A career in academic astrophysics is not for everyone, for varying reasons. ASTRO 3D reached out to a group of its past members and asked them to discuss why they transitioned away from academic astronomy, how they came to their decision, how they went about it and their advice for others who might be considering doing the same.
Beyond ASTRO is a series of videos delving into the journeys of these individuals whose stories explore their motivations and their paths to their new careers.
- Chapter 1 explores the myriad reasons why professional astronomers may leave academia.
- Chapter 2 explores the pathways the interviewees took after leaving academic astronomy.
- Chapter 3 explores the job transition journey and seizing opportunities.
- Chapter 4 explores the advantages of a PhD in astronomy to those looking for careers outside of academia.
- Chapter 5 provides tips from our interviewees on things they found helpful in their transition from academia to industry.
- Chapter 6 explores any regrets the interviewees may have had about their career transition.
We thank the participants for generously sharing their time and personal stories.
The names, titles, and workplaces of participants were accurate at the time of the interviews, which were conducted over three years (2021-2023)