This Physicist Works for a Bank: Jobs for Math/Physics Majors
TLDRThe speaker, a former physicist with a PhD from the University of Wisconsin, shares his journey from academia to a successful career at Bank of America. He emphasizes the unique value that individuals with a background in physics or mathematics can bring to non-academic fields, highlighting their problem-solving skills, ability to handle the unknown, and capacity for analytical thinking. The speaker dispels the notion that the academic path is the only one for those with a degree in hard sciences, encouraging the audience to consider the wide range of opportunities available in the business world. He also underscores the importance of communication skills, stating that the ability to convey complex ideas clearly is a rare and highly valued skill. The talk is both a motivational call to action and a practical guide for physicists and mathematicians considering careers outside of traditional research roles.
Takeaways
- π The speaker emphasizes the value and unique skill set that individuals with physics and mathematics backgrounds bring to non-academic fields.
- π The transition from academia to the business world can be emotionally challenging, but recognizing one's continued identity as a physicist or mathematician is crucial.
- π Physicists and mathematicians are trained to tackle complex problems, embrace challenges, and contribute to expanding human knowledge.
- π The academic job market is saturated, with more PhDs produced each year than available positions, making non-academic career paths not only necessary but potentially more rewarding.
- π‘ The non-academic job market is unsaturated, offering a wide range of opportunities for those with analytical and problem-solving skills.
- π The speaker's experience at Bank of America highlights the application of physics and math skills in IT and software development, despite the non-academic setting.
- π οΈ Skills such as understanding data, recognizing patterns, and logical thinking are highly sought after in the business world, even if not directly related to physics or math.
- π The ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively is a valuable asset, often underutilized in the business world.
- π€ Teaching and mentoring skills developed in academia are beneficial in non-academic careers, as leadership often involves guiding and improving team performance.
- π The speaker encourages physicists and mathematicians to consider non-academic paths as a way to apply their unique perspectives and skills to a variety of human endeavors.
Q & A
Why does the speaker believe that people in the academic world often don't discuss certain subjects?
-The speaker suggests that people in the academic world often don't discuss certain subjects because they may not be well-acquainted with the world outside of academia. This can lead to a lack of exposure to diverse perspectives and experiences.
What was the speaker's academic background before joining the corporate world?
-The speaker has a BA in physics from Andrews, worked on astrophysics research involving quasars, spent a research semester at Lawrence Livermore Lab, and completed a PhD at the University of Wisconsin, where he worked on the Aleph experiment at CERN and the Daisy experiment in Hamburg, Germany.
What was the focus of the speaker's dissertation?
-The speaker's dissertation focused on a measurement of photon structure, specifically looking at how virtual photon structure diminishes as a photon gets more virtual. This was a novel confirmation of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
How did the speaker's work at Fermilab relate to their academic background?
-At Fermilab, the speaker worked on the D0 experiment, which involved proton and proton collisions. This connected to their academic background as it required a deep understanding of particle physics, similar to the work they did during their PhD and postdoc.
Why did the speaker transition from academia to the corporate world?
-The speaker's transition to the corporate world was a significant change from their original plan of becoming a professor. The exact reasons for this transition are not explicitly stated in the script, but it is implied that it was a surprising left turn and part of an interesting story.
What role does the speaker currently play at Bank of America?
-The speaker is involved in driving policies for the entire company regarding the automation and modernization of software development. They are working on efforts to modernize practices, which includes the adoption of DevOps principles to automate building deployments.
What are some of the unique skills that physicists and mathematicians bring to non-academic roles?
-Physicists and mathematicians bring a diversity of thought, lack of fear of the unknown, strong problem-solving skills, ability to analyze and see correlations, and expertise in math and statistics to non-academic roles. They are also trained to teach and mentor, which can be valuable in guiding and developing teams.
Why is the speaker passionate about encouraging physicists and mathematicians to consider non-academic career paths?
-The speaker is passionate about this because they believe that individuals with a background in physics or mathematics have unique and valuable skills that can greatly benefit various sectors outside of academia. They also emphasize that the world needs more such individuals in diverse fields to solve complex problems and innovate.
What challenges might physicists and mathematicians face when transitioning to non-academic roles?
-One challenge is that people outside of academia might not fully understand the breadth and depth of skills that physicists and mathematicians possess. Therefore, it's important for them to effectively communicate their unique value and capabilities during job interviews and when writing resumes or cover letters.
How does the speaker describe the job market for individuals with a physics or mathematics background outside of academia?
-The speaker describes the job market as unsaturated, with thousands of available positions and a high demand for skilled individuals. They mention that companies struggle to find good people and that there are more opportunities than academic positions.
What does the speaker suggest is the key to successfully transitioning from an academic to a non-academic career?
-The key to a successful transition, according to the speaker, is self-awareness and the ability to clearly communicate one's unique skills and experiences. They emphasize the importance of understanding what value one brings to a role and being able to articulate this effectively to potential employers.
