During my early undergraduate years, I spent a great deal of time reading the PAE blog. At that point I was studying mechanical engineering but had become increasingly interested in fundamental research. Learning about the paths others had taken made the idea of switching fields seem less intimidating. Looking back now—as a PhD candidate, several years into a research career—it’s clear how valuable those stories were.
This article is largely an attempt to return the favor. If you are currently studying engineering but feel strongly pulled toward physics, the move is possible. Many people have made it successfully, and with some planning you can too.
Looking for the Right Fit
Like many students interested in science and mathematics, I was encouraged to pursue engineering. Mechanical engineering was viewed as one of the “most general” options: a degree that would keep many doors open. Another common piece of advice was that it is safer to pursue engineering first and then change direction later if priorities shift.
None of this advice is unreasonable. Engineering is a rigorous and valuable discipline. But partway through my second year I began to realize that my interests were diverging from the direction of my coursework. As the curriculum shifted toward applied engineering topics, management classes, and design projects, I increasingly found myself missing the fundamental side of science—the mathematics, physics theory, and the conceptual questions that originally drew me to the sciences.
By that point I was already well into the degree, and reasoned that leaving engineering entirely was not the most practical option. Instead, I decided to finish the program while preparing myself as much as possible for a switch to physics at the graduate level.
Preparing for a Transition to Physics
The key idea was simple: use every available opportunity within the engineering degree to move closer to physics.
Most engineering programs include at least a few elective courses that can be taken outside the department. I used mine to take courses such as Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics and Linear Algebra, the latter mainly as preparation for quantum mechanics. The specific courses will differ depending on the university, but the principle is the same—choose electives that strengthen your mathematical and physics foundation.
Equally important was building relationships with professors in those courses. I spoke with them about the knowledge gaps that engineering students typically face when applying to physics programs and asked for advice on how to address them. These conversations were extremely helpful, both for guidance and eventually for reference letters.
Research Experience and Internships
Another priority was gaining research experience. I wrote emails to professors and research labs across India asking about possible internships or short projects. Many messages received no response and some labs explained that they could not host a mechanical engineering student for physics research. That is normal; persistence matters here.
Out of roughly forty emails and a handful of formal applications, I received three positive responses. One of these led to a summer internship at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Mumbai. I initially worked on a materials science project for two months and later returned during my final semester to spend five months with the Technical Physics Division working on broadly semiconductor detectors.
In hindsight, the project was more applied than theoretical, but the experience turned out to be extremely valuable. I was fortunate to work with supportive supervisors who encouraged my interests in physics and allowed me to contribute to work that eventually led to two co-authored papers. For a similar career move at this level, research experience—even in an adjacent field—is incredibly useful. It demonstrates initiative and gives you exposure to the research process itself.
Applying for Graduate Programs in Physics
While completing my final year, I began applying to master’s programs in physics abroad. Many universities replied that my engineering degree lacked certain required physics modules, which is a common obstacle when switching disciplines. However, a few institutions were open to applicants from other quantitative backgrounds if they could demonstrate sufficient preparation.
I was ultimately admitted to the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) through the Open Doors Olympiad, an international competition that serves as an admissions pathway. The process included two stages:
- A portfolio review, similar to a standard graduate application (CV, recommendations, statement of purpose).
- An online exam covering core undergraduate physics topics.
Strong preparation in undergraduate-level mechanics, electrodynamics, and introductory quantum mechanics proved essential for this stage.
Bridging the Gaps
Switching fields meant catching up on several foundational topics covered in a formal physics education. During the period before beginning the program I focused heavily on core theoretical material, working through classic texts such as:
- Landau & Lifshitz — Mechanics
- David J. Griffiths — Introduction to Electrodynamics
- J. J. Sakurai / R. Shankar — Quantum Mechanics
Working through these systematically provided the conceptual foundation needed to keep up with the graduate coursework. If possible a few chapters of QFT (Mark Srednicki — Quantum Field Theory) could be invaluable based on the chosen sub field.
Graduate Studies and Research
My graduate program included a broad range of courses across theoretical and experimental physics, including quantum field theory, statistical data analysis, and phenomenology. My thesis work involved statistical data analysis in collaboration with researchers working on the ATLAS experiment at CERN. I worked on a b-quark tagging algorithm aimed at improving the estimation of CP-violation parameters in the Standard Model. That experience ultimately led me toward my current research path.
Today I am a PhD candidate at Ruprecht-Karl-University of Heidelberg, working on simulations and data analysis related to ultra-cold neutron (UCN) storage and transport. The broader goal of this work is to improve precision measurements of the neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM), an important probe of CP-violation.
The research combines computational modeling, Monte Carlo simulations, and statistical data analysis to better understand how ultra-cold neutrons behave in storage and transport systems used in next-generation experiments.
Final Thoughts
Switching from engineering to physics is challenging, but it is far from impossible. The key elements are:
- strengthening your mathematics and physics background,
- gaining research experience wherever possible,
- building relationships with mentors,
- and demonstrating genuine motivation when applying to programs.
For students currently in engineering who feel strongly drawn toward physics, remember that academic paths are rarely perfectly linear. With persistence and curiosity, it is entirely possible to redirect your trajectory toward the questions that genuinely excite you.
