Expert: Daniel Mazur - 5/9/2009

Question
Hi Daniel
I am a 32 years govt. employee in India completed M.Sc.Physics in 2000 . Though I am not a brilliant student but some quarries like What ,Why and How all these quarries led me to take my carrier in physics due to family backwardness i could not complete my Ph.D. in Physics and joined the job in 2003. While working i keep on  thinking about various questions related to behaviour of electrons in solids, properties of matter in same three previous 3-W formats.I keeps on solving sample papers of chicago university, MIT, OU, etc. and enjoy a lot but i want to join the R& D institution that can allow me to carry out the R & D work in physics for which I am planning to go for Ph.d. Program in Physics from chicago univ.the field in which i realy need your sincere guidence is- after completion of Ph.D. Program what are the chances to work in a university in US and other R and D institutions, what are the  probable difficulties  that i will have to face in acheiving that and is there any age bar (as it is in India)to pursue Ph.D. and to go for  permanent and temperery teaching in university and institutions respectively.
Eagerly waiting for your sincere guidence.
with regards-
sarvesh kumar(ASO-T)
parliament of india

Answer
Hi,

in order to go to R&D, it is almost imperative that you get a Ph.D. No matter what age you are, in the USA or Europe, the universities will let you enroll for a Ph.D. program. You just need to clarify it for yourself that you want to go through all the downsides: If you have a partner or children, you must move them with you. You will need to refresh and re-learn a lot from the undergraduate physics - this shouldn't be too much of a problem to you as you say you keep yourself busy solving test papers. University of Chicago is definitely a good place to get your Ph.D. from, I got mine from another university in Chicago.

The best chance of a job after Ph.D. is as a post-doctorate assistant - this can take place at any University with their own research in physics and most of the big ones do have it. After post-docs (perhaps more than one) you should be able to get a permanent position somewhere around the world. Permanent positions come as professorships at universities and staff scientist positions in national labs in all the countries. Private sector also hires a small fraction of physicists, but our tasks there are much more application oriented than in the labs and schools. Again, there are usually no age limits for post-docs, for professorships older age may be an advantage.

Good luck!
Daniel