How Can I Transition from Software Engineering to a Physics PhD?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around transitioning from a career in software engineering to pursuing a PhD in physics. Participants share their backgrounds, experiences, and seek advice on how to re-enter the field of physics after time spent in software development.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Sridhar Mahadevan outlines his educational background and current efforts to refresh his physics knowledge, including specific textbooks and topics he is studying.
  • Sridhar expresses uncertainty about the best path forward for his PhD, including whether to pursue it in India or the USA, and seeks advice on the duration of PhD programs in the USA.
  • Some participants suggest contacting local professors for informal research opportunities and attending classes, noting that smaller universities may have limited research funding.
  • One participant argues that transitioning from software engineering to physics may be more challenging than moving into business management, citing a perceived lack of overlap between the two fields.
  • Another participant shares their own experience of transitioning from engineering to physics, emphasizing the importance of identifying specific research interests within physics.
  • Several participants inquire about the acceptance of engineering graduates into physics master's programs and express their own aspirations to shift to physics, particularly in areas like astrophysics.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the challenges of transitioning from software engineering to physics, but there are differing opinions on the feasibility and ease of this transition. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best strategies for entering the field of physics and the specifics of pursuing a PhD.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various educational paths and personal experiences, but there are limitations in the discussion regarding specific admission requirements for physics programs and the nature of research opportunities available without university affiliation.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals considering a career shift from engineering or software development to physics, as well as those interested in pursuing advanced degrees in physics after a significant gap in study.

Sridhar Mahadevan
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Help Needed in changing career from being a Software Engineer to Physicist

Hi Everybody,

I did a bachelors in engineering (Electrical and Electronics) and Masters (Msc) in Physics. Both I did in India in BITS Pilani. After I did my masters in India, I have been in software industry for the past 8 years and have worked in US,India and other countries too. I am presently in USA.

I want to now shift back to physics. I have lost touch with physics in all these years that I have immersed myself in software.

For the past three months, I have been reading physics in a full fedged manner.

1. Started with Resnick and Halliday
2. Solving Irodov problems
3. Revised Calculus (Arthur b Simon) till the stokes/gauss/greens theorem
4. Differential equations (simmons) - till power series solutions, Have started with calclus of variation isopermetric problems.
5. Started reading complex analysis - snaff and snider.
6. Finished few chapters of goldstien, sakurai and reif for classmech, qmech and statmech.

Also I have downloaded Latex, Mathematica and now know to work with these packages.

I am planning to write AGRE in this october and also some entrance examinations for physics schools (IISC and TIFR) in India this year.

What else should I be doing to get myself into physics and do a PHD and further research? I am contemplating on where I should do my PHD. India or USA? How long does it take to do a PHD in USA?

Also suppose if I wanted to present a paper, without a university backing as I am kind of independent now, how do I do it? I am in Hartford,CT, is there anyway I can kind of informally attend classes and work with a prof doing some research...

I am kind of confused... any advise would be extremely welcome... please advise..

thanks
Sridhar Mahadevan
 
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Physics news on Phys.org
Any suggestions are welcome!
 
How long does it take to do a PHD in USA?

If you already have a masters, it generally takes an extra 4-6 years for the experimental sciences.

Also suppose if I wanted to present a paper, without a university backing as I am kind of independent now, how do I do it? I am in Hartford,CT, is there anyway I can kind of informally attend classes and work with a prof doing some research...

Contact some of the professors at a local university (is UConn in Hartford?) and see if they are interested. Unfortunately physics profs at smaller universities tend not to do a lot of hard core 'research' as physics research requires some major money and facilities nowadays. At least that is my impression. As for publication, I would just try submitting to some of the smaller journals - I'm not really familiar with this field so hopefully someone else will give better recommendations.

I mean the worst anyone can do is tell you no, right?
 
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From software engineer to physicist? That's a good intention, but I believe one would find it easier to turn into a business manager from a software engineer than into a physicist. I mean that software engineering has so little in common with scientific principles, and particularly with physics. But if you knew physics prior to becoming a SE, you are doing a good move now!
 
Hi Sridhar,
I am a B.E. [Electronics and Communications] graduate. i am a software engineer for 2 years. i am interested in moving onto physics field. Where did u do M.sc physics? Will they accept for Msc. physics after a B.E. degree?

i am happy that u were also in the same dialemma few years before. i would like to contact you in person. Please mail me to ipan.cts@indiatimes.com
 
I would like to ask the same question. I have done B.Tech in Electrical Electronics and am working as a software engineer. How do I move into physics field, especially in astrophysics, which I have always been interested in. Please do tell me what you think about how I can move into that field, job prospects in it and my chances there given my background...!
Thanks.
 
Hi,

That's sounds good. Well, my story is same kind. I am BE (Chemical Engg), M Tech( Chem Engg) IITB. and then worked for IBM for 21/2 years. Then physics changed me completely and I wanted to do physics also. So I too GATE physics 2009. and now at IISc physics department. But my main interests are high energy physics.

So shridhar if you want to do physics, that's a great idea. But one must consider what research one wants to do. Just anything is fine with physics, or some specific interests.
and you have to also plan out other things.

regards,
Baban wagh.
+919535144483.
babanwagh@gmail.com
 

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