Career Path Planning: From Civil Engineering to Theoretical Physics

[Akira]

Hello, first I'd like to say that this is an awesome forum, secondly, I'd like some insight into what I have planned for myself.

I have an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering, I'm 27, I've been working on different infrastructure projects since graduating and I currently work for the UN developing sustainable infrastructure & shelter solutions in crisis. I'm not sure where I want my career to end up but I aspire to be a scientist, in the theoretical domain perhaps (theoretical physics...) but I have an open mind. I plan to do so according to the following steps, your insight into the bellow is most appreciated:

Step 1: Quit my job in 2 months time
Step 2: Obtain a certificate in Data Science (full-time over 3 months)
Step 3: Obtain a certificate in Theoretical Physics (2-week concentrated program)
Step 4: Start a masters in Computational Mathematics (I've already received my acceptance)
*time elapses*
Step 5: Finish a masters in Computational Mathematics
Step 6: Depending on financial situation, either find job (development, consultancies, research...) or continue on to a PhD either in Theoretical Physics, Computational Sciences (Data, Mathematics...)...

That's the rough outline for now. Does any of the above seem out of place ?

Cheers.

 

[Quantum Defect]

Hello, first I'd like to say that this is an awesome forum, secondly, I'd like some insight into what I have planned for myself.

I have an undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering, I'm 27, I've been working on different infrastructure projects since graduating and I currently work for the UN developing sustainable infrastructure & shelter solutions in crisis. I'm not sure where I want my career to end up but I aspire to be a scientist, in the theoretical domain perhaps (theoretical physics...) but I have an open mind. I plan to do so according to the following steps, your insight into the bellow is most appreciated:

Step 1: Quit my job in 2 months time
Step 2: Obtain a certificate in Data Science (full-time over 3 months)
Step 3: Obtain a certificate in Theoretical Physics (2-week concentrated program)
Step 4: Start a masters in Computational Mathematics (I've already received my acceptance)
*time elapses*
Step 5: Finish a masters in Computational Mathematics
Step 6: Depending on financial situation, either find job (development, consultancies, research...) or continue on to a PhD either in Theoretical Physics, Computational Sciences (Data, Mathematics...)...

That's the rough outline for now. Does any of the above seem out of place ?

Cheers.

Do you actually need the certificates? If you are very likely going to graduate school, these certificates will not really give you a competitive edge. The masters in Comp. Math may help to speed your time to degree (PhD), but it may not.

I would spend a bit of time trying to decide if you want to do the PhD or not. If you really want to, go for it now. If you are unsure, look to see if the MS in computational math will help you to get you where you want to go. Are the kinds of jobs that the MS's get from the Program you have been accepted into the kind of jobs that you are interested in?

 

[Dishsoap]

If the end goal is to get a PhD in theoretical physics, why get a master's in computational mathematics? Is it just a subject you find interesting?

 

[Quantum Defect]

If the end goal is to get a PhD in theoretical physics, why get a master's in computational mathematics? Is it just a subject you find interesting?

The OP said that he may want to get a PhD in theoretical physics or computational sciences. If it is the former, the MS probably serves no purpose, if it is the latter, depending upon the circumstances, it may count towards the "time-served" for obtaining the PhD.

 

[Akira]

Hello Quantum Defect, thank you for your response.
I currently do not have enough physics in my bag to go into any physics masters program, I also do prefer mathematics as a whole. On the other hand, I am well equipped with mathematics and I do enjoy it very much. Furthermore, like I mentioned earlier, that I imagine my PhD would be in a theoretical field, Theoretical Physics is only an example, I should have included more examples, say Pure Mathematics for instance. However this is speculative from my part, I might end up sticking to computation.

So, by doing a certificate in Data Science, I'm building up further on my computational skills, while the Theoretical Physics one, would give me more of a physics background in the likely case that I will eventually be doing be it Theoretical Physics PhD, Pure Mathematics, Computational Physics...etc.