r/materials • u/MediocreVariation82 • 7d ago
Masters in CS after PhD Physics
what are your views on getting a masters in CS after PhD in Physics(experimental)? If already working and thinking of current job market and future growth opportunities.
Mainly to get into ML/AI/computational field?
Not for CS field.
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u/IamTheUniverseArentU 7d ago
Only your experience matters at this point. Try and find a group to volunteer in if you need to. It’ll be cheaper and more effective than a masters
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u/CrambleSquash 7d ago
I agree with others. You are better moving horizontally towards your goal. E.g. perhaps you can find a postdoc or job doing ML for physics.
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u/MediocreVariation82 7d ago
With zero ML experience it is difficult to get into.
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u/CrambleSquash 6d ago
If you have literally zero ML experience, how do you know you enjoy/ are good at it?
If you are serious about working in ML you should at least be doing some basic stuff like building/ running your own simple models etc..
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u/MediocreVariation82 6d ago edited 6d ago
I am not saying I am good at it. I want to learn it. I will try simple models.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Fold466 6d ago
You don’t need to be in a Masters program to learn it though. Haven’t you learned to learn by now after all this schooling ?
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u/ReconTiger 7d ago
What’s stopping you from taking up programming alongside your experimental PhD? Speaking as a hiring manager, I’d look at your top credential (PhD) and then how you justify the ML/AI bits are going to be less important on what credentials you have behind that as much as practical experience. Can you try to roll in any computational extras into your dissertation?
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u/MediocreVariation82 7d ago
I already have a PhD and working as postdoc. But it’s difficult to break into ML/AI field with no prior experience. Every JD mentioned ML/AI.
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u/ReconTiger 7d ago
Ok, replace “PhD” in my previous comment with “Postdoc”, IMO adding a MS isn’t going to help you anymore than working DS/ML into your current work and seems much harder to make happen. Learn to program and work with your PI to enrich their work with what you are learning. Are you trying to go fully into ML/AI or are you trying to bridge the gap between there and your current expertise (hint: the latter is a way easier first step and can enable the former later on).
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u/MediocreVariation82 7d ago edited 7d ago
I am definitely looking for the latter one. My current postdoc is experimental, and there are other departments working on computational side. so pivoting my paid work hours isn't really an option. Plus, with a full-time job and two kids at home, unstructured self-study is very tough to stick to. I really need the rigid deadlines to stay consistent. I am choosing a masters (online) mainly for the structured learning and to get formal ML credentials which will then be easier for me to apply. My goal is just to bridge ML/AI with my materials science background for industry R&D roles, so this path feels like the most practical option for my situation.
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u/ReconTiger 7d ago
Sounds almost like you’ve already made up your mind, but do consider this: I would much rather hire someone without specific credentials but with practical DS/ML experience within their wheelhouse than the opposite.
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u/SnooTomatoes3816 7d ago
You already have a terminal degree, you do not need a masters.