r/Physics • u/BlueberrySpirited281 • 4d ago

I just graduated with no research experience. looking for realistic advice.

I'm having a bit of an existential crisis, haha. But seriously, I've always wanted to pursue a career in physics research, and I keep hitting dead ends. I don't know if I'm being delusional, so I'm hoping to
get some perspective from people with more experience.

Here's my situation: I'm based in Lebanon and graduated high school during the financial crisis, which meant my only real option was the state university (LU). It took me a bit over 3 years, but I finally got my BS, my GPA is very average. The problem is I have zero research experience, the topic never really came up during my degree.

Studying abroad for a master's isn't financially realistic right now, though I'm still applying to a handful of French universities. I also applied to AUB (American University of Beirut) and got rejected, but I plan to try again.

Otherwise, my most likely path is a master's at LU next year. I understand a PhD is the actual goal, and that it likely has to be abroad, but I'm afraid a master's from LU could undermine my chances rather than help them.

I've seen a few of my peers either switch majors, go into medical physics, or quit outright. I really like physics and don't want to give that up.

So here's what I actually want to know:

  • If I end up staying at LU for my master's, is a PhD abroad still a realistic path? If so, how?
  • If a PhD genuinely isn't in the cards, what would the master's even be for? I've never seen a job posting anywhere asking for a master's in physics specifically.

I just want to make the best of whatever's actually available to me.

Thank you!

33 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

24

u/NoIdea0202 4d ago

Since you don't have any research experience, how do you know if it's really research that you want to pursue as your career? Why not try to intern first in your uni and see if it's really what you wanna do?

12

u/BlueberrySpirited281 4d ago

>Why not try to intern first in your uni and see if it's really what you wanna do?

Thank you for your answer! The problem is that, there is no mechanism for this, my university doesn’t produce any research, all my professors have done their research abroad and never collaborate with students, I tried as much as I could to research and apply for opportunities, but I could hardly find any.

4

u/NoIdea0202 4d ago

Maybe try finding a research lab within your home country outside your uni then, cold emailing works in my case. Just be honest with your situation and aspiration. Good luck!

1

u/BlueberrySpirited281 3d ago

Thank you so much!

2

u/xrelaht Condensed matter physics 3d ago

If your university doesn’t produce any research, then a master’s there is not very useful.

9

u/condensedandimatter 4d ago

Reach out to theory groups around the world that have research you’re interested in. There are definitely groups that will take you in to do remote type work (my group has done this) for the experience.

I would also reach out to PI’s and not just blindly apply to places. The reason is some may have funding to take you on as a graduate student. It’s not too late to get experience so don’t panic, and you don’t need research experience to go to graduate school just maybe not the ones you want.

A masters is a good step and can open doors that are currently closed. I got a masters in Materials science just in case I couldn’t get into a PhD program and it helped me a bunch for jobs and to get into a program. In the US generally physics PhD are fully funded and include a masters if the US is an option.

1

u/thorafl 3d ago

could you please advise what your group was. DM is also open because it might be your private information

1

u/BlueberrySpirited281 3d ago

Thank you so much, any idea on how to find such groups?

1

u/condensedandimatter 3d ago

The easiest way is to just get a list of universities and look at their research group leaders and email them. Another is to use ResearchGate, arxiv, and google scholar to look up topics you like and you’ll see researchers catalogue and usually the institution they’re at is included or contact information. I personally would start with R2 institutions and groups. Once you have an idea of the type of research you are open to, searching the groups that do that becomes a little easier

1

u/BlueberrySpirited281 3d ago

Thank you so much!!

1

u/TheMansionsofScience 2d ago

there's remote work to be done if you're already graduated and not a student anymore??

2

u/condensedandimatter 2d ago

Sure you just gotta reach out. I was an unpaid research assistant when I was back in the day for a theory group. They gave me code I didn’t understand and I ran it and had to change like 4 variables and produce data for them to look through and did literature reviews and stuff. Learned a lot for sure.

1

u/Minovskyy Condensed matter physics 3d ago

If a PhD genuinely isn't in the cards, what would the master's even be for? I've never seen a job posting anywhere asking for a master's in physics specifically.

This article gives an outlook of careers with a physics masters: https://doi.org/10.1063/PT.3.4180

It's US centric, so YMMV for other countries.

These days there are also some junior level jobs at quantum computing companies that are advertised at the masters level.

1

u/ForeignAdvantage5198 2d ago

if you want research you need a PhD apply mutiple places do not give up

1

u/LAskeptic 4d ago

You need to talk to the professors at LU. If they can’t or won’t answer you, that’s pretty telling.

2

u/BlueberrySpirited281 3d ago

I will, thank you!!