Tired of research what is next?

[SKWphysicist]

Hi All,

I am wondering for those still pursuing their careers in academic research, have you ever feel tired of your own research at some points in your career? I finished my PhD about 2 yrs ago and got a postdoc position since then. However during my postdoc years I found that doing my research is quite boring. I am not sure whether I just got tired and need some refreshments (new area of research) or I should quit doing research all together. Have anyone experienced that?

 

[eri]

While I still think it's interesting, my postdoc made me realize I don't want to do just research. I'm starting a faculty job in the fall, and I'm hoping that, like it was in grad school, I'll be more interested in working on my research when it's what I do in my free time, not all the time. If that's not the case, maybe industry is the next step to take, which while maybe still being research, would probably be a new topic altogether.

 

[JakeBrodskyPE]

Once you have finally hit your education goal, it is time to relax, and take stock of what you have achieved, and what you want to do next. Incidentally, this is one reason why Universities encourage sabbatical years so that a professor's creativity doesn't get stale doing the same damned things year-in, year-out.

Try branching out into other studies. Perhaps your research could be useful in industry. Maybe you prefer the teaching side of the profession: try taking your specialty out of the university to teach others how to improve ____(insert your profession here)___.

There are lots of opportunities. Not all of them have to come from the university or from some institute.

Good Luck!

 

[SKWphysicist]

Thanks for the replies. Actually I am seriously considering doing something else (pure teaching post or medical physics). The dilemma is once I switch it is very difficult to get back into the research track. So I am just wondering if others have a similar experience.

 

[dingdong12]

I have exactly the same feelings. I am currently working as a research scientist (after my PhD). I am considering changing to be a medical physicist, facing the same dilemma that it is very difficult to get back into the research track.

 

[chiro]

Thanks for the replies. Actually I am seriously considering doing something else (pure teaching post or medical physics). The dilemma is once I switch it is very difficult to get back into the research track. So I am just wondering if others have a similar experience.

Maybe you could find a position where your primary duty is to teach, but are allowed by the institution to have the choice of allocating some time to research? Maybe something in-between a community college and a pure (or mostly pure) research university?

I know from speaking to one lecturer at my university that she had a certain kind of leave that could be used for this sort of thing, even though her primary work duty was lecturing and things related to that activity (like coordinating courses and so on).

 

[Nano-Passion]

Wow I never thought I would see this again. I thought this type of thing was supposed to be about passion? Does it go astray.

Two questions for people who are getting tired of research.

1) What type of research are you doing?
2) Are you a theroetical physicist?

 

[MathematicalPhysicist]

Wow I never thought I would see this again. I thought this type of thing was supposed to be about passion? Does it go astray.

Two questions for people who are getting tired of research.

1) What type of research are you doing?
2) Are you a theroetical physicist?

I believe this phenomenon is called 'fatigue'.

 

[SKWphysicist]

Maybe you could find a position where your primary duty is to teach, but are allowed by the institution to have the choice of allocating some time to research? Maybe something in-between a community college and a pure (or mostly pure) research university?

I know from speaking to one lecturer at my university that she had a certain kind of leave that could be used for this sort of thing, even though her primary work duty was lecturing and things related to that activity (like coordinating courses and so on).

Thanks for the advice. It is another thing what I am trying to do. I had few teaching experience in the past and I found myself quite enjoying that.

 

[SKWphysicist]

I believe this phenomenon is called 'fatigue'.

Wow I never thought I would see this again. I thought this type of thing was supposed to be about passion? Does it go astray.

Two questions for people who are getting tired of research.

1) What type of research are you doing?
2) Are you a theroetical physicist?

Not very sure why it is relevant. But I am doing Astronomy/Astrophysics/Cosmology and I would call myself a mix of theoretical + computational physics.

 

[eri]

Same as SKWphysicist - PhD in physics, working in astrophysics/cosmology, did a observational/computational dissertation and doing a theoretical postdoc. Lots of papers (mostly co-author), but feeling pretty burned out on my research right now. I'm hoping that will improve when I do it in my 'free time' instead of all the time.

 

[Nano-Passion]

Not very sure why it is relevant. But I am doing Astronomy/Astrophysics/Cosmology and I would call myself a mix of theoretical + computational physics.

Just curious, thanks btw.

Same as SKWphysicist - PhD in physics, working in astrophysics/cosmology, did a observational/computational dissertation and doing a theoretical postdoc. Lots of papers (mostly co-author), but feeling pretty burned out on my research right now. I'm hoping that will improve when I do it in my 'free time' instead of all the time.

I don't want to derail the topic so I'll leave it here. Thanks and good luck. ^.^