Coming events cast their shadows before them II: Departure isn't synonymous with failure

A fifth column... I hadn't encountered that phrase since 2018, when Alex first mentioned it to me. I was in the midst of my Ph.D., and rumors were swirling through the corridors of the physics department. A fellow Ph.D. student had declined a remarkable opportunity to pursue an internship with a renowned expert in thermodynamics in the United States. The reason? He was about to get married and didn't want to move out of Brazil at that moment. Instead, he chose to exit academia and embrace cooperative employment. I'd like to emphasize two points here for those who aren't familiar with the academic world.

The first one, when you're a budding scientist, you quickly learn that before completing your Ph.D., you're essentially a work in progress. You're building the foundations that will eventually enable you to contribute to science, make discoveries, and advance the frontiers of knowledge, at least according to the unspoken lessons from your professors. During this time, people don't so much look at you but rather at who you're working with, who your Ph.D. advisor is, where you're studying, and where you've gained international experience. They consider what these individuals might say about you in a recommendation letter. To put it in simpler, more common terms, it's like this Ph.D. student was a soccer player in a local team, perhaps skilled in his own country. But when a powerhouse like Real Madrid or Barcelona offers you a spot, along with a hefty salary and the prestige that comes with being part of such a team, and you simply decline, stating, 'I don't want to be in Spain.' And second, you learn that you don't pursue science for the sake of wealth; you do it because it's noble. You're contributing to society, to your world, and to the advancement of human knowledge, and you should take pride in that. In the words of one of my professors, 'We may not have wealth, but we have prestige.'

So, this guy, who was often referred to by some professors as a promising scientist, undermined these two pillars. He turned down an incredible recommendation letter from a prestigious foreign university with a renowned professor. And as if that weren't enough, he had the audacity to abandon academic life in pursuit of financial gain. Of course, this gossip spread throughout the entire institute, and whenever someone recounted this story, they often concluded with: 'It's a pity, he was a promising scientist, but he ruined his career path with this decision. No one will take him seriously after this.' I remember feeling sorry for him, even contemplating how someone could potentially dismantle their entire future for the sake of a marriage. What would he do with his life from here on? I didn't know it at that moment, but I would soon hear about his future…

At the beginning of 2018, I was highly focused on learning French. I needed an international experience as a Ph.D. student, and since my scholarship wouldn't provide this opportunity, I sought an alternative by applying for a grant from the Canadian government. However, one of the requirements to work in Quebec was fluency in French. To avoid interfering with my research, I decided to study French during the early mornings, from 6:00 to 8:00, and in the evenings, from 20:00 to 22:00, every day. My intention was to maintain research efficiency, but I failed miserably. On some days, I devoted the entire day to studying French and completely forgot about my research. This led to some friction with Alex, who noticed a decline in my research productivity and began to complain about my French studies. According to him, French was akin to Latin or Sanskrit, essentially a dead language with no practical use. He believed that if I wanted to excel as a researcher, I should focus on improving my English because, in the realm of science, English was the language that truly mattered, not French. Due to my stubborn will and my advisor's sensitive heart, we had to reach a compromise that would benefit both of us. Consequently, he suggested having two weekly meetings – one on Mondays to ensure I was working during the weekend, and another on Fridays to monitor my progress during the week. Additionally, I agreed to take English classes and allocate a portion of my French study time to learning English, which he would verify. I can only express my deep gratitude to Alex for going the extra mile. He didn't have to take these steps because it was my professional career, but he did it because he wanted me to become a successful scientist, and I am immensely thankful to him for that. These meetings brought me closer to Alex, and our conversations sometimes extended beyond our work. He recommended English books for me to practice and shared his experiences from his time in the United States. During one of our Friday meetings, he was noticeably upset and expressed his frustration regarding the unimpeded presence of fifth columns within the university.

R: Hi Professor, how's it going? You look particularly upset today. Is it because you stayed until 17:00 for our meeting? I'm really sorry, but since I'm teaching, I have this meeting about what we will teach next week every Friday.

A: Fala René, it's not a problem. Part of being a physicist is the teaching time, and you'll get used to these meetings. I'm upset because we are losing students, René. One of Maurice's students and one of Eduardo's have left the postgraduate program to work in a bank. They were hired by that guy who rejected the opportunity to study in the United States. He's a fifth column, and he's destroying the university from the inside.

