Doing theoretical Physics or Math work as a hobby

[PabloAMC]

I am a bit new in this forum, so excuse me if you have already talked about it before. I've been reading on this forum about the possiblility of doing scientific research without being paid for it, and according to some posts there were some problems, mainly due to a lack of time and social networking. However let me explain myself. I am (or used to be) one of this "bunch of naive wide-eyed kids who want to research on theoretical physics (or math)", and I am in fact in my 3rd year of bachelor in Physics doing pretty well. But according to 90% (maybe) of the users of these forum getting a job as a Physicist is little less than living in hell. Therefore I think that, if is possible, I would be very happy to work on research, but I won't renounce to have a happy life just to get that job. However I would not like to stop doing research on my own.
I am willing to finish my master's degree and Phd (probably some postdoc as well), so I think I that after doing so, I would not have it so difficult to have a scientific network. Time is another story. With that, would it be possible to colaborate with some research group?
Thanks in advance
Pablo

 

[micromass]

I am a bit new in this forum, so excuse me if you have already talked about it before. I've been reading on this forum about the possiblility of doing scientific research without being paid for it, and according to some posts there were some problems, mainly due to a lack of time and social networking. However let me explain myself. I am (or used to be) one of this "bunch of naive wide-eyed kids who want to research on theoretical physics (or math)", and I am in fact in my 3rd year of bachelor in Physics doing pretty well. But according to 90% (maybe) of the users of these forum getting a job as a Physicist is little less than living in hell. Therefore I think that, if is possible, I would be very happy to work on research, but I won't renounce to have a happy life just to get that job. However I would not like to stop doing research on my own.
I am willing to finish my master's degree and Phd (probably some postdoc as well), so I think I that after doing so, I would not have it so difficult to have a scientific network. Time is another story. With that, would it be possible to colaborate with some research group?
Thanks in advance
Pablo

Yes, it is a possibility. If you can get access to a decent network, then perhaps you can still do research. But don't think you'll be as actively publishing as a professional researcher. Neither will you be able to keep track of the burning questions. But that doesn't mean research is out of the question.

Personally, I am out of academia, but I still colaborate with my old research group and I published some papers with them. So it's definitely possible. I guess it's easier in theoretical parts of sciences than in experimental since you'll likely won't have access to expensive devices anymore.

Here in Belgium it is possible to subscribe yourself to a research group as a "volunteer". It offers some benefits. So you're definitely not the only one who's thinking of such a path.

 

[PabloAMC]

Here in Belgium it is possible to subscribe yourself to a research group as a "volunteer". It offers some benefits. So you're definitely not the only one who's thinking of such a path.

Thank you very much. I am curious because I have not been able to find nothing on the web like that. ¿Do you know a research group webpage where they ask for volunteers?