you're dead set on going into research (especially right off the bat) you better be ready to play the same low-paid tenure lottery as everybody else, but if you're just looking for a good career a physics PhD is a pretty good bet. [1]: https://www.aip.org/sites/default/files/statistics/employment/phdinitemp-p-14.pdf https://www.aip.org/sites/default/files/statistics/employmen...
- munin 10y ago
  Why would you get a PhD in physics if you would go into data science? Just get a data science job. Why would you think that someone that spent six years of their life thinking about light, energy, matter and the universe would be satisfied thinking about graphics to show the results of A/B testing an advertisement?
  - johncolanduoni 10y ago
    If all you want is a career in data science, sure. But with a Physics PhD you (a) get those six years to study physics, which many people enjoy and (b) get to take a shot at getting a research gig, and fall back on a solid foundation in a good career track. Not to mention a PhD makes your chances of not having to do something as boring as A/B testing advertisements markedly higher. If getting an art degree meant you could try and become an artist (with the same astronomically low chances of success you see today) and then immediately fall back on a solid career if you fail, don't you think it would represent a pretty good option? If you enjoy physics or math, you already live in a world with that possibility.

by munin 10y ago

johncolanduoni 10y ago

Both quantitative finance and more general data science draw heavily from physics PhDs (you can see this if you look at job listings for these jobs; physics is almost always listed next to math in the list of desired PhD degrees). Depending on area there can also be a significant number of industry pure-research positions available; quantum information is a good example. As long as you are willing to go into industry, you're looking at a 90-100k starting salary[1]. That's pretty damn good considering that in the US nobody pays for a physics PhD; the average TA stipend is around $30k with tuition and medical insurance covered. You also have a decent chance of getting a research assistanship to provide the stipend once you start working seriously with an advisor. The high number of physics PhDs getting postdocs off the bat is driven by people who want to go into academia/research, not by a lack of industry options. Admitidely if you're dead set on going into research (especially right off the bat) you better be ready to play the same low-paid tenure lottery as everybody else, but if you're just looking for a good career a physics PhD is a pretty good bet. [1]: https://www.aip.org/sites/default/files/statistics/employment/phdinitemp-p-14.pdf https://www.aip.org/sites/default/files/statistics/employmen...

munin 10y ago
Why would you get a PhD in physics if you would go into data science? Just get a data science job. Why would you think that someone that spent six years of their life thinking about light, energy, matter and the universe would be satisfied thinking about graphics to show the results of A/B testing an advertisement?
- johncolanduoni 10y ago
  If all you want is a career in data science, sure. But with a Physics PhD you (a) get those six years to study physics, which many people enjoy and (b) get to take a shot at getting a research gig, and fall back on a solid foundation in a good career track. Not to mention a PhD makes your chances of not having to do something as boring as A/B testing advertisements markedly higher. If getting an art degree meant you could try and become an artist (with the same astronomically low chances of success you see today) and then immediately fall back on a solid career if you fail, don't you think it would represent a pretty good option? If you enjoy physics or math, you already live in a world with that possibility.