Recent content by Pirx

Hello, everyone! I'm aware that there's already a thread (probably many ones) for textbooks on the topic of CMT and also exclusively Solid State. As far as I know, Oxford's Solid State Basics is the recommended book for undergraduates and generally people only beginning their adventure with...

That didn't come across as rambling at all, thanks for an elaborate answer. It does sound like a very nice job indeed.

I see that physicists based in the US indeed have a lot of options. That's really nice; there are no community colleges in my country and I think it would largely benefit from it. You've mentioned having taught at an undergrad-only university. If you don't mind me asking, would you consider this...

I agree that the sentence about high-school sounds red-flaggy. I've wanted to keep things brief in relation to pre-undergrad decisions. I don't believe people should go into physics because they were good at it or read lots of casual books on the topic in HS. I find it hard to speak on what...

First of all, thanks for an extensive answer. (Sorry if it comes across as intrusive but hour academic path sounds very interesting and, needless to say, extremely impressive. If you don't mind me asking, are there there any threads where you touch more on your experience with academia...

I'm not versed in the terminology, so just to be clear: when you are in a position that is dependent on soft money, do you have to reapply every time a grant is obtained but are well-known at the institution and can be sure they'll let you in, or you are continuously employed but would be first...

I appreciate your opinion, and thank you for the kind words. I can see how my posts can sound very insistent on one thing, but they were written out of genuine confusion, not demand for instant affirmation. After all, an engineering undergrad's favorite pastime is complaining about how they hate...

You're right, I'm not from the US. I ask this question out of sheer curiosity, to be honest, which is why I didn't specify a country. I'm from Central-Eastern Europe but I don't mind hearing answers pertinent to other regions or even continents.

Something has prompted me to peruse this forum like a morning/afternoon/evening newspaper after I've joined and now I can't help but scratch my head about a few things. See, I'm a traveller from the distant realm of technical universities (which are completely different beasts from non-technical...

In hindsight I realize I may have phrased some things in a tone that could possibly sound condescending, which was obviously not my intention - I am aware that AE has some very complicated subfields, and it has its own geniuses just as physics does. I am beginning my 2nd year, which is said to...

I guess it's the idea of being N years ahead or behind people my age that was worrying me. It's helpful to see input from someone who actually went the whole route. Thanks a lot for the insight.

Thanks, but I'm afraid it's somewhat different when you're at Dirac-level intelligence (and he got his first degree at 19, which is very young). It's still a nice thing to think about, though. Would you like to elaborate on how important the publish-or-perish thing is in relation to other...

Hello, fellow users of the Forum. Excuse my English, as I'm writing in a hurry. What I'm going to describe here is mostly another case of a (potential) Physics after Engineering Syndrome. I'm aware that this is an neverending topic on the Forum and have read a lot of posts on this subject...