Apparently there are people with 2 phd in math and physics.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the phenomenon of individuals obtaining dual Ph.D.s in mathematics and physics, exploring motivations, institutional policies, and personal anecdotes related to this pursuit. The scope includes personal experiences, institutional practices, and reflections on academic pathways.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express surprise that the same university granted two Ph.D.s to an individual, questioning the rationale behind pursuing dual degrees.
  • Others suggest that passion for both fields may drive individuals to pursue two Ph.D.s, despite potential criticisms from others.
  • A participant notes that many math Ph.D.s publish in physics journals and vice versa, questioning the necessity of obtaining a second Ph.D. if one can engage in interdisciplinary work as a professor.
  • There are mentions of personal anecdotes where individuals pursued a second Ph.D. after realizing a disinterest in their initial field, highlighting varied motivations.
  • One participant shares a story about someone who transitioned from a successful career in finance to pursue a second Ph.D. in physics, indicating that personal circumstances can influence such decisions.
  • Concerns are raised about institutional policies that may discourage applicants with existing Ph.D.s from applying for additional degrees.
  • Some participants speculate on the necessity of a second Ph.D. for specific fields, such as transitioning from quantum chaos in mathematics to quantum gravity in physics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the motivations and implications of obtaining dual Ph.D.s, with no clear consensus on whether it is a sensible or necessary pursuit. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the validity and practicality of such academic paths.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight various assumptions about institutional policies and personal motivations, but these are not universally applicable. The discussion reflects a diversity of experiences and opinions without definitive conclusions.

MathematicalPhysicist
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http://www.math.ru.nl/~hawkins/cv5.pdf

And from the same university, I guess if you really like both maths and physics so passionately, no matter what others will tell you about doing two phds, you will do it.
 
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MathematicalPhysicist said:
http://www.math.ru.nl/~hawkins/cv5.pdf

And from the same university, I guess if you really like both maths and physics so passionately, no matter what others will tell you about doing two phds, you will do it.

Wow, I think the thing to really 'wow' at here is that the same university granted two Ph.Ds...
 
flyingpig said:
Wow, I think the thing to really 'wow' at here is that the same university granted two Ph.Ds...

I found my 'wow' moment in that this guy is a man, and he presented this:

Presenter. Women in Science and Engineering Math day.
October 7, 2000. Penn State.
 
MathematicalPhysicist said:
I guess if you really like both maths and physics so passionately, no matter what others will tell you about doing two phds, you will do it.

There's more than one way to skin a Schrödinger Cat.
 
MathematicalPhysicist said:
http://www.math.ru.nl/~hawkins/cv5.pdf

And from the same university, I guess if you really like both maths and physics so passionately, no matter what others will tell you about doing two phds, you will do it.

It still doesn't make sense. Plenty of math PhDs publish in physics journals and physics PhDs publish in math journals. Why pay tuition as a student for doing the exact same thing you could do as a professor? Unless you can't get hired as a professor I guess... and you don't need a job. Or sometimes people get a second PhD if they discover way too late that they hate their initial field and want to do something totally different.
 
kote said:
Or sometimes people get a second PhD if they discover way too late that they hate their initial field and want to do something totally different.

I knew someone who got a second Ph.D. in physics, after getting a Ph.D. in math and making a fortune on Wall Street (but not really liking NYC and the whole financial market thing). I think the institutions were different ones... and his new field (Quantum Modeling or Quantum Field Theory, I forget) was definitely different... I believe he'd never studied any quantum mechanics before, and minimal physics.
 
I think every grad school I applied to had the policy of NOT granting additional Ph.D.'s (they all said, if you have a Ph.D. already...don't apply lol) I guess this university is different hehe.
 
kote said:
It still doesn't make sense. Plenty of math PhDs publish in physics journals and physics PhDs publish in math journals. Why pay tuition as a student for doing the exact same thing you could do as a professor? Unless you can't get hired as a professor I guess... and you don't need a job. Or sometimes people get a second PhD if they discover way too late that they hate their initial field and want to do something totally different.

Well everyone has his own reasons why does whatever he does, obviously it's not necessary to get two PhDs, and maybe he didn't pay tuition for them both.

I can see why if someone did for example a PhD in Quantum chaos in maths, and wanted afterwards to do postdoc in Quantum gravity why he would have to do another PhD, because no one will look on him because he did his PhD in another field.
 
physics girl phd said:
I knew someone who got a second Ph.D. in physics, after getting a Ph.D. in math and making a fortune on Wall Street (but not really liking NYC and the whole financial market thing). I think the institutions were different ones... and his new field (Quantum Modeling or Quantum Field Theory, I forget) was definitely different... I believe he'd never studied any quantum mechanics before, and minimal physics.

Did he work with quantitative analysis by any chance?
 

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