Site • RSS • Apple PodcastsDescription (podcaster-provided):
It might surprise you, but most physics PhD students eventually end up in careers outside of academia. Some leave before graduating, some leave straight after, while others pursue an academic career for years before making the transition. Yet, despite the numbers, current PhD students often find it hard to envision any career beyond the academic horizon. Why? They're simply not exposed to the countless other exciting opportunities available to them.Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Career transitions • Physics PhDs • Non-academic roles • Industry insights • Startup challenges • Networking advice • Skill recognition • Personal journeys • Science communication • Diverse job marketsThis podcast, "Physicists in the Wild," hosted by Aggie Branczyk, explores the diverse career trajectories of physicists who have transitioned from academia to a wide array of fields. The recurring theme is the myriad of opportunities available to physics PhDs outside the traditional confines of academia. Each episode features an in-depth interview with a physicist who has leveraged their academic training to thrive in another industry, demonstrating how skills acquired during a PhD can be applied in unconventional careers.
Listeners will encounter physicists who have found success in industries such as aerospace, artificial intelligence, venture capital, software development, scientific publishing, education, and finance. These individuals share their unique journeys and the decisions that guided their paths, offering insights into navigating career transitions and the challenges encountered along the way. The episodes highlight the importance of adaptability, networking, and personal growth, emphasizing skills such as communication, leadership, and problem-solving.
Interviews delve into personal experiences and the motivations that led guests to pursue roles in sectors ranging from e-commerce and fintech to education and strategic partnerships. Across the podcast, there is a consistent focus on breaking the paradigm that physics PhDs should only target academic careers, instead showcasing the exciting opportunities and the personal fulfillment found in other fields. The narratives reflect the power of leveraging one's educational background while being open to new experiences and disciplines, inspiring current PhD students to envision a broader range of career possibilities.
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Jay Lowell - AMO Physics PhD to Chief Scientist in Aerospace 2024-Apr-18 16 minutes |
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Amir Feizpour - Quantum Optics Postdoc to AI Startup Founder 2024-Mar-14 14 minutes |
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Cristina Escoda - String Theory PhD to Venture Capital & Angel Investing 2024-Feb-29 13 minutes |
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Brigette Oakes - Experimental Physics PhD to Director of Propulsion 2023-Nov-30 14 minutes |
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Riccardo Di Sipio - Particle Physics Postdoc to Senior Machine Learning Developer 2023-Nov-09 14 minutes |
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Emily Petroff - Astrophysics postdoc to Associate Director, Strategic Partnerships, Grants and Awards 2023-Oct-19 13 minutes |
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Bety Rodriguez-Milla - Condensed Matter PhD to Software Development 2023-Oct-05 14 minutes |
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Katiuscia Cassemiro - Quantum Optics Prof to PRX Quantum Editor 2023-Sep-21 12 minutes |
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Juan Ignacio Cayuso - Cosmology PhD to Data Science 2023-Sep-05 14 minutes |
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Ekaterina Babourina-Brooks - Quantum Information PhD to Education 2023-Sep-04 12 minutes |
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Rohan Dalton - Quantum Optics PhD to Software, Data & Fin Tech 2023-Sep-04 13 minutes |