Last week I wrote about my job search. Not more than a couple days later I had a pseudo-offer on the table for a post-doc. Pseudo because it’s not set in stone until a) I say that I’d like the position and b) my PhD supervisor gives me a good reference (which hopefully shouldn’t be an issue).
The (potential) problem? It’s in a different field.
I don’t want to get into details on the good ‘ol internet, but the field is somewhat related to mine, but far enough that it makes me nervous. However, it’s a field that I’ve been interested in for some time, and was even contemplating it as an option when I was considering dropping out of my PhD (the many, many times I was considering it).
So, anyone out there switch fields in a 45-degree-angle sort-of-way? Thoughts? Advice? Would I be crazy to do it (or not to do it)?
I did my PhD in plant pathology, and then my second post-doc in ecology, which was a huge shift. So it can be done.
In some ways it’s an advantage to go into a different field: new eyes and all that. Plus, if you screw up you can always blame it on being new in the area. :-)
My advice would be that if it looks interesting and fun, go for it. You’ll pick up the new stuff pretty quickly.
Me too in Department of Botanical Ecology and after in Museum of Zoology. But I served much Botanic methodology, particularly with regard to thought.
A good friend of mine did an undergrad degree in Toxicology, a Master’s in entomology, and has been happily employed studying creepy-crawlies ever since. Another former fellow grad student did a Physics undergrad and a Molecular Biology PhD, and is now a professor in a genetics department.
So, yes, it can be done. I’d say go with your interests.
But… would this mean no more playing with big honkin’ telescopes? Now that would seem like a shame…
I would say follow your passion and your interests – it’s your life. I did my 1st degree in Physics, more or less switched to Biochem for my PhD (enzymology) and have ended up in structural biology, having picked up protein crystallography as a postdoc (though the physics background helped).
You can always treat yourself to a telescope to have at home!
Thanks for the thoughts/advice so far. I know I should just follow my interests, but my problem is I have such a broad range of them and can see myself doing a lot of different things.
It’s nice to hear about others who have changed paths quite a lot and have survived :)
As for the telescope business – I actually have one (it’s a bit small though). Perhaps getting away from astronomy and being able to do it as a hobby will restore my passion for it.
Life would be pretty boring if you spent your whole career in the one “box”. I think the best scientists are those with broad experience and interests… for what it’s worth
I wuz a palaeontologist but now I are an editor. It can be done – and as people have said above, you only have one life. It’s yours, and you should live it by your rules. You should take care not to burn all bridges, though. If you leave one field for another it can be hard to go back.
I should mention that I have switched fields before – although not so “extreme”. I started off in physics, and was doing optics experiments for my undergraduate thesis. I went to industry for a few months working for an industrial electrical motor company, then did my masters in X-ray astronomy of star systems, and my PhD in optical astronomy on comets & asteroids. I also had my fingers in many other pots throughout my grad career – mostly in outreach, and committee work.
So, I’m happy when I change fields. I, in fact, crave changing it up every few years so that I don’t get too bored. This makes me jack of all trades, master of none, and wondering if that will bite me in the butt at some point.
Henry, you make a good point with it being difficult to go back to a field once you leave. Something to think about for sure.
doing optics experiments for my undergraduate thesis. I went to industry for a few months working for an industrial electrical motor company, then did my masters in X-ray astronomy of star systems, and my PhD in optical astronomy on comets & asteroids
You know, it pleases me no end to know that I correspond (blog-styleeee) with people who can say things like this. :)
LOL Richard – yeah, I never really think about it until I read it and realize I’m probably the only person in the world that could say that :P
I know really, that’s such a unique statement and that’s what’s great about it! I might have missed this, would the knowledge you’ve gained in your current field help you in the new one (I mean specifically)?
Sabbi – they’re both “physics-y”, so I do have the basic knowledge down. So, it wouldn’t so terribly difficult to make the switch.
Think carefully about what you want out of your career, and if you can make a large enough impact, fast enough to justify changing fields. I did it and it completely put the bollocks on my research career.
Part of that was changing fields and having to start from pseudo-scratch on something new. I knew enough to be dangerous, certainly, but techniques-wise it was a far cry from my comfort zone. And because I couldn’t get the training I needed (lack of support mostly) I was never able to get published enough, nor generate enough expertise that I would be safe using techniques on my own to start a lab. And by which point, I was so removed my original field that going back would have meant a third postdoc and I wasn’t prepared to confront that particular horror.
So. Think very carefully what you want out of science. What you intend to contribute to science. Is this something you can get a measurable level of expertise out of in a few short years? Would you be better served recruiting said expert after you get your cushy Tier 1 research post?
Will ramble further and postulate more upon request. Because “they’re both “physics-y”, so I do have the basic knowledge down. So, it wouldn’t so terribly difficult to make the switch.” that’s what I said too…
Should have read comments first…
That’s my point. I’m BSC Physiology; PhD Neuroscience (molecular genetics) and Postdoc Neuroscience (electrophysiology). After having gained some expertise in molgen I moved to ephys, never got the training I needed, and now am neither molgen, nor ephys enough to go out into the wide word unsupervised, however, if I were so inclined, I’d make a great RA/tech in almost any application of modern Neuroscience research. But that isn’t enough for me…so…career change #457 has occurred :)
Hm, it’s hard to say since it depends so much on the subjects and the training available and on the lab etc.. I mean, switching fields a bit might not be as bad (as people have said) but it is much easier if it is in a lab where the techniques and people are already there so you don’t start from scratch, since that can be very hard and put a damper on the whole thing. And trying to get things to work in a lab where there is noone who knows and you are new to the field etc… might not be the best way? Again though, it is all depending on who you are.
That said, I haven’t moved too much from my undergraduates (in my opinion although some of my former student friends would say that I have). I have a MSc in Biology/biotechnology and a PhD in microbiology (bacteria) and moved into human infectious diseases in my post doc and found myself in the field of immunology in the end of my 3rd year as a post doc (didn’t really think I was going to get immersed in the finer print of host cell receptors and signal transduction….).
Alas, it might be a bit “easier” to transition between bacteria and virus and immunology? I don’t know differences between physics and physics ;)
Ian – you definitely make some great points. I’m going to be totally honest here and say that I do not have any dreams of getting on the tenure track. One of the reasons I would want to take this particular post-doc is because it would allow me to expand my modeling and simulation skills (things that could be applied to a wide range of career options). So, for me, it would be more about gaining certain skills, rather than publishing or padding my CV for a future TT job search.
Åsa – that’s actually one of the things that draws me to this position: the PI is very well known in their field and has a large group. The PI seems very supportive of all kinds of things, and understands that the learning curve would be steep for me in the beginning. I also talked to one of the post-docs in the group, and he gave me a good feeling that the PI and other group members are incredibly helpful. Also, everything (labs, projects, etc.) are already set up, so I wouldn’t have to be starting from scratch – that’s definitely a bonus (for someone in my position)!
There just seem to be so many factors to take into account at the moment! There are also some personal things I need to think about as well.
Hi All
I am in a similar boat and need some feedback too: I was a physician, and am currently finishing up my PhD in Neuroscience, with emphasis on simulation, mathematical analysis and neurophysiology. I am looking to switch within neuroscience- a combination of fMRI cognitive neuroscience and molecular imaging of neurological disorders and developing therapeutics for neurological disorders: cognitive, motor and tumors. It is usually impossible to cover the entire range at the same lab as a post-doc, so I intend to spend a few months at my school (Northwestern University) gaining experience in 1-2 fields while I prepare to move to another university for a post-doc where I can combine more of those.
Any suggestions by anyone on how to navigate these issues?
Thanks,
Aniket