Physics Career guidance after PhD in experimental condensed matter

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The discussion centers on career advice for someone with a background in materials engineering, physics, and expertise in scanning tunneling microscopy, particularly in ultrahigh vacuum systems and cryogenics. The individual seeks insights into potential career trajectories in scientific instrumentation versus device physics, emphasizing the need for input from experienced professionals in these fields. There is a recognition of the importance of location, specifically Germany, in job prospects. The conversation highlights that many large companies outsource specialized materials analysis due to the high costs of maintaining in-house facilities. Recommendations include exploring companies in Europe and the US that focus on materials analysis, such as Exponent, EAG Laboratories, and Eurofins. Additionally, there is a query about the individual's experience with device fabrication techniques like epitaxial crystal growth, indicating a potential area of interest for career development.
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I am looking for career advice, including good entry points into industry.
I have background in materials engineering and masters in physics. PhD in scanning tunneling microscopy so I have expertise in (ultrahigh) vacuum systems, cryogenics as far as instrumentation is concerned. I have worked in surface science with probe methods on physics of 2D materials/superconductors/semiconductors etc.

What do you think are my best trajectories in eg. scientific instrumentation vs device physics? I am looking for inputs from people in said fields, pros and cons of market, prospects etc.

Thanks
 
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Now is a heck of a time to be thinking about this. You should have been thinking about this when still finishing your PhD and had plenty of connections. As it stands, it is far, far too broad for a bunch of strangers to answer.

Can you discuss this with your advisor?
 
Well, that is a gross assumption to make that this is the first time I am thinking about it, or that I do not discuss it with relevant advisors/mentors. Also, you do not have any information about my current status so please lay off unwarranted hate.

I am looking for a wider pool of inputs. I would appreciate people with experience in said fields to give me their insights into the market as they see it. I am particularly interested to hear the trajectories of people who had a similar background as me. After all, this is the purpose of these threads.
 
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Ah, it's one of those messages. Use your telepathic abilities to figure out what I have previously asked and what the answer was, and then use your precognitive abilities to determine which one I shall like best.

All I can say is "Good luck". This is beyond my skill set.
 
OP: Career guidance needs to be tailored to locale. Your profile lists your country as Germany. Let's start with the countries in which you plan to seek employment. My background, decades ago, was similar to yours. In addition to the two fields you mentioned, I'll add a third: there are companies that specialize in materials analysis. The instrumentation has become so specialized and so expensive that only the largest companies (e.g., device manufacturers) can afford to maintain in-house facilities and staff; hence, many companies contract out work to specialized materials analysis companies.
 
CrysPhys:
Thanks for the input. I am looking at options in Europe and US, with a slight preference to Europe.
Typically instrumentation companies here (like Apeeva, Aixtron etc) do materials analysis in addition to developing instruments. But it's good to have in mind that there might be (relatively) smaller companies that focus on analysis.
 
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OP: Besides your experience and expertise in apparatus, instrumentation, and materials analysis, do you have any experience or interest in device fabrication; in particular, epitaxial crystal growth (such as MBE, CBE, MOCVD)?
 
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