R: A fifth what? You're talking about Raul and João, right? Yes, I heard they found very good positions with nice salaries. In fact, they're working with Jan now as data scientists. But how is this related to the university, and what's this fifth thing you're mentioning?

A: Indeed, this guy is the one recruiting the students. He's a fifth column. Haven't you ever heard of this expression, René? But you were born in Spanish America; you should have learned about this at school. "Fifth column" is a term popularized during the Spanish Civil War. The Nationalists used it to generate distrust among Republicans.

R: I'm sorry, Professor, but I really have no idea what you're talking about. If they taught about that war in school, I must have missed that class. I can Google it later to understand what you're talking about.

A: I often wonder what schools teach these days. You really should read about the Spanish Civil War, René; it's part of general culture. But I'll explain this in simple terms. You know Spain has a monarchy with a king. Well, from 1933 to 1939, Spain wasn't a monarchy; it was a republic—the Second Spanish Republic, to be precise. It was a socialist/communist republic that was against the monarchy and religion, which, as you can imagine, didn't sit well with much of the population in a religious country like Spain. Then, for reasons you can read about later, a coup d'état was organized to overthrow the current government. The coup failed, and Spain was split into two parts: one controlled by those who wanted to revert to the pre-Republic Spain, known as Nationalists, and the other part in favor of the Republic, referred to as Republicans. The Nationalists' main objective was to conquer Madrid because it was the government's headquarters. In a radio speech, one of the generals threatened the Republicans, saying he was heading to Madrid with four columns of soldiers, one coming from Toledo, another from Extremadura, one more from la Sierra, and another from Sigüenza. Moreover, and more importantly, a fifth column was inside Madrid. People who pretended to be on the Republican side were actually taking people from the Nationalist side to destroy the capital from within. The term later became popular during World War II when some factions in the United States showed inclinations towards the enemies. You can check here; if you Google "fifth column," you'll see propaganda from the United States instead of Spain. You see, René, it's a popular term with a historical background.

R: Wow, Professor, you really delved deep into that reference, but I now grasp the meaning behind your use of the term "fifth column." Anyway, I believe it's perfectly understandable why people choose to leave for more stable opportunities. Academic life here is becoming increasingly challenging.

A: Perhaps you're correct, René, but remember my words—these fifth columnists will undermine the research environment.

Point counter Point

In fact, Alex's words proved prophetic over time. When I moved to Quebec for my internship at the end of 2019, the office where I used to work had only six people. This office, which at the beginning of 2019 had 16 occupants, had lost more than half of its students. Almost everyone had departed to seek positions in the industry as data analysts. And this trend wasn't exclusive to the physics department; friends from Mathematics, Engineering, and even Biology were abandoning their postgraduate studies to pursue careers as data analysts or data scientists. My biggest shock came when a Colombian friend of mine, who had the midst of his Ph.D., told me he had secured a job in a company for just six months. You see, when you're pursuing a Ph.D., you typically receive your scholarship for at least four years. He decided to leave the Ph.D. because in those six months, he would earn considerably more than he would in the next two years of a Ph.D. And even after that, he would have the opportunity to find another similar position. So, why bother with a monthly stipend of $433 when the company he was joining paid $3000 per month from the start, along with all the benefits that come with a real job.

I would like to make it clear that I am immensely grateful to the Brazilian agencies that granted me scholarships for both my master's and Ph.D. studies. Without their support, pursuing these degrees would have been an insurmountable challenge. However, I also empathize with the perspectives of my colleagues who have opted to depart from academia. When you enroll in a university with a scholarship, they demand your full-time commitment. Frankly, in the field of physics, this level of dedication is imperative. The stipend covers a duration of either 24 or 48 months, depending on whether you are pursuing a master's or a Ph.D. During this period, there are no provisions for vacations, bonuses, or retirement contributions—only the monthly stipend. Even if you fail to complete your postgraduate studies within this predetermined timeframe, there is no additional financial support forthcoming. Moreover, if, for some reason, you are unable to finish, you are obligated to reimburse the funding, despite having diligently worked throughout the entire duration. Conversely, companies that hire data scientists offer competitive gross salaries, accompanied by a comprehensive benefits package akin to that of regular employees. This package typically includes vacation entitlements, health benefits, and contributions to retirement funds. Perhaps most notably, these companies provide job security, which is often elusive in academia. In the academic realm, you often find yourself in a state of professional limbo until you manage to secure a permanent position, an increasingly rare opportunity. Consequently, characterizing those who choose to leave academia as traitors, failures, or fifth columns is, without a doubt, an unfair judgment.

