There is always the anxiety of doing something new and the fact that you sail in unknown waters. But, on the other hand, this is what you always do when you are in basic research, so there is not much difference at the end of the day.
While academic work is very intellectually stimulating, I appreciated the more immediate impact that can be achieved by working in industry.
My take-home message to anyone is always to be realistic and recognise who and what you are and to follow that.
A Ph.D. is about much more than demonstrating problem solving and analytical abilities. Learning to collaborate and communicate effectively with others is a key aspect of research, both in academia and the workplace.
Communication is key! As a data scientist, your stakeholders could be from a technical or non-technical background. Being able to explain the work you are doing in a clear and easy to understand way is really important.
As much as I enjoyed my PhD, towards the end of it I started hearing a little voice in my head that made me doubt if my long-term career was going to be in academia.
I have a lot of autonomy, which makes good use of the independence that I developed as a doctoral researcher.
In addition to the skills in electron microscopy and nanotechnology I learned during my time in academia how to give engaging presentations on complex subjects.
During my DPhil I also found more time to get involved in extracurricular activities compared with my undergraduate degree.
I use the skills from both sides of my degree every day in what I do. Physics teaches you to take an exceptionally complex system and boil it down to the main factors at play.
