Welcome
People from all walks of life shape the captivating world of basic research, each inspired by reasons and curiosities as diverse as the topics they pursue. Reasons can change, and curiosity can go unfulfilled. When that happens, and you find yourself at a crossroads, the stories of past travellers become essential guideposts for choosing which direction to take.
I (Panda) always imagined myself as an astrophysicist. After my PhD, I found myself at such a crossroads, and the stories of my colleagues helped me make my decision. If you feel that you may be approaching one yourself, I invite you to read these stories and perhaps discover a path that feels right for you.
Latest stories of post-academic life
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Alexandra Edletzberger: The best plans are the ones that adapt
An aspiring journalist from Austria became a mathematician and eventually an innovation manager at the tech/meteorological company Ubimet in Vienna. Alex didn’t let convention determine her career; instead, she followed her inner detective towards a role that is both challenging and exciting.
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Sümeyye Suri: Observations always have the right answers
Sü followed her passion for understanding the world with observations from astrophysics to data science. Read her story to find out why and how she traded the academic world, with little stability, for a permanent position as a data scientist at an AI consultancy.
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Kateryna Frantseva: Asteroids like to work together
From childhood stories to comets and, ultimately, project management, Katya’s career has evolved with her passion: from astrophysics to management and organisation. Today, she secures and manages funding for research and the arts.
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Tommaso Fedullo: From trains to networks to cable cars
Tommaso completed a PhD in engineering in Italy, where he developed efficient network protocols for devices and sensors. Once the machines in his lab could communicate with minimal delay, he decided to bring that knowledge to industry. Read how and why he made the move beyond academia to an RnD specialist.
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Lara Ulčakar: quanta to data engineering to entanglement
After a PhD in quantum mechanics, Lara Ulčakar successfully transitioned into industry as a consultant in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where she did not stay long. Read hear motivation and why she ultimately returned to research.
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Astrophysics to meteorological data scientist
My personal journey from a PhD in astrophysics to meteorological data scientist working in RnD.