>>14328917>what do you most of the time?It really varies depending on where I'm at with ongoing projects and where my PI is with their's. That being said, it's some split between data analysis/numerical experiments, symbolic calculations, grant/paper writing and editing, and meetings. I also spend a good amount of time leaning back, staring at the ceiling, and pulling my hair out in frustration. I think the toughest part about theoretical work for any field is how long you can get stuck for, and how many days it feels like are just 'wasted' –i.e., no tangible progress. That being said, I love my job. I'm living the dream right now.
>how do you choose what topic to pick to start digging in? This is a very difficult question to answer because it varies so much. I read papers, play with new ideas, apply analytic tools to data and pay attention to where they start acting weird. That last piece is crucial: my greatest steps have come from being sensitive to where stuff breaks. On the other hand, I've had projects which started with me reading a paper and having some half-baked vague idea of something I can work on. From there it's zeroing in on what is the right way to pose the question. Two great quotes which I think encapsulate these two ways of going about are from Feynman (something like "you keep studying until suddenly you learn something no one has before"), and the Atiyah quote ("swimming in the mathematical waters"). Maybe the biggest point is, it's nothing like sitting in a chair, thinking about some vague, unbelievably large and deep problem followed by a massive 'aha' moment.
Anyways, good luck with your studies, and I hope this was helpful.
