Persistent Curiosity
A Podcast by T Shaped
#2: From Academia to Google and Back with Dr Oliver Müller
Navigating the transition from academia to industry can be daunting, as many feel that pure academic experiences don't always align with the corporate world. Also, there's a common perception that once you leave academic labs for boardrooms, the journey back might not be possible.
In this episode, Dr Oliver Müller shares his journey from academia to tech giant Google...and back, proving that such transitions happen. I asked him about his decision-making process when moving between academia and the tech world and we compared these two professional realms. We also talked about the importance of work-life balance and mental well-being and uncovered strategies for making sound career decisions. Listen and enjoy!
Today's Guest: Dr Oliver Müller
Dr Oliver Müller is a Swiss astronomer working on dwarf galaxies and near-field cosmology. He has a Masters's degree in Physics and a PhD in Astronomy from the University of Basal.
In his Ph.D. research, Oliver, for the first time outside of our own galactic system, showed that dwarf galaxies seem to rotate around their host galaxy, which is not expected in the standard model.
Oliver did his postdoctoral training at the University of Strasbourg and at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne).
Oliver's exceptional work has been recognized through a number of awards including the Prix Schläfli in Astronomy by the Swiss Academy of Sciences, the Amberbach Prize from the University of Basel, and the KlarText Prize for Science Communication.
You will learn
Oliver’s beginnings in math and his journey to astronomy
Decision-making process when moving between academia and the tech world
Differences between the two working environment
The importance of work-life balance and mental well-being
Strategies for making sound career decisions.
Resources
Visit Oliver's website
Connect with Oliver on X (former Twitter)
Read Oliver's piece 'The career insights I’m bringing back to academia after a year at Google' published in Nature's Career Column
If you want to support the show:
✨ Subscribe to the show at your favorite streaming platform
✨ Send your testimonials (please use the contact form here)
✨ Suggest future guests (please use the contact form here)
You know what STEM professionals don’t have? Time.
I know you don’t have time to read a lengthy newsletter, but I also want you to be able to take 5 minutes each month to grow your career consciously. Join me for STEM career snippets - a monthly newsletter where I share actionable career planning tips, thought-provoking advice, and inspiring insights on how to progress in your career, all in bite-sized chunks you can read in 5 minutes or less.