Changing PhD: Is It the Right Move for Me?

[Wiggins84bc]

Hi,

I'm currently just over a year into a PhD in Europe. The PhD is 3.5 years in total. I'm not really happy with a lot of aspects of my PhD situation, I haven't really got to know my fellow grad students at all on account of a few different factors over the last year, and that has left me somewhat isolated socially, and feeling awkward at any events like conferences and things we might have to attend together, or even just the weekly seminar etc. I am quite shy and this hasn't helped matters, but nevertheless I'm sure I could do better given a fresh start socially. On another front I'm not particularly enjoying my research, I am a theorist, and all the other students in my group seem to be working on exciting projects that I don't understand fully, things like stringy type physics and really foundational stuff, which is really what I wanted to be doing. I however have ended up doing something that while I guess would be classed as gr-qc on arxiv and is theoretical, doesn't really require much advanced knowledge other than some very basic qft and gen rel and is mostly about big calculations.

I considered going to the US to do a PhD before taking this offer, but only applied to a few places (around 3) because I was also applying to lots in Europe. I only got into one gradschool in the US, and considered my european institute to have a better rep, so ultimately that's why I chose it rather than the project I'd be doing, which now seems quite silly.

I recently stumbled on a blog by a grad theorist at stony brook, documented the courses they were taking and the content of their PhD and it seemed quite a astounding to me the breadth of stuff I was missing out on (http://indexguy.wordpress.com/). I have to struggle to learn QFT from books like Srednicki, and GR from Carroll, with no courses offered on more advanced QFT or supersymmetry, strings etc. So other than self learning if I hopefully get time, I will not be exposed to these topics. It really makes me wish I had gone to do a PhD in the US now were I would of had 2 years of advanced courses first, then hopefully I'd be working on something more foundational at year 3, and plus I would prefer to be living in the US, than in my home country.

I feel however it may be too late to switch like this. I already had two years out before starting this PhD, plus this year and next that would be wasted by the time I hit year one of a US gradschool if I make this years apps means I have spent 4 years effectively doing nothing toward my career (but having said that there are no jobs in academia anyway, so what does it matter?). Also I would have to recontact my 3 undergrad refererees who I think would be quite shocked to hear I'm leaving this PhD and asking them to resubmit all over again for the US, so I'm quite scared of doing that.

So to summarise: I don't feel happy socially or with the content of the research and what I'm actually learning in my current PhD. I would like to live in the US for the experience of living there and I believe the US would give me a better education in theoretical topics than I'm obtaining in this PhD and possibly allow me to work on something I would find more fulfilling. But the negatives are 4 years of my life are 'wasted' in the sense that no academic qual has been achieved, I would find asking my refs again quite scary and not sure what they would say, and ultimately I think telling my supervisor I'm leaving wouldn't be easy. All I know is I am not particuraly happy with this situation and feel kind of trapped, like I am just trying to get through this PhD so I can move on to a better situation in a postdoc or something, and I think it shouldn't really be like that.

any advice greatly appreciated

 

[LAHLH]

I too am a European student and I have to agree that US schools seem to offer many more courses at the graduate level than is traditional in say the UK. Although ultimately if you want a career as a researcher you will be left to fend for yourself, self teaching and reading papers rather than the usual undergrad style of learning. Perhaps you're putting too much emphasis on the value of such courses.

In addition to this course load you would have to teach, and in most cases pass a candidacy exam, so you really need to ask if you want to go through all this just to get back to the research stage that it seems you're already at. Then even when you pass this you are not guaranteed a certain advisor before hand like in Europe. This advisor will be something decided over the first two years, so even if you select a gradschool with one or two advisors in say String (if that's what you're interested in), who says you won't end up getting an advisor with "less fundamental" interests all over again.

On the other hand:

As for your undergrad referees opinion on you reapplying whilst still enrolled, I'm really not sure, I can't imagine they care really? but perhaps someone more experienced would know more on that.

If you have published papers, I guess there is a risk you might be recognised as such and such a persons student, which could get back your school, but still seems quite unlikely?

 

[fasterthanjoao]

I too am a European student and I have to agree that US schools seem to offer many more courses at the graduate level than is traditional in say the UK.

Be aware that US PhDs are also regularly twice as long, sometimes even more.

 

[fasterthanjoao]

I recently stumbled on a blog by a grad theorist at stony brook, documented the courses they were taking and the content of their PhD and it seemed quite a astounding to me the breadth of stuff I was missing out on

Your PhD is probably less than half as long as someone in the US, though. That is why they spend so much time learning courses. The UK/Europe PhD system is much more focussed on the single-topic.

Also I would have to recontact my 3 undergrad refererees who I think would be quite shocked to hear I'm leaving this PhD and asking them to resubmit all over again for the US, so I'm quite scared of doing that.

I doubt that would really matter too much.

So to summarise: I don't feel happy socially or with the content of the research and what I'm actually learning in my current PhD. I would like to live in the US for the experience of living there and I believe the US would give me a better education in theoretical topics than I'm obtaining in this PhD and possibly allow me to work on something I would find more fulfilling.

Have you spoken to your advisor about this? It amazes me that people will almost always rather talk to a total stranger for advice about their research than the person that works very closely with them on a regular basis. Remember that your supervisor is just a human being at the end of the day. They know how things are, and probably had some of the same experiences you're having just now. If you ask to have a meeting to see if they can bring in some more fundamental work into your thesis, then at least you'll have tried. You might also be able to stick with your current work but work with someone else on a slightly different topic that is more closely tied to your interest in the fundamentals.

Be careful here. Everyone goes through rough patches in their work, and that makes the alternatives seem all the more attractive. You just need to make sure if you do decide to leave your PhD that it's a balanced, objective decision and not just a flip-reaction based on an assumption that "it will be better". The PhD in the US is certainly more comprehensive, and might give you a better education - but you'll have to work probably as an RA during it, possibly on something you won't be interested in.

 

[Wiggins84bc]

Thanks for the replies.

I just worry that my referees may feel that because I am still enrolled somewhere that reapplying elsewhere may be somewhat back handed or something and not be pleased.

I haven't spoken to my advisor about the issues, mainly because I don't want to make things awkward if I am staying. I think perhaps I could push for something a little more fundamental without it being too much of an issue, but this isn't the only issue and somethings strangely are easier to talk about anonymously with strangers rather than someone you know.

I was aware that the US PhD is typically 5-6 years, however I thought when you got to RA that was just an assistantship supporting you while you undertake work toward your thesis, is this research independent of your PhD research then?

 

[ZapperZ]

Be aware that US PhDs are also regularly twice as long, sometimes even more.

This is not necessarily true. I've mentioned this issue already in my "So You Want To Be A Physicist" essay. The length of time for a Ph.D in the US is typically measured from B.Sc degree. In Europe. the Masters degree (or equivalent) precedes a Ph.D degree, so often it is the length of time from a Masters degree.

Zz.