Programs Will a PhD in Theoretical Chemistry restrict my future post-doc to chemistry?

[protolocke]

I'm thinking of doing a PhD in http://www.ucl.ac.uk/chemistry/vacancies/adverts/studentships/2011/Zwijnenburg_2011_1" . I come from a physics background and have a MSci Mathematical Physics.

I'm confident that this PhD is suitable for me, and all I have to do now is accept the offer, but I have another couple of PhD offers to look at which I should be hearing back from soon.

If I do this PhD, I'll be working under the chemistry department. I'm thinking of carrying on in academia after finishing my PhD. My question is, will I be restricted to working in the chemistry department for future post-doc careers, or will I be able to post-docs in the physics department as well?

 

[xGAME-OVERx]

The fact that your PhD was done in a chemistry department should not really affect your career, you should be judged on the actual work you do during the PhD.

There are many people in the chemistry and maths departments at my institution that consider themselves physicists.

Besides, you often read stories of scientists changing disciplines post PhD or even later in their career, so it can't be too hard to move between departments.