All Questions
Tagged with career soft-question
107 questions
15
votes
6
answers
2k
views
What does keep you "doing what you do"? [closed]
I am towards the end of my Phd (with some difficultues to overcome, I can say I am really satisfied about it) and I was wondering about what to do next. There are basically two paths: academia or ...
- 835
7
votes
3
answers
903
views
What are journal rankings that employers look at? [closed]
What are journal rankings that employers look at?
There are few questions on this topic already, but I don't think they fully address my question. Please close this one if it is not appropriate for ...
39
votes
3
answers
4k
views
How to write mathematics without typing?
What solutions exist for mathematicians who need to write papers, but can't type? (I'm an early-career research mathematician and I can't type for the next few months.)
- 401
1
vote
2
answers
433
views
Are there grants supporting sabbatical year in US? [closed]
I am a tenured mathematician at a university outside of the US. I would be interested to spend my sabbatical year in one of the US universities.
Are there grants I can apply to partially support my ...
2
votes
0
answers
382
views
How to handle a research identity crisis
I have studied applied math and got a PhD (3yrs) in that field with applications in fluid dynamics. Then in my first postdoc (1.5yrs) I did again a postdoc in applied math but studied applications in ...
- 31
15
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Research in mathematics without a degree in mathematics
This question might not make much sense or be a big deal for someone but I genuinely would like to know the opinions.
I am currently a software developer in a small start-up. I had to drop out of ...
-4
votes
1
answer
551
views
Amount of mathematical knowledge required for starting Ph.D. in pure mathematics [closed]
How much mathematics should one know before starting a Ph.D. program in pure mathematics? For example what topics one must understand well to pursue a Ph.D. in US University in Number Theory (...
- 312
59
votes
10
answers
12k
views
What do you do when you're stuck?
I'm pretty sure almost all mathematicians have been in a situation where they found an interesting problem; they thought of many different ideas to tackle the problem, but in all of these ideas, there ...
5
votes
4
answers
500
views
Funding programs for mathematical research [closed]
In the USA, as far as I know, the main grants available to mathematicians are collected on the NSF or the AMS websites [please, correct me if this perception is inaccurate]. On the other hand, for ...
74
votes
8
answers
14k
views
What to do after a pure math academic path?
I don't know whether my question is in the appropriate place. I've studied physics, and then did a PhD in (pure) math and 2 postdocs. I definitely love math research, but I am not ready to apply all ...
-1
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Publication Of 50 pages [closed]
Does anyone know of a research journal in mathematics that is willing to publish 50 pages of peer-review research? I would like to submit research that explores how to develop predicate models for ...
13
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Is computer algebra or symbolic computation an active area of research?
I'm interested in doing PhD in computer algebra or symbolic computation, and was wondering if this is an active area of research? Would this area of research also help me in the transition to ...
2
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What kind of jobs are available for a quantum logician?
What kind of jobs are there for someone with a strong, research-level theoretical background in the topic? I'm especially interested in the industry rather than academic jobs.
- 515
36
votes
15
answers
10k
views
Is pure mathematics useful outside of mathematics itself? [closed]
From time to time Mathoverflow allows soft questions because they are arguably best answered by active mathematicians and they can benefit other mathematicians/PhD students/math undergraduates. I ...
1
vote
1
answer
588
views
I want to enter graduate school in pure math. Is doing REU in “mathematical modeling” a good idea? Is it an essential skill to learn?
(please let me know if this question is not suitable here)
Hello! I'm an undergraduate rising senior majoring in mathematics and it seems that I got rejected by an REU that is held in my university ...
- 129
0
votes
1
answer
828
views
Applying Phd directly after undergraduate [closed]
I'm a math undergraduate and I'm about to finish my second year at UCL. It's time to consider my graduate school, and I have some questions about it. In the UK, many universities provide math PhD ...
- 133
24
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Is an interpretation mathematics (fit for publication)?
