Returning to Academia (?)
Not sure if I’m looking for advice, or perspective, or if I just need to vent a little. Maybe all three.
I studied physics and absolutely loved it.
College was difficult financially but it completely changed my life. Leaving my parents house, meeting researchers, professors, and students from different backgrounds made me realize there was a world out there. I felt blessed.
At some point I worked part-time jobs, lived for free in a República (house run by students), and did whatever I could to stay afloat and finish my degree.
Eventually things started working out. I got involved in student events and projects, such as building a rocket for an international competition, received a research scholarship during my Masters and managed - entirely from my own initiative - to secure a thesis position at a major particle accelerator facility in Germany.
Later, I worked there in QC for detector electronics for the HL-LHC, in Geneva.
That period of my life felt unreal. All the things I've seen through a screen online for years were suddenly right in front of me - sometimes literally in my hands. At the time, two things felt certain:
1 - Pursuing a PhD in physics
2 - (while) building a life with my partner
The problem was geography.
I didn’t want to do a PhD in my home country because the conditions aren’t favorable but staying in Germany would have been extremely difficult for my partner professionally. We decided to try Switzerland instead, since she has family there.
How it went:
I spent most of 2025 trying to make that happen. It nearly killed me.
For months, I reached out to professors, read papers constantly, asked for advice, for recommendation letters, everything you can think of. I started applying ~6 months before leaving Germany. 8 interviews, 3 networking calls, and even an internship later… nothing came of it.
Honestly, it crushed me. Being a physicist was my primary goal for so long... Not getting into a PhD made me feel like I failed at the one thing I cared about most.
I came back home and faced unemployment. I reconsidered other positions where some time in Switzerland would be required. Not only applying, but also reaching out asking if any group had vacancies and would be willing to host me. Overall, I got nice replies but it would very difficult to manage this financially.
I went back to tutoring math and physics at highschool and college level but when money was really short I went back to working in construction (what a downgrade, huh? from a particle physicist to construction worker ahah)
With time, I had to apply to jobs in industry.
Fast forward to now:
I'm currently working as a developer in Cloud Technologies and I also play a role within an Operation Support Systems (OSS) for a major client where I also work closely with Site Reliability Engineers (SRE). It's been fun, I'm enjoying the pace and everyone is so nice. I'm constantly showered with compliments! :)
Outside of work, life has also improved a lot:
- I’m finally taking driving lessons at 27 because I could never afford them before
- I started surfing, attending boxing lessons, going to the gym overall
- Taking chess more seriously
- I’ve been building personal projects with Raspberry Pis + small apps
Most importantly, I spend way more time with friends and family now!
Growing up, I never had money to go anywhere and because of that I felt trapped. Now I finally feel free to explore life a bit more.
But career wise, I still feel conflicted.
I've been in love with physics since forever, I studied physics, tutored physics and worked in high-energy physics. Being a researcher was much more fulfilling to me. I truly enjoy the academic environment (or at least I was very lucky with everyone I crossed paths with).
At the same time, I’m scared of giving up the stability I'm finally building. I’m also aware that academia seems increasingly unstable these days, even in strong institutions.
People constantly tell me to “leave the country” because salaries and opportunities abroad are better, but I’m also 27 now and thinking seriously about stability, finances and building a future with my partner.
Part of me feels like if I don’t pursue a PhD soon, I never will.
Another part of me is terrified of leaving a stable career for something uncertain and potentially ending up unemployed again afterward (I'm terrified).
- Has anyone here gone through something similar? Especially people who moved from academia to industry (or back again)?
- Should I fully commit to industry?
- I’ve been told that some PIs prefer candidates with more experience but idk. I worry that stepping away from the field might have distanced me from some core physics concepts. I feel that someone coming straight out of university might be a stronger candidate in that sense.
- Academically, I’d describe myself as a good and consistent student, but not necessarily exceptional.