I'm an academic mathematician. The current academic job market is rough overall, and academia is usually not kind to people who have been out of the system for

I'm an academic mathematician. The current academic job market is rough overall, and academia is usually not kind to people who have been out of the system for awhile. However, machine learning is hot so you might get lucky. Interdisciplinary work is also hot -- but it tends to be popular with deans and provosts, and sometimes less so with faculty members on the front lines, who are the ones who actually read through the hundreds of applications. Keep in mind that academia works differently in different places; in particular, hiring processes are different in the US and the EU. I love my job, but academia has its downsides. There is a fair amount of admin work, and you'll spend a lot of your time applying for and managing grants. In laboratory disciplines a lot of successful academics are basically managers. Another downside is that you don't really get to choose where you live. If you're lucky you will get a couple of job offers, probably in random places where you might not have otherwise chosen to live -- whereas in industry I imagine your credentials might be in wide demand. I would certainly not expect to be hired into a tenured position. If you are very lucky you might be hired into a tenure-track position, but a postdoc seems more realistic to me. You might be able to get back into the system, but I'd be surprised if you could shortcut past the parts you didn't like. Another possibility is work as an adjunct professor. This is a terrible career, but could be enjoyable as a side gig. Basically, if you'd like to teach some classes on the side, and don't mind lousy pay and no benefits, you might be able to arrange this. You might also look at work at various "institutes" -- these are not academia, but are perhaps more suitable for an idealist than a startup. Your credentials are likely to be very attractive to them. Here is one example I am familiar with: https://www.rti.org/ https://www.rti.org/ In any case academia varies widely depending on field, country, and type of university. (In the US there is a big distinction between research- and teaching-oriented universities, this might be less of a thing in the EU.) I'd recommend contacting your PhD advisor, your committee, and any other senior academics whom you personally know and asking their advice. You might also browse through this site, which discusses the practicalities of academic careers, and has a pronounced STEM slant: https://academia.stackexchange.com https://academia.stackexchange.com Good luck!