Advice on getting back into a science career

[Gigaz]

Hi all

I finished my PhD in condensed matter physics two years ago. At the end of my PhD I was committed on taking an industry job, and that's what I did. I had two jobs in software engineering, and they both sucked quite a bit. Turns out, I was happier in a science career after all. I would like to find a postdoc position, if I can. Where do I start? Do I apply for grants? Where do I find those? Should I ask my old professor for help, and what help specifically?

 

[jedishrfu]

What about an industry job using your Condensed Matter knowledge? You might find positions on the APS website.

https://careers.aps.org/jobs/?keywords=condensed&sort=

https://www.aps.org/units/dcmp/

There's also the UARCS affiliated with several universities. They will have job postings online as well.

The University of Texas at Austin has the Applied Research Lab (UARC) with several Ph.D. postings. Also, I believe the oil industry utilizes Condensed Matter folks too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_Affiliated_Research_Center

 

[Gigaz]

What about an industry job using your Condensed Matter knowledge? You might find positions on the APS website.

https://careers.aps.org/jobs/?keywords=condensed&sort=

https://www.aps.org/units/dcmp/

There's also the UARCS affiliated with several universities. They will have job postings online as well.

The University of Texas at Austin has the Applied Research Lab (UARC) with several Ph.D. postings. Also, I believe the oil industry utilizes Condensed Matter folks too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_Affiliated_Research_Center

Thank you for your advice. I don't think I can use it. I'm German.

 

[jedishrfu]

You could check these oil companies:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Oil_companies_of_Germany

My nephew is a Ph.D. Condensed Matter guy who now works for Big Oil so it might work in Germany too.

Lastly, check with your old profs about opportunities. For these kinds of jobs, it helps to network with people in the know.

 

[bigfooted]

Yes, ask your professor.
You could also take a look at what large institutes or companies with research groups have to offer. For instance the Fraunhofer institute, or Bosch Corporate Research.

 

[hutchphd]

Absolutely look for physics jobs. The academic route is not the only one. My second career after academia parlayed a PhD (mostly surface morphology and scattering), some innate systems talent, and an assortment of analog optronics experience into R&D work mostly developing medical devices. Very satisfying, usually plenty of funds, and a great cohort of folks. I can't decide whether a small or a large company is more fun. You have talents unknown.
In fact I did a fair amount of work with Boehringer Mannheim (now part of Roche). Everybody should have a physicist