Köln 2025 – scientific programme

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AKjDPG: Arbeitskreis junge DPG

AKjDPG 2: Physicists Beyond Academia

AKjDPG 2.3: Invited Talk

Tuesday, March 11, 2025, 19:50–20:15, HS 2 Physik

Leaving Academia: A Failure? Or the Best Decision I Ever Made? — •Edoardo Mornacchi — Swabian Instruments GmbH, Stuttgart, Germany

As physicists, we dedicate years in academia, often wondering: What happens if I step away? Is leaving academia a failure? Should I give up physics and research for a stable job? And honestly, who’s going to hire someone with my expertise in hadron physics?

Here’s the thing: leaving academia isn’t a failure. There are plenty of companies doing groundbreaking, high-tech research, actively seeking skilled physicists like you. And this can be the start of something new and, for someone, even better.

In this talk, I’ll share my journey from nuclear/hadron physics to my current role at Swabian Instruments, where I get to keep my love for science alive while also enjoying work outside the lab. Whether you’re considering a move yourself or just curious about what’s out there, I hope to provide some insights and inspiration to help you carve your own path beyond academia.