Transitioning to Physics from Neuroscience

[Emir Shark]

Hello,

I am midway in my Ph.D. in computational neuroscience. The exact degree that I will have will be a doctorate in Applied Mathematics. I have always been interested in physics (E&M, QM). I have always known this but I was too afraid to pursue my passion. I am learning physics as I go and even planning on auditing some graduate-level classes such as statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and electrodynamics. I don't know what kind of researcher I want to be, I do like astrophysics though. I have a lot of programming background.

I know it is far more common for people to transition from theoretical physics to other fields such as neuroscience, quantitative finance. But what about the other way around? If I graduate with an Applied Math Ph.D., how hard is it to get into theoretical physics? I don't want my Ph.D. to brand me as a neuroscientist for life.

Any advice?

 

[hutchphd]

Two things occur to me (these are not great revelations).

1. If there is any flexibility in your thesis research you need to choose a direction towards your goal
2. You will need the perfect POSTDOC position with contacts to an even more "physics" oriented position as a next step. Start to plan now.

Your assessment of the usual direction is correct: from general to specific. It has much to recommend it. But excellent work in anyone field is a pretty good indicator of future success and most people understand this . So do excellent work.

 

[Emir Shark]

Thank you for your reply. I am trying to incorporate physics into my current thesis.

 

[Vanadium 50]

even planning on auditing some graduate-level classes such as statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and electrodynamics.

Point 1 - do you have the upper division undergraduate background to handle these classes?
Point 2 - what is your plan for competing for postdocs against candidates with stronger backgrounds?
Point 3 - what is your long-term career objective, and will that employer care what your PhD is in? If so, what's your plan for getting around that?

 

[sysprog]

Thank you for your reply. I am trying to incorporate physics into my current thesis.

Here's a link to a page from which you can download an open-text neurophysics (graduate-level) introductory paper PDF: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227181721_Foundations_of_Neurophysics

 

[radium]

Many faculty working in theoretical biophysics/soft matter are located in applied math departments. A sizable number of them (especially among more senior faculty) switched fields during their career, usually from more well developed areas of physics such as high energy or quantum condensed matter. In general many of these faculty are quite receptive to people switching fields after their PhD, at least for people coming from the areas I mentioned. However, if you have a strong background in areas such as stochastic processes and random matrix theory it may be possible to transition to these fields even though your thesis work is in computational neuroscience.

I think it is unlikely for you to be able to switch to a more developed field of theoretical physics because of how post docs are funded. Postdocs in these areas are usually funded by department/institutional/other independent fellowships or they are shared by a group of faculty. So it is very hard to get one of these positions even if you did your PhD in that area. In biophysics/soft matter, many postdocs are funded by a single PI (likely because these fields are better funded), so while it may be difficult to get a fellowship, you may be able to find a PI who is willing to hire you.