How I chose my research field (PhD)
TLDRIn this video, the speaker shares their journey from an initial interest in biology and fusion research to ultimately specializing in atmospheric physics and stratospheric dynamics. Initially drawn to the environmental impact of climate change, they shifted focus after realizing nuclear fusion was more an engineering challenge. Their passion for physics was reignited during a university module on fluid flows and complexity, leading to a PhD in atmospheric physics. The speaker advises others to explore various physics fields, trust their instincts, and follow their interests to find their niche.
Takeaways
- 🌟 The speaker initially wanted to work in fusion research due to an early interest in science and a desire to combat climate change.
- 🔬 Initially, the speaker was more interested in biology but found physics to be 'cool' and decided to study it to help the environment.
- 📚 The speaker discovered that the physics of nuclear fusion was more of an engineering problem, which led to a loss of interest in that field.
- 🏫 The speaker's physics education at university was largely theoretical, which didn't feel very connected to real-world applications.
- 💡 A third-year university module on fluid flows and complexity sparked the speaker's interest in atmospheric physics and its relevance to climate.
- 🌀 The Navier-Stokes equations, which describe fluid motion, were a turning point for the speaker, connecting physics to real-world systems like the atmosphere.
- 📈 The speaker's PhD research in atmospheric physics was not pre-planned but was chosen from available projects offered by supervisors.
- 🔗 The speaker's final PhD topic in stratospheric dynamics was influenced by both the expertise of their supervisors and personal interest in analytically describing physical systems.
- 👨🏫 The speaker advises others to follow their gut instincts when choosing a research area, as personal interest is crucial for enduring the research process.
- 🎓 The speaker emphasizes the importance of being exposed to various physics subfields before making a decision on a specialization.
- 📝 The speaker's journey in choosing a research area was influenced by a combination of personal interest, academic exposure, and practical opportunities.
Q & A
What was the speaker's initial interest in science?
-The speaker was initially interested in biology and had a passion for the environment and issues like global warming and climate change from a young age.
Why did the speaker change their focus from fusion research to atmospheric physics?
-The speaker realized that the physics of nuclear fusion was more of an engineering problem rather than a physics problem, which didn't align with their interests, leading them to atmospheric physics.
How did the speaker's perception of physics change during their university education?
-The speaker found that the idealized cases taught in university physics didn't feel real, but their interest was reignited when they studied fluid flows and complexity in their third year.
What sparked the speaker's interest in stratospheric dynamics?
-The speaker became interested in stratospheric dynamics after working on a problem set involving the Navier-Stokes equations and realizing they could describe real-world systems like the atmosphere.
Why did the speaker choose their PhD project on stratospheric dynamics?
-The speaker chose the project because it had implications for climate change and was led by Professor Leslie Gray, who had a good reputation and a track record of successful students.
What was the impact of funding issues on the speaker's academic path?
-Funding issues caused the speaker to lose their place at Oxford and instead be offered a place at Exeter, which led to a change in their research focus within stratospheric dynamics.
How did the speaker's supervisors influence their research topic?
-The speaker's supervisors, particularly Professor Mark Baldwin, influenced their research topic by aligning it with their own areas of expertise and the phenomena they had discovered.
What advice does the speaker give to those choosing a specialization within physics?
-The speaker advises to follow one's gut instinct, be exposed to different areas of physics, and trust that your interest will guide you to the right specialization.
How did the speaker's interest in the environment influence their academic and research choices?
-The speaker's interest in the environment led them to initially pursue fusion research for its potential in clean energy and later to atmospheric physics, where they could apply physics to understand and address climate change.
What role did the speaker's childhood fascination with dinosaurs and Gerald Durrell's books play in their academic journey?
-The speaker's childhood fascination with dinosaurs and Gerald Durrell's books sparked an early interest in the environment, which became a driving force in their academic pursuits and research.
How did the speaker's experience with the Navier-Stokes equations during their third year at university influence their research direction?
-The speaker's experience with the Navier-Stokes equations made them realize the applicability of physics to real-world systems, leading them to fall in love with the idea of describing the atmosphere and eventually focusing on stratospheric dynamics.
Outlines
🌟 Journey to Atmospheric Physics Research
The speaker shares their research journey from school to PhD, focusing on atmospheric physics and stratospheric dynamics. Initially interested in biology and the environment, they were drawn to physics in school due to its 'cool stuff'. The speaker's initial goal was fusion research for clean energy, but they found the physics aspect settled and more of an engineering challenge. Throughout their degree, they kept options open until discovering fluid dynamics and complexity in their third year, which felt real and applicable. This rekindled their focus, connecting physics with the real world and climate, leading to their current research area.
🎓 Choosing a PhD Path in Physics
The speaker explains that in the UK, PhD topics are typically chosen from proposals offered by supervisors rather than coming in with a specific research plan. They narrowed down their interests by engaging with various physics projects at Oxford and eventually applied for a project on stratospheric dynamics related to solar forcing and climate change. The choice was influenced by the project's real-world impact and the supervisor's reputation. However, due to funding issues, the speaker ended up at Exeter with a similar project, highlighting the unpredictability of the PhD selection process.
🔍 Specializing in Stratospheric Dynamics
The speaker discusses how their specialization in stratospheric dynamics was partly due to their supervisors' expertise and partly due to their own interest in deriving and testing new theories using equations. They emphasize the importance of analytically describing physical systems, which was their initial attraction to physics. The speaker advises others to follow their gut when choosing a specialization, be exposed to various physics areas, and trust their interests as the key to enduring and excelling in research.
📚 Reflecting on the Research Journey
In a less formal, unscripted manner, the speaker reflects on their research journey and invites others to share their stories in the comments. They express hope that the video was informative and enjoyable, encouraging viewers to engage and contribute their perspectives on how they arrived at their research subfields.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Research journey
💡Atmospheric physics
💡Fusion research
💡Navier-Stokes equations
💡Stratospheric dynamics
💡Climate change
💡Physics degree
💡Fluids flows and complexity
💡Solar forcing
💡Quasi-biennial oscillation
💡Gut instinct
Highlights
The speaker's initial interest in biology and environmental issues led to a passion for addressing climate change.
A shift in interest from biology to physics during school due to the 'cool stuff' in physics.
The realization that nuclear fusion is more of an engineering problem than a physics problem led to a loss of initial enthusiasm.
The speaker's experience of physics education in the UK, emphasizing idealized cases rather than real-world applications.
A turning point in the speaker's academic direction was the third-year module on fluid flows and complexity.
The appeal of the Navier-Stokes equations in describing real-world fluid dynamics.
An extension problem on fluid dynamics between heated plates sparked a deep interest in atmospheric physics.
The connection between fluid dynamics and the description of the atmosphere and ocean as a continuous medium.
The process of narrowing down the area of interest from general physics to atmospheric physics.
The selection of a PhD project based on its relevance to climate change and the supervisor's reputation.
The unexpected change of the PhD institution from Oxford to Exeter due to funding issues.
The final specialization in stratospheric dynamics and its sub-branch, influenced by the supervisor's expertise and personal interest.
The importance of deriving and testing new theories in physics as a driving factor for the speaker's research.
Advice to follow one's gut instinct when choosing a specialization within physics.
The recommendation to be exposed to various physics subfields before making a decision.
The significance of maintaining interest in research as a key to success in a PhD program.
An open invitation for viewers to share their own research stories in the comments.
Transcripts
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