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Podcast Profile: Physicists in the Wild

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11 episodes
2023 to 2024
Median: 14 minutes
Collection: Physics, Math, and Astronomy


Description (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. 
"Physicists in the Wild" aims to change that. 
Join Aggie Branczyk as she interviews physicists who have turned their PhD training into diverse and often unconventional careers. From the corporate world to government, from education to finance, discover the “other” paths traveled by those with graduate training in physics. 
Tune in every two weeks to hear the stories of physicists in the wild. 
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Aggie works at IBM as a Senior Research Scientist on the Quantum Computational Science team, and the opinions shared in this podcast are her own and are not in any way endorsed by IBM.


Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):

➤ Careers of physics PhDs beyond academia • Interviews with physicists in diverse fields • Career transitions and personal growth stories • Insights into networking and skill application

The podcast "Physicists in the Wild" explores the diverse and often unconventional career paths that physics PhD graduates pursue outside of academia. Hosted by Aggie Branczyk, this series delves into the transitions and journeys of physicists who apply their advanced training in various sectors beyond the academic realm. The show underscores the notion that physics graduates possess highly transferable skills, which can be pivotal in diverse industries such as aerospace, artificial intelligence, venture capital, education, software development, and more.

Throughout the podcast, listeners are introduced to individuals who began their careers in specialized fields of physics, such as atomic, molecular, and optical physics, quantum optics, string theory, particle physics, condensed matter, and cosmology. These physicists discuss their personal journeys, the decisions they faced, and the skills they relied on to move into fields such as leadership roles in technology companies, startup founding, venture capital and investing, software engineering, scientific publishing, and data science.

A recurring theme in the podcast is the emphasis on adaptability and the importance of networking and personal projects in opening new career opportunities. The stories shared in the episodes highlight both the challenges and rewards of transitioning from academia to new professional landscapes. The podcast also sheds light on the significance of communication skills, problem-solving, and mentorship in successfully navigating these career changes. Through interviews, this series attempts to broaden the perspective of current PhD students and recent graduates, helping them envision potential career paths beyond the traditional academic trajectory.


Episodes:
Jay Lowell - AMO Physics PhD to Chief Scientist in Aerospace
2024-Apr-18
16 minutes
Amir Feizpour - Quantum Optics Postdoc to AI Startup Founder
2024-Mar-14
14 minutes
Cristina Escoda - String Theory PhD to Venture Capital & Angel Investing
2024-Feb-29
13 minutes
Brigette Oakes - Experimental Physics PhD to Director of Propulsion
2023-Nov-30
14 minutes
Riccardo Di Sipio - Particle Physics Postdoc to Senior Machine Learning Developer
2023-Nov-09
14 minutes
Emily Petroff - Astrophysics postdoc to Associate Director, Strategic Partnerships, Grants and Awards
2023-Oct-19
13 minutes
Bety Rodriguez-Milla - Condensed Matter PhD to Software Development
2023-Oct-05
14 minutes
Katiuscia Cassemiro - Quantum Optics Prof to PRX Quantum Editor
2023-Sep-21
12 minutes
Juan Ignacio Cayuso - Cosmology PhD to Data Science
2023-Sep-05
14 minutes
Ekaterina Babourina-Brooks - Quantum Information PhD to Education
2023-Sep-04
12 minutes
Rohan Dalton - Quantum Optics PhD to Software, Data & Fin Tech
2023-Sep-04
13 minutes