Do you feel stuck in your research field?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around feelings of being "stuck" in one's chosen research field, exploring the emotional and professional implications of career choices in academia and industry. Participants reflect on regrets, career changes, and the desire for broader knowledge.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express feelings of being stuck in their research fields and question whether it is too late to switch or if they regret their choices.
  • One participant notes that similar feelings can occur in industry, suggesting a broader relevance to the issue.
  • Another participant shares a sense of regret about the limitations of a single lifetime to learn everything of interest, particularly in mathematics.
  • One participant recounts their experience of not finding a satisfying job related to their degree, leading to a successful career change through self-study, while also expressing a wish they had chosen differently in university.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of feelings about their career paths, with some feeling stuck and others finding fulfillment through alternative routes. There is no consensus on whether it is too late to switch fields or if regrets about choices are common.

Contextual Notes

Participants' feelings and experiences are subjective and may depend on individual circumstances, including personal definitions of success and fulfillment in their careers.

jamalkoiyess
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Does any researcher/scholar/professor here ever feel stuck with the field they have chosen to pursue? Do you ever feel it's too late to switch or regret not choosing something else while studying?
 
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YES.

The situation like that can be just as bad in industry.
 
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No, not really, but I do regret that one life time is not enough to learn everything I find interesting, even when just considering mathematics, let alone everything else. So, I hope for immortality (without dementia) or reincarnation (into a reasonably intelligent life form).
 
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I couldn't find a job I enjoy with what I graduated, so I self studied and made a successful career change with some luck. I do wish I chose something different in University but there was no way to know.
 
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