Questions tagged [career]
For questions about careers and jobs in mathematics (inside and outside academia)
178 questions
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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 ...
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4
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On what basis does a paper get accepted into a top journal?
Since the initial question was closed, but seems to be attracting a lot of discussion even after the fact, some of the comments qualifying as full answers IMO, I believe it is a reasonable question to ...
7
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3
answers
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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
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3
answers
4k
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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.)
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2
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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
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0
answers
382
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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 ...
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3
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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
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1
answer
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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 (...
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10
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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
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4
answers
500
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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
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8
answers
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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 ...
26
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8
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Is it possible to start a PhD in mathematics at the age of 29? [duplicate]
I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. I was initially focused on branches in analysis like operator algebra. At the third year of my undergraduate study, I experienced a financial ...
7
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1
answer
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How does one build and refine strong technical skills relevant to research?
I am an early career researcher working in an area of "hard" analysis, but this is a fairly broad question. My technical skills are likely below par and my greatest hindrance to my research ...
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18
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4
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4k
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What are the "hot" topics in mathematical QFT at the time?
I am currently finishing my Master's studies in mathematical physics. One topic which always interested me a lot were modern mathematical approaches to Quantum Field Theory (QFT) as well as the ...
-1
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1
answer
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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
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3
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2k
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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
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3
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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.
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15
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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
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1
answer
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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 ...
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0
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1
answer
828
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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 ...
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24
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1
answer
2k
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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 ...
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1
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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
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0
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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
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1
answer
677
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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 ...
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1
answer
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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
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1
answer
284
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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
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1
answer
805
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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
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1
answer
769
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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
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2
answers
661
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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, ...
10
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2
answers
2k
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Can learning Riemann surfaces be more beneficial than numerical analysis for an analyst?
I am in master program of mathematics, specialized in PDE and numerical analysis. Now I am trying to decide which classes to take for next semester. Of course I want to become an expert in my field, ...
31
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6
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8k
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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 ...
3
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1
answer
577
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What kind of work experience should be included in a math CV for PhD programs?
I am applying to numerous PhD programs in number theory for admission next fall and I want to have a CV prepared, in part because I want to attach a CV to emails I send out to professors at some of my ...
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1
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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 ? (...
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1
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A paper seems to have completely disappeared from editor's hands
I have submitted a paper to a journal on June 2017. The corresponding author is my coauthor. The first response of the editor was after a year, June 2018:
Your paper has been sent, consecutively, ...
2
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1
answer
273
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Can NSF Broader Impact be an unrelated volunteer activity? [closed]
I’m a graduate student preparing to apply for an NSF fellowship and I volunteer a few hours a week working on what I think is a pretty important cause. It has nothing to do with my research or science ...
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1
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Ways to help a math PhD out of depression [closed]
I have a friend who is having trouble in his math PhD career and is recently down with depression. He has decided to take a break from research and receive some medication. To help him recover faster ...
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0
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Doubts related Shifting from Pure to Applied math [closed]
I am a second year (Pure) Math and (Theoretical) Physics undergraduate in India. I want to do a masters in Applied/Computational Science or Math, for which I have apply after next 7 months.
I have ...
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1
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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
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0
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514
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"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
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2
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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 ...
8
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1
answer
1k
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Transitioning from pure mathematics to applied mathematics/machine learning
I recently completed a doctorate in pure mathematics. While in the program, I decided that research was not my ultimate goal/calling. Applied mathematics and machine learning seemed to grab my ...
44
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3
answers
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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 ...
2
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0
answers
562
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How practical is it to change research areas within math after a PhD? [closed]
The title says most of it really. How constrained are you in an academic career based on the topic of your PhD thesis? Is it plausible for someome to be researching in an area of math vastly different ...
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3
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A second Ph.D. in mathematics?
I have now some problems about my research Career, I would like to tell my stories. I am a Chinese guy, but now a Ph.D. candidate in Germany, in the field of so called 'Geometric Analysis', but I do ...
3
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1
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"Significant results" vs "Key outcomes or Other achievements" [closed]
The NSF annual report asks for "Significant results" and "Key outcomes or Other achievements." What is the difference between these two categories?
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How to find research topics in Linear Algebra in Graph Theory [closed]
Note: My first question in this site. MSE users asked me to post this question here for better response
I am a Masters student in Pure Mathematics.
I need to do a Masters thesis in "Linear Algebra ...
user101506
51
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8
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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
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2
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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
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0
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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.
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35
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3
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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 (...