Anyway, as I left Alex's office to retrieve my documents from the notary, my thoughts kept returning to the concept of the fifth columnist, and it dawned on me that this might be why I don't feel entirely comfortable in academia. Perhaps I yearn to explore a career as a data scientist, but the challenge lies in pursuing something I know so little about. Nonetheless, I can't complain about my academic journey. I successfully completed my Ph.D. and swiftly embarked on a research position in Poland. Now, I'm on the verge of relocating to France, a country I've always dreamed of living in. I'll be doing work I'm passionate about and receiving a salary for it. So why am I contemplating a shift to data science? Since I'm meeting Mariana today, I figure I can inquire about her life now that she works in a bank. While I've heard countless positive things about being a data scientist, as Alex used to emphasize, there's a principle of conservation when it comes to difficulties in life—no matter what path you choose, challenges will inevitably arise. It's like a universal equilibrium; complete happiness remains elusive. So, armed with questions about data science, I picked up my documents and settled down to do some reading before meeting Mariana.

TANSTAAFL

As promised, Mariana arrived to pick me up around 20:00. She had driven all the way from São Paulo, where she works, to Campinas, where she lives. It was quite amusing to think that we had both set out on our respective internships at nearly the same time. When I relocated to Quebec, she made her move to France. And now, here we were, reunited, but on opposite sides of the professional spectrum. I remained committed to my research work in academia, while she had embraced a career as a data scientist at a major bank in São Paulo.

Meeting Mariana was a stroke of luck. Although we were both pursuing Ph.D. degrees at Unicamp, we worked in different buildings, didn't share any courses, and didn't have any mutual friends. So, if it weren't for a random selection during our time as teaching assistants, we might never have crossed paths. As postgraduate students, we had the opportunity to register as teaching assistants, where we would, alongside a professor, teach a physics course. I had the chance to teach Physics I twice and Physics III once. Mariana, on the other hand, was an experimental physicist, so when she opted to become a teaching assistant, she naturally chose to assist in the physics laboratories. So, in principle, we wouldn't have met even as teaching assistants. However, when students had to take their final term exams, the department used to request assistance from all teaching assistants to help proctor exams for courses they weren't responsible for. I believe we both volunteered to assist with the Physics II final term exam, and it just so happened that the department assigned us to the same examination room. Our first interaction was quite amusing because I was taken aback by how beautiful she was, and I even mentioned it to her.

R: Hi, are you Mariana? Oh, wow, you're very well-dressed, and your hair looks amazing! Your skin is radiant. Please, when we finish here, share your skincare routine with me. I definitely want it.

Mariana: Hi, thanks for the kind words. Nice to meet you. I think we should focus on taking care of the students for now. But we can talk about skincare later if you want. I noticed a hint of a mischievous smile after that statement.

R: Okay, the students are already concentrating on their tests, so now we just have to wait for them to finish. I don't recall seeing you in the corridor. Who is your advisor?

M: Ah, indeed. But we should pay attention to ensure they don't cheat. I think I saw you in the corridor, but we've never spoken. You work in condensed matter physics, right? I think people in that department are a bit eccentric. Mariana chuckled. I work with Monica in the applied physics department, at the end of the corridor.

R: What? What are you talking about? We are very nice and smart. Well, thinking more about it, most of us are nice. In fact, there's just one person who isn't very pleasant; he spends his time poking holes in other people's work. But now that you've mentioned it, I have a friend in the cosmic rays department, and she always says that condensed matter physics is the "dark side of the force." I don't know why people have this impression.

M: A hole? Are you out of your mind? Anyway, your friend is right; physics departments have a condensed matter physics division because they need a place to store their negativity. Mariana laughed. Sorry, I'm just kidding. I'm in applied physics, but I also work with materials, so I guess I'm one of you. Hahaha.

