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You can go into biology with no background. I went from physics and math as an undergrad to a PhD in biology. The first six months were rough, but if you really
by madhadron 14y ago
You can go into biology with no background. I went from physics and math as an undergrad to a PhD in biology. The first six months were rough, but if you really cut yourself off from your previous field and make yourself understand how the thought process in biology works, you can pick it up fairly quickly. Actually, I suspect that an undergraduate degree in biology might be a liability, since you will have memorized so many things that were simplifications or just outright false.
On the other hand, know that the field is incredibly political and that the old joke about the average IQ of both physics and biology going up when Delbruck switched from the former to the latter is true.
- redwood 14y agoWell great to hear you've made a similar transition, and very cool to think that some of the bias coming from traditional lower-level bio training could be looked at as a liability. I wonder if I can somehow find a way to pivot into bio without going through a university. Would love to somehow get there through industry, perhaps through some of the genome sequencing outfits which have some crossover with the semiconductor industry. Hadn't heard the Delbruck joke but hah good to hear, if I understand you correctly, that in a sense it'd be easier to swim in bio if I was sinking in physics.