Why does the speaker believe that the skills acquired during a physics or mathematics education are beneficial in the business world?
-The speaker believes that the analytical capabilities, problem-solving skills, and the ability to deal with the unknown that are developed during a physics or mathematics education are highly beneficial in the business world. These skills enable individuals to approach complex problems in a structured way and to think critically and creatively.
Outlines
π Academic to Business Transition Insights
The speaker reflects on their academic background in physics and the transition to a career outside academia. They recount their experiences in grad school, postdoc work at CERN and DESY, and the research on photon structure. The narrative highlights the speaker's move to Bank of America, where they utilized their physics background to contribute to IT and software development, emphasizing the value of a physics education in non-academic fields.
π οΈ Leveraging Physics Skills in the Corporate World
The speaker discusses their role at Bank of America, focusing on the importance of IT in banking and the various tasks they undertook, from data acquisition to policy formulation. They stress the versatility required in the business world and how their physics background equipped them to handle a wide range of responsibilities. The speaker also addresses the misconception that academic positions are the only career path for physicists and encourages considering opportunities in the business world.
π Motivation and Impact of Physicists in Industry
The speaker delves into the motivations of physicists and mathematicians, emphasizing the desire for challenge and the joy of expanding human knowledge. They discuss the limited number of academic positions available and the benefits of seeking employment outside academia, where the job market is unsaturated, and the potential for making a significant impact is high. The speaker also shares personal anecdotes about the transition from academic research to a business environment.
π€ Embracing the Unknown and Problem-Solving
The speaker highlights the unique value that physicists and mathematicians bring to the business world, including their ability to embrace the unknown and their strong problem-solving skills. They discuss how these skills are not fully appreciated or utilized in many business environments, creating opportunities for those with a hard science background to excel. The speaker also talks about the importance of continuous learning and adapting to new challenges.
π Analytical Skills and Data Interpretation
The speaker emphasizes the analytical capabilities of physicists and mathematicians, which are highly sought after in the business world. They discuss how their academic training in analyzing and interpreting data provides a significant advantage in roles that require problem-solving and decision-making based on complex data sets. The speaker also touches on the indirect applications of their academic knowledge in a business context.
π Communication and the Value of Soft Skills
The speaker stresses the importance of communication skills, asserting that the ability to convey complex ideas clearly is a rare and valuable trait. They discuss how their physics background provided them with a strong foundation in logical thinking and data presentation, which has been beneficial in their business career. The speaker also encourages physicists to recognize and articulate the wide range of skills they possess.
π The Broad Impact of Physicists in Various Fields
The speaker concludes with a motivational message about the potential impact of physicists and mathematicians in diverse fields outside academia. They share personal experiences and the experiences of colleagues who have successfully transitioned into various roles in the business world, emphasizing that the unique perspective and skill set of physicists can lead to rewarding and impactful careers.
π¬ Indirect Applications of Hard Science Skills
The speaker addresses a question about the direct application of physics and mathematics in their work, acknowledging that while direct applications may be minimal, the indirect skills acquired through their studies are invaluable. They explain that the ability to analyze, interpret, and understand complex information is transferable and highly applicable in the business context.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Academic World
π‘Postdoc Experience
π‘Particle Physics
π‘Data Analysis
π‘Non-Academic Career
π‘DevOps
π‘
π‘Problem-Solving
π‘Teaching and Mentoring
π‘Communication Skills
π‘Fear of the Unknown
π‘Analytical Skills
Highlights
Speaker transitions from academia to the business world, offering unique insights into both fields.
Speaker's background in physics and grad school experience provided a foundation for problem-solving and analytical skills.
Postdoc experience at Brown University working on the D0 experiment at Fermilab contributed to understanding large-scale data management.
Work at Bank of America since 2005, moving into a non-academic role and applying physics skills in a new context.
Speaker's role in driving policies for software development and modernization within the company, emphasizing the IT aspect of banking.
The importance of DevOps and automation in the software industry, and how it relates to the speaker's experience in academia.
Speaker's motivation for leaving academia was the desire to make a broader impact and the realization that being a physicist is a permanent mindset.
The scarcity of academic jobs and the global competition for these positions, highlighting the need for alternative career paths for PhD holders.
The unsaturated job market outside of academia and the opportunities it presents for those with physics and math backgrounds.
Speaker's personal transition from research to management, emphasizing the value of teaching and mentoring skills.
The unique value proposition that physicists and mathematicians bring to non-academic fields, including problem-solving and analytical capabilities.
The importance of understanding and communicating one's skills effectively in transitioning from academia to other career paths.
Speaker's experience in building a data acquisition system for the D0 experiment, showcasing the practical application of physics skills in IT.
The need for diverse thinkers and the fear of the unknown in the business world, areas where physicists and mathematicians excel.
Speaker's advice on the importance of recognizing one's unique contributions and the potential for a rewarding career outside of academia.
Transcripts
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