Background
I am a mathematician with two published papers. The first is based on my PhD thesis and generalised a tool to a more general setting. The thesis was cited a number of times by the time the ...
- 265
1
vote
1
answer
927
views
What qualities and achievements can outweigh bad grades? [closed]
I will try to formulate my question so that the answer is not opinion-based.
My question: Considering a undergraduate math student planning to pursue a PhD program, what qualities and achievements can ...
user173409
8
votes
0
answers
2k
views
How difficult will it be to start doing research in pure mathematics in the near future? [closed]
I am a first year PhD student in mathematics (complex differential and Kahler Geometry) and the other day I had a thought about the difficulty of starting to do research. This is my first post here ...
9
votes
1
answer
677
views
how mathematicians do research? [closed]
I am a first-year physics graduate student with a deep interest in mathematics. I am specifically interested in algebraic geometry and algebraic topology, and I would like to employ advanced ...
- 99
0
votes
1
answer
748
views
Advice for PhD in Algebra [closed]
I hope that this question is okay to post here.
I'm in my final year of my master's degree in Sweden, and I'm starting to feel that some doors are closing in regards to applying for a postgraduate ...
0
votes
1
answer
284
views
What will stand in for the JMM Employment Center this year?
The Joint Mathematics Meetings will be virtual this year, and there is no indication of there being an Employment Center (virtual or otherwise). What is the story with the Employment Center? Will it ...
3
votes
1
answer
805
views
Math graduate school applications and personal hardships [closed]
This question is on mathematics, career, and personal life.
I.) Assumptions.
i.) Suppose that I am a Junior in college majoring in mathematics at a top research institution in the U.S. I have "...
0
votes
1
answer
769
views
Is it all right to invite a professor to cowrite a paper
I managed to improve the techniques of a year-old paper to get a significantly stronger result. I used original ideas, but a large part relies upon results of the original paper. (to the point that ...
3
votes
2
answers
661
views
Which fields of mathematics are most straightforward for a statistician to do research in, other than probability theory?
I have a Ph.D. in Statistics and have always been interested in pure mathematics, but never had a chance to really pursue it. My mathematics background includes real analysis, linear algebra, ...
31
votes
6
answers
8k
views
Pros and cons of specializing in an esoteric research area
If a mathematician specializes in a popular research area, then there are many job positions available, but at the same time, many competitors who are willing to get such job positions. For an ...
10
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How many graduate students in mathematics are there worldwide?
There is already a question about the number of research mathematicians here, but I was wondering :
is it possible to estimate the number of graduate students in mathematics worldwide in 2019 ? (...
- 325
0
votes
1
answer
262
views
Thematic programs for collaborative research (similar to the one in Bonn) [closed]
The Hausdorff Institute in Bonn periodically organizes thematic junior trimester programs, which "give young mathematicians (postdocs, junior faculty) the opportunity to carry out collaborative ...
23
votes
0
answers
514
views
"Matchmaking website" for project-specific mathematical collaborations [closed]
It seems that even in the age of Internet, most mathematical collaborations are born (and pursued) off-line.
However, I wonder if there exists a "matchmaking website" for mathematical ...
user60665
11
votes
2
answers
848
views
How to organize collaborations? Managing shared library and LaTeX document
What is an effective way to organize collaborations with several people on the same paper? How do you arrange the $\LaTeX$ document, the shared (digital) papers library, and other aspects?
More in ...
44
votes
3
answers
10k
views
Publishing a Simple Paper as an Undergraduate
First off I apologize if this question does not belong here, I would be happy to hear about any better locations to post this on.
I am a (first year) undergraduate mathematics student, and I recently ...
51
votes
8
answers
14k
views
The "derived drift" is pretty unsatisfying and dangerous to category theory (or at least, to me) [closed]
I'm currently a young, not-so-young mathematician, finishing its second postdoc. I developed an interest for rather different topics in the last few years but constantly, slowly converged towards ...
92
votes
2
answers
15k
views
Coming out as transgender in the mathematical community
I don't know if MO is the right place to ask such a question, but anyway it's my only hope to get an answer, and it's very important for me (not to say 'vital'); so let's try.
