Stockholm university

”I have not regretted even one second of my career in research”

The physicist Rickard Ström has let his drive to learn steer him through his university studies and into academic research. Right now he is doing his post doctorate in Germany, but can imagine changing tracks soon. "Right now I am building a portfolio that can be attractive to the industry. You can follow a research career for ten years and then switch gears to take on completely new challenges."

Rickard Ström
Rickard Ström. Photo: Estelle Lambusch

Rickard's interest in physics began with mathematics in school, for which he noticed early on that he had a talent.

– I have always felt an attraction to the deterministic where there is a clear right and wrong, but I also want to find different ways to solve the same problem. What the teacher says is not enough, I can understand things through something else I have learned in life. Physics at university level is like mathematics with very abstract thinking.

After high school he began studying physics at Stockholm University.

– I didn’t feel like I was done with physics in high school and I wanted to learn new things in my own way. I chose physics because it is so broad. It was pretty amazing actually. We were only a few who studied physics and we had a lot of contact with the teachers who were happy to discuss with us. Some courses were easier and others were very difficult, but there was a good balance.

During his studies, Rickard met doctoral students who were assistants in the courses he was studying. He came in contact with researchers and saw that they were approachable, regular people. When he still did not feel finished with physics after graduation, it was a natural step to move on to doctoral studies.

 

Postdoc in a visionary project at CERN

Rickard's doctoral dissertation was about mapping the universe using particles called neutrinos. They are extremely common but interact so rarely with other matter that it takes cubic kilometer-sized detectors to even be able to register a few in a year.

– In relation to other particles, it may sound like a disadvantage, but since the neutrinos hardly interact at all, they can traverse the universe's matter and magnetic field undisturbed. The particles therefore carry with them valuable information about the structure and evolution of the universe far beyond what has previously been possible to study.

Rickard has always been interested in space physics, but after receiving his doctorate from Uppsala University he was