A lot of people with physics backgrounds have gone into quantitative finance because of the better pay/more jobs, and the perception that there is limited opportunity in physics except for those that are not just good, but very very good.I was wondering if anyone has heard much about people with physics background switching to biological sciences based research? Very much success? Definitely very interesting research possible, more opportunities (for example working for pharma industry, hospitals, or public health related jobs). Is making a significant contribution to the bio. sciences easier than in physics - do you have to be as smart?Anyone know a better forum to post such a question than wilmott?

I'm looking at Big Data and have read Medical Statistics books in my search and spoken to ppl in the field - the math isn't very different to quant math, just not as hardcore. Main thing is to understand your distributions and the ability to think in terms of data and meaning and how to use in practice.I can't say for sure but it didn't strike me as a 'softer' option than being a quant. nevertheless TPs get into this field for sure and my perception is there are jobs there, with the possibility of better satisfaction than being a quant, where for all the money they earn there's bucketloads of issues some other members can tell you about Not sure about better forums, but the thing to consider is if you want to do this + how to present this. If you were an undergraduate I would say look at a specialised MSc or PHd in biostats and take it from there - if your maths background is good you could easily get into a programme.If that's not the case (e.g. doing an unrelated MSc or PHd) you will have to justify why you get into biostats and that it's not Plan B, this means not having some BS spiel for interview but something on your CV that says so (SAS certification, project in the field of your own back or alternatively volunteering project/internship, anything that shows commitment). It's very hard to say bit knowing your situation, but as you will see it's not about degrees it's about how you apply yourself and prove you're good enough. you will find as I have that posting in forums is ok, but you gotta get on with it.Finally don't beat yourself up about it - you're asking the right questions. Even people I went to uni with don't realise how smart you've gotta be to be a quant and in my current job (a gap job) some are finishing PhDs in physics and despite my advice looking at options like accountancy, where, needless to say they are having no luck at all. You're ahead of them already.

you asked the same question on Tue Sep 11, 12http://wilmott.com/messageview.cfm?catid=15&threadid=92224 you must switch to biology and do some research on amnesia

People are using PDEs for tumor growth. Looks very interesting and promising.http://www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my/cervie ... ons/69.pdf

This topic has come up a few times -- switching from physics to biology