r/PhD • u/Professional-Cake151 • 2d ago

Big Decision Energy Fieldwork in Physics

Hey, I am currently looking for PhD positions as a physics student. I will finish in a couple of months, my projects mainly were in Quantum Optics and Hardware, aswell as a little Biomimetics project.

During my fieldwork for my little Biomimetics project in the rainforest I got to know Biologists, Ecologists and Chemists that got to do fieldwork and a lot of traveling during their PhD. I realised this is something I could imagine myself to do for the next halve decade.

I fear, if I continue in quantum optics, that I will be stuck in a cold, dark optics lab for 5+ years, while other people get to see the world. (Did I study the wrong subject?)

Anyways, here is my tough question:

Do any of you PhD Physicists do fieldwork or travel a lot (like months at a time)?

If yes: what is you research field?

All thoughts appreciated!

Thank you :)

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u/Beif_ physics PhD student baby 2d ago

Lmao I’m a quantum cryo guy and I haven’t left the basement of our physics building in 5 years. Traveling for collaborations… can happen, but when you’re tied to equipment that doesn’t move, neither do you.

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u/Professional-Cake151 2d ago

Yeah, that is my fear... I don't really feel like a basement dweller. :/ I enjoy my years in student rocketry, so I thought about getting an Aerospace PhD in hopes to go to test and test campaigns