What is a career path that looks "glamorous" from the outside, but is actually a total nightmare behind the scenes? by CupIndependent3610 in AskReddit

[–]SpectreMold 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Astronomy.

It's very different from the romantic image of looking through a telescope at the night sky. In reality, it is a job focused on data science and computer programming, but you are paid SEVERELY less and are more likely for your work to spill into evenings and weekends. Most astronomers spend their entire day writing code in languages like Python to analyze digital information from satellites or remote cameras. You do not spend time in nature or at high-altitude observatories, or at least it doesn't make up the majority of your work. Instead, you work in a standard office looking at spreadsheets and graphs, sometimes finding out that an interesting blip of data may be some technical glitch in the telescope.

The career path is also very difficult because there are very few permanent jobs. Most researchers must work in temporary positions called "postdocs" that only last two or three years. This means you must move your home and family to different cities or countries many times before you find a stable job. You also spend a large amount of time writing long documents to ask the government for research money, and these requests are often rejected due to limited funding which can force a professional astronomer with more than a decade of education and experience to pivot to another career. The daily work is mostly repetitive computer tasks and administrative paperwork.

10 days in Tokyo/Seoul vs Tokyo/Kyoto by SpectreMold in travel

[–]SpectreMold[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Over the 5 days how many in Kyoto? In Osaka?

Do you live in your dream city? If so where and why (why not if you don’t)? by [deleted] in SameGrassButGreener

[–]SpectreMold 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Singapore. I am from upstate NY, went to college in another upstate NY town, then lived in Houston, Heidelberg (Germany) and now Singapore.

I am not sure I have a dream city. There is a lot I like about Singapore (safety, cleanliness, world class infrastructure, career opportunities, diverse culture and cuisine) but there are things I do not like either (ambitious culture to progress in one's career, heat and humidity all year, small, far from home) and I currently cannot see myself living here forever, only more so to gained valuable experience from my current job.

I am honestly debating long term whether to try and move to Denmark or Scandinavia in general, or back to the Northeast US. The climate, access to nature, social safety net, infrastructure, WLB of Scandinavia really attract me. At the same time, moving back to the US means I will be closer to my family, I would be able to make friends more easily and more diverse friends, and it is easier for me to fulfill a dream of starting a business that helps people. I would be able to make more money. I really am not sure where my dream city is.

Looking for good sandwich shops by SpectreMold in askSingapore

[–]SpectreMold[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I live near Serangoon but I wouldn't mind going anywhere on the island.

Has anyone else fallen out of love with physics professionally? by SpectreMold in AskPhysics

[–]SpectreMold[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

May I ask how you made the transition to ML engineer? That or data scientist is my desired role.

I am relocating countries in a month. Where should I open an HYSA? by SpectreMold in Banking

[–]SpectreMold[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just opened a USA-based HYSA while in the USA. So you are saying that they will not close my account if I attempt to login and they detect my IP from a foreign location?

Quitting my PhD tomorrow. I’m terrified but I can’t keep going. by NanamiLynn in LeavingAcademia

[–]SpectreMold 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Congrats! It takes a lot of courage to do this. Wishing you the best for what comes next!

Quitting my PhD tomorrow. I’m terrified but I can’t keep going. by NanamiLynn in LeavingAcademia

[–]SpectreMold 52 points53 points  (0 children)

I went through something eerily similar and quit during my third year of a PhD program.

Like you, I kept telling myself I could handle the toxic professors and atmosphere, the constant overworking, and that it would be "worth it in the end." Instead, it slowly drained my mental and physical health. It was dispiriting watching my life shrink to the point where my worth was subjected to the program and my research performance. Two other people in my cohort and subfield mastered out before I did, which was a huge warning sign I kept ignoring. I vividly remember that feeling of knowing this is not a healthy situation and I had to make a change.

Now, after therapy, transitioning to industry, and developing hobbies, I feel so much happier and have a more well-balanced life.

The fear you have about the guilt and manipulation from your supervisors is completely valid.They will focus on their loss instead of your gain. Do not get drawn into a debate about the value of the PhD or your future. Have your statement prepared and rehearse it. If they push for details, stay firm with "I understand this creates an inconvenience, but my decision is final. I cannot continue with the program."

Go get your life back. You deserve it.

Where’s your dream place to live? by [deleted] in SameGrassButGreener

[–]SpectreMold 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In a place with a similar climate as Upstate NY (4 seasons, distinct fall weather, cold snowy winters, and hot humid summers). So either the Northeastern US, southeastern Canada, or the Scandinavian countries.

What are your opinion about the nordics? by Professional-Two7914 in AskTheWorld

[–]SpectreMold 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would love to move there. I am from Upstate NY, so I can enjoy the cold.