R: My apologies; please ignore that story about the hole. According to a friend of mine, it was a pressure issue rather than a human conspiracy. Anyway, I knew you worked with materials. Good people work with materials. Hahaha. How's your Ph.D. going? How long have you been a Ph.D. student?

M: The Ph.D. is going well; I've finished all the mandatory courses, and now I can focus on research. Sometimes the project progresses slowly because we have scheduled times for the machines. Sometimes it's so crowded with people wanting to use them that we have to request night schedules. So, I joke that I have a night shift where I sleep during the day and work at night. Currently, I'm applying for an internship in France, and I'm studying a bit of French, but it's quite tough.

Mariana provided a detailed description of her work, sharing even the specifics of her research topic. But as soon as she mentioned "I'm going to France," everything after that sentence was overlooked. I've found my new best friend, someone I can talk to about France and learning French—I can be quite enthusiastic when I get obsessed with something, like learning French –. After that, we exchanged cellphone numbers, and we began meeting regularly to discuss physics, style, and skincare. She even decided to take on the challenge of making me her style project. Did she succeed? Well, I'm not sure, but perhaps that will be a topic for another post!

When Mariana arrived to pick me up, she was accompanied by an undergraduate student from Unicamp. After the expected and heartfelt hug, which helped compensate for the nostalgia of not having seen each other in almost four years, she introduced the young man. She mentioned that he is a Unicamp student, but she also brought him into her bank, and now they are colleagues at work. She had always told me about his salary, which immediately reminded me of Alex's words regarding research. This young man is earning as much as a postdoctoral researcher who has the best scholarship in the state. I have to wait thirteen years to reach a salary like his, and he's earning this amount without even having completed his bachelor's degree. I understand that some people might argue that money isn't the most important thing. However, when your family depends on your income, the story needs to be reconsidered. In the words of Kurt Cobain:

“I don't blame the average seventeen-year-old punk-rock kid for calling me a sellout. I understand that. And maybe when they grow up a little bit, they'll realize there's more things to life than living out your rock & roll identity so righteously.”

Once in the car, I began to question Mariana about her job as a data scientist and whether she believed it was a good decision to leave academia.

R: Mariana, I want to ask you something. I don't feel as happy as I used to when I was doing research. I'm thinking about trying to become a data scientist. Do you think it would be a good idea? Do you have any advice for me?

M: You took me by surprise. You were the last person I expected to tell me that you're considering leaving academia. But, I'm not exactly sure what to say. There are a lot of romantic notions about leaving academic life and becoming a data scientist. Please don't get me wrong; I'm very happy now. But have you ever seen this English acronym, TANSTAAFL? It stands for "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch." I think it's something like that. You have other benefits, but you also have other challenges that aren't so great. It's just different. But why are you interested in this?

R: Well, it's nothing too special. I'm currently between jobs, and I'm reconsidering whether it might be good to make a change, especially since this job would allow me to contribute more to my family.

M: You'll definitely earn more money, but your time is more restricted than in an academic job. And your boss can be considerably more demanding than your advisor. One thing that I personally really miss is the intellectual challenge that academic life provides. Here, sometimes the work can be very monotonous and tedious. It's more like a regular office job, as you might see on TV.

R: I see what you mean. So, do you think it wouldn't be a good idea to give it a try?

M: Of course not! I have a special bonus for food, a thirteenth salary, and I create new models and learn a lot about finances. If you're curious, I think you should give it a shot. But you should be aware that you won't earn as much in your first job, and the work can be mundane. As I mentioned before, "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch." Just know that you might not like it. However, if you want to give it a try, I can recommend you to my boss!

R: That would be great. During this trip, I'll be with other friends, some who are still in academia, and others who have quit. I'll ask all of them about their experiences before forming any conclusions.

M: You're getting too philosophical, darling. I think it's because you're not working right now. It's probably better to wait until you're in France, and then we can talk about it. For now, please, tell me about these past four years. I heard someone's not a virgin anymore. I want all the details, and I want them now...

We spent the whole night and morning talking about our lives over these past four years. It was truly a blast. Sadly, I had to leave Mariana because I had a lunch appointment with Alex, and then I'll be heading to my friend Carolina's house. She's married to a professor at Unicamp, and like Mariana, she left academia to work as a data analyst. So, I'll be able to compare their experiences. But first, lunch with Alex...