1. Student’s point of view
Mihai Cuciuc
R-ECFA, Bucharest

2. Mihai Cuciuc
Outline
Academic evolution of the Romanian physicist and possible career paths
The financial aspect and its influence on life choices
My path through HEP
Research vs other fields
Conclusions
ADVISORY
PERSONAL OPINION

3. Academic evolution & career paths
Mihai Cuciuc
Academic evolution & career paths
Incoming 13 year old pupil
Not interested
6th grade physics
Interested (7%)
High school physics
Too hard
Like it (28%)
Unrelated field
Engineering
Research in Romania (12%)
Teaching
Choice of faculty
Economic studies
Physics (14%)
Research elsewhere (12%)
Numbers stem from a “back of the envelope” calculation based on the colleagues I’ve had throughout the years. This results in a researcher yield of ~0.03% in environments similar to mine.
I know of nobody willing to go into teaching, and I think this has a heavy impact on the “researcher yield”
While physics does get taught, programming is usually learnt by oneself

4. Financial aspects 2011-07-15 Mihai Cuciuc
The first detriment towards a career in physics is the promise of higher income that the analytical mind receives from competing fields.
I think little can be done at this step except increasing awareness about the work being done in research and that it’s not all about labcoats and glasses
My push towards physics came from a childhood dream of doing something really important for mankind combined with curiosity regarding the inner workings of everything and allowing myself to consider income a lower priority
Choice of faculty
Economic studies
Physics
Engineering
Unrelated field
Engineering
Research in Romania (12%)
Teaching
Research elsewhere (12%)
The bigger threat is the considerably higher income that a potential researcher (after receiving training in physics) is promised in other fields. Factoring in the associated costs one arrives at the following ranking of “good career moves”:
Unrelated field / Engineering (mostly IT: programming, technical support, etc)
Research elsewhere
Research in Romania
Teaching

5. Mihai Cuciuc
My path through HEP
I was lucky enough to be given the chance to learn about the detectors, electronics, triggers, acquisition systems and slow control hands-on, not by reading about them from a book
Getting used to a huge collaboration is pretty confusing but
Once it happens there is a feeling of “belonging” to something great
Workforce being needed on many subjects I could choose the one that fits me best
Frequent travelling: usual pros and cons
Common opinion among PhD students:
3 years is insufficient to finish the required lectures / tasks

6. Research vs other fields
Mihai Cuciuc
Research vs other fields
Research
Other fields
Constant interaction with experts in many fields (i.e. physics, computing, engineering, etc)
Constant personal growth
Keeping oneself up to speed with the latest and greatest in both knowledge and technologies
Being a career choice it’s easier to meet people with common interests
Much easier to become an “international person” – no cultural / social barriers
Bragging rights
Best case: constant interaction with experts on a particular field
Risk of ending up doing (albeit well) just one single thing
More homogenous distribution of interests (income, better positions..) – not necessarily a bad thing, groups of physicists tend to be seen as “the weird bunch”

7. Mihai Cuciuc
Conclusions
Funding in education (or lack thereof) plays a key role in a country’s visibility in research
The choice of heading towards research comes from within oneself, leads to devoted scientists
Once in research, the freedom to choose one’s own subject makes for intellectually satisfied scientists
I think “financially satisfied human being” is an oxymoron, therefore this aspect will always be subject to debate

8. Thank you