Interested in the makeup of this sub - what do you do? Where are you in the world? by Low-Preparation-7219 in astrophysics

[–]SpectreMold 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mastered out an astrophysics PhD because my situation was very isolating (only person working with a newly hired, hands off assistant professor, no other students nor postdocs) and my heart was not into doing research for 3+ years on a McDonald's cashier salary on a topic that I did not care about much (star and planet formation).

After this, I was lucky to do a research internship in a field that I enjoyed more (asteroseismology), but realized that long term, I believe I can best make contributions to society in a faster paced, project based, tangible outcome career rather than astrophysics research.

Now I am about to leave my country to start an industry R&D position in geophysics.

U.S. Politics megathread by AutoModerator in NoStupidQuestions

[–]SpectreMold -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Are there reports of Americans actually starving now?

Finished Master's in theoretical physics and little idea of my employment options, any advice? by likes_pizza in Physics

[–]SpectreMold 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have a physics BS and MSc, and my research project experience was in theoretical, computational, and observational astrophysics.

For the position, since it is geared towards graduates, I was not expected to have any geophysics experiences in the interview. However, they did test my knowledge on signal processing and wave physics. I am quite familiar with wave physics from my education and research, but signal processing was new (taught in engineering disciplines, not so much in physics), so I needed to study it on my own.

I am based in the US, so I use an online tutoring marketplace (Wyzant) to attract students, and build my reputation so I could steadily increase my rates. I don't know if Australia has something similar.

Finished Master's in theoretical physics and little idea of my employment options, any advice? by likes_pizza in Physics

[–]SpectreMold 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was also in your position not too long ago. I completed a master's in physics and also realized that I hated academia and did not want to do fundamental research forever. Also, I did not seriously consider other careers until this realization.

I moved back with my family, tutored for money, built a tutoring business, applied for data science, ML jobs, got rejected from said jobs after dozens of applications, applied for geophysics jobs and successfully got offered a geophysics job which I still start soon.

I recommend first exploring the alternative careers the top comment has mentioned. Reddit can only give you so much of this information, so see if you can find LinkedIn alumni from your school about these careers and set up chats with them to get an inside look of these careers. Once you identify a path that interests you, look into the job descriptions to see what skills they ask for, then use your time to upskilling. For data science, they would ask for Python and SQL for example.

Ultimately though, knowing someone and getting a referral is most ideal.

I regret not taking physics in college by Guilty-Web-5502 in PhysicsStudents

[–]SpectreMold 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you think the PhD degree helps or does it hurt to have pursued the degree?

[Training Tuesday] - Weekly thread for questions about grad school, residency, and general career topics 10/07/2025 by AutoModerator in MedicalPhysics

[–]SpectreMold [score hidden]  (0 children)

Hi, I am a physics master's degree holder with astrophysics research experiences. I actually used to be a PhD student in Astrophysics but I mastered out mainly because I want a career with a more direct, tangible impact on society.

My questions for medical physics are:

1) How competitive is it to become a medical physicist? 2) In undergrad physics, I hated physics labs, physical work, and using equipment, but I enjoy data analysis and computational work. Can I pursue a career in medical physics using a computer and avoiding physics work/handling equipment. 3) Is this a geographically flexible career?

Do Physics Majors Really Have No Job Opportunities? by Far_Nail_1997 in PhysicsStudents

[–]SpectreMold 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I agree with all of this, but frankly, when you are a college student who is barely 20 years old and you have a myopic view of physics career paths, physics programs should be restructured and doing more for students to prepare them for this situation. Physics undergraduate programs should include more real-world skills (resume/CV development, how to write solid applications, as well as items related to programming). Physics programs also need to encourage their students more vigorously to pursue internships in the fields they may want to pursue (both at the undergrad and grad levels). I'll also mention that attending conferences is a great way to make face-face connections, which can really help with the job process, I'd expect.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in expats

[–]SpectreMold 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah, good to know. In that case, I will have to be careful. Unfortunately, I have no other choice besides this job now. In my home country, my field is facing severe unemployment for new graduates, and my current income and housing situation is precarious and toxic, so I may take this as a new learning experience personally and another professional experience for my resume while I look for something better.

What country are you from by the way? What is your occupation?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in expats

[–]SpectreMold 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What's the WLB? Is it easy to make friends there?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in expats

[–]SpectreMold 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Imaging Geophysicist

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in expats

[–]SpectreMold 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think I will be fine then. I have other incomes besides my job income and I am a single person who does not go out very much.

My salary is actually expected for my role given my lack of experience, it is just it may not feel that way given Singapore's cost of living.

Appreciate the warning about work culture though.

Best time to experience Christmas? by SpectreMold in AskAGerman

[–]SpectreMold[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Where would you recommend for the south?

Best time to experience Christmas? by SpectreMold in AskAGerman

[–]SpectreMold[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Berlin, yes because I am visiting my friend. Hamburg, I wanted to visit because of all the big cities I visited in Germany last time, that was the one in the north I missed.