Sticking with research or interning with Microsoft?

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For the last two summers, I have stayed on my college campus and worked in a physics research lab full-time. However, because of the fragile equipment (freaking lasers!! !), and the fact that data is hard to come by in research sometimes, I haven't gotten a paper out of my work yet. When the engineering career fair came around, I gave some companies my resume, including Microsoft. I didn't expect to hear from them because my major is Engineering Physics, with only a specialty in CSE. However, they liked my resume, gave me an interview, and it went very well. In three weeks, I should hear back as to whether or not they want to take me to Redmond to meet with the teams that might want me, to make sure I'd make a good fit for them. If I do get an invite and one of the teams want me, I'm going to have a hard decision to make. Do I stay loyal to my PI and to my long term goal of being a physics researcher, or do I take the fun, cushy job of working for Microsoft? The benefits are amazing, including subsidized housing (if you live in their corporate housing, they pay utilities and provide housekeeping as well!), a real salary, they pay for your relocation, and they put on a lot of fun events for the interns. On the other hand, I see myself down the line as a physics researcher, and I don't know if I have the heart to abandon my PI. Any advice?

(Edit: spelling)

It it were me when I was that age, knowing that I'm an Aspie, I'd take the Internship. This is likely to be the best environment you will ever have for learning social and work skills. You can still dabble in Physics as a hobby--which may actually be better if you have a well paying job--that trying to do Physics as a full time job--much of which is wasted unproductively chasing down research grants and funding instead of doing any actual physics,. With tough economic times ahead, it doesn't look good for research jobs. Finally, a few years in industry will rarely set you back in terms of your academic career, particularly in your case. It is likely that the experience and time off will actually give your better insights into the paper you need to write for your doctorate.

An opportunity like the internship doesn't come by often and based on what I've read, it seems like you've already made your decision assuming the internship accepts you. Whichever one you choose though, be sure that you'll enjoy it there and that it's an enriching experience.

I don't think your PI is going to view you as abandoning him; usually PIs are pretty understanding and generally supportive. Just a note if you do take the internship, give your PI a heads up (maybe a month or two before you leave) so it's not like it came out of nowhere. Plus, if you need a letter of rec down the road, then it'll be nice to have a good relationship with the PI.

As far as having a future, an internship offers more opportunity to build something while in school.

regarding the lasers, i hear ya, hate thouse modelocked moody b*%%^$%6.
regarding the intership, i would go, it is a great experience to see how is it on both sides before you commit to. i never got a chance to.
people in research are always stuck with the problems and for me whenever i reluctantly agreed to step away and do "other things", it turned out to be great. now those research problems are long forgotten (i have new ones of course) but i still remember "the breaks".

The real question is: What will you be doing at Microsoft and do you consider that an interesting career path? How much physics will be applied in the position? How about the benefits of having the internship in terms of future career opportunities, and learning about different working environments?

Can you go back to your old position once the internship is over?


Personally, I'd jump at the opportunity to work at MS. I interviewed with them and it sounded great, but, well, life happens.

AnotherOne, you hit it on the head wrt the lasers. One of our biggest issues is getting and keeping the lasers locked.

I got the final round interview. They're bringing me to Redmond in February. Yes, I can go back to my research once the summer is over, but I lose a whole full-time schedule of three months of research, and I cannot dedicate nearly that much time during the year. I don't know how much physics will be applied in the internship, as it depends on the team that wants me, but the interviewer mentioned the possibility of working on the Micosoft Robotics Developer Studio, which "provides the ability to simulate and test robotic applications using a 3D physics-based simulation tool", and would allow me to use my knowledge of what sort of automation is needed in the academic research setting to help develop the Visual Programming Language. That and I know that most physics undergrads can't code their way out of a paper bag, so I can explain what they need and how to present it in a way that they can actually use.

I just don't want to fall so far behind in my research that I don't get a thesis done as I'd like to graduate with distinction, and I don't know how physics grad schools will think of the internship, assuming I don't fall in love with MS and work there after I graduate.

On one hand, you will fall behind on your research. On the other, you'll have Microsoft on your resume.

Personally I'd take Microsoft. You likely have plenty of physics acumen, and gaining some business skill would likely be great if you're looking to work in the private sector.

Are you kidding me?

My son-in-law is a programmer. He is a world-class programmer but he would give his left nut to be hired by Microsoft Research.

He would get to work with the smartest people in the world and he would be a millionaire within a few years because of their stock options.

I really don't know! But I would love to hear more after your decision!
I'm a computer science student...
I have to decide wheter i choose a more academic career or go to more corporate environment...
The academic world accepts me better, and i really fill in with them...Talk to interessing people that don't bully me at all!
The professors respects my research, and I really like doing it..
On the other hand, on the corporate side, I always suffer with AS related problems...
But the financial benefits of a corporate job are way better.

I would really like to know a more AS-friendly corporate environment. But maybe i'm only dreaming...

I am spending my winter break studying to be ready for the interview. I don't know why, but I'm feeling kind of pessimistic about my chances. I think it's a coping mechanism, because on an intellectual level I know that if they weren't pretty sure they wanted me, they wouldn't spend the money to fly me to the other side of the country. I'm afraid to get my hopes up, though. I'll almost certainly take the job, unless I hear from Applied Physics Laboratory and they offer me a really interesting project to work on (I handed them a resume at the same career fair and they told everyone that they'd contact people in January). I'm just worried that the more excited I get about this, the worse I'll feel if I don't get the internship, and I'm already feeling bad about myself for my lack of success in my research.

An internship at Microsoft will be like gold on your CV even if you go into a different industry.