I'm at this time a Ph.D....
9
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Can the Math 2.0 Forum's Closure be prevented? [closed]
Apologies if this is not regarded as suitable for MO, but I have noticed other "soft" questions and feel this deserves some attention by the community, and did not know where else this could be asked.
...
35
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Dealing with unwanted co-authorship requests
This post is a sequel to: Collaboration or acknowledgment?
The following has come to my attention. A senior mathematician (let us call him or her Alice) suggested a problem to a young mathematician (...
31
votes
19
answers
7k
views
Research-only permanent positions worldwide
Most academic jobs involve some amount of teaching. Post-docs generally do not, but they are only short-term positions.
Question: in which countries can one obtain a research-only permanent ...
29
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Etiquette of publishing folklore results
I am wondering what is the etiquette of publishing a "folklore" result?
Though special cases of the result are well-known, the proof is not readily available in any reference text or paper I've seen....
7
votes
0
answers
548
views
Partial differential equations outside of academia [closed]
I've seen a number of career/jobs questions on mathoverflow before, so I thought I would ask. Please excuse me if this isn't the best place for this specific question. Lately I've been really ...
- 139
61
votes
4
answers
7k
views
Is it possible to have a research career while checking the proof of every theorem that you cite?
A colleague raised the above question with me; more precisely he said:
Suppose that a mathematician were resolved not to publish any theorems
unless they had checked the proof of every theorem ...
23
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Adapting arguments and plagiarism
I'm currently working on my PhD thesis. I have several suggested problems to work on, some of them are very similar to some problems that my advisor have worked before and published already, either in ...
12
votes
1
answer
651
views
What would you do if you improve your own result that is submitted but not published?
Here is a hypothetical situation:
You have proven a result and written up a paper about it. You have submitted your article to some journal and it is being reviewed.
While you are waiting, you have ...
11
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Use of an appendix in a long paper
I am writing a long paper (around 100 pages). I would consider 50 pages of it interesting in that it solves a problem of some significance in my field and contains an number of difficult ideas in the ...
8
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Publication in proceedings
Why and how publishing a paper in proceedings?
What are the difference with a "classical" journal?
What's the list of the main proceedings in which one can publish?
Do proceedings papers (never, ...
17
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Research and exposition: how does writing "basic" books affect your "serious" research work?
I can see the benefit of writing a mathematical monograph: you revise and organize your own work and recollect the key ideas of your own research. But this applies only to books aimed at researchers ...
29
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Collaboration or acknowledgment?
This post is a sequel of: When should a supervisor be a co-author?
This time the topic is about the interaction between two professional mathematicians (in particular junior-senior, but not ...
27
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Graduate program applications that require questionnaires and other non-letter material
In the December 2014 AMS Notices, a letter to the editor (http://www.ams.org/notices/201411/rnoti-p1311.pdf) by Deconinck and Medlock addresses the problem of (math) graduate programs requiring letter ...
22
votes
7
answers
3k
views
Where to find (personal) motivation [closed]
I think it would be appropriate to make this question CW...
It is likely that this question will not survive here on MO for long, but I do hope that the community gives it a chance. I also hope to ...
59
votes
12
answers
34k
views
What areas of pure mathematics research are best for a post-PhD transition to industry?
I have a student who is looking to start a PhD in pure mathematics. She is talented and motivated, and will do quite well. She is still in a phase of her development where she is still open to the ...
55
votes
5
answers
49k
views
Advice for pure-math Phd students [closed]
Pursuing a Phd in pure math can be a daunting task. A number of students who begin a Phd in pure math don't complete it, and there are high-quality dissertations and those which are not so high ...
34
votes
7
answers
4k
views
Is it worthwhile to give off-topic talks?
I am a graduate student. Occasionally for some reason I am asked to give a talk on my research at a conference whose stated purpose is almost completely unrelated to my research. To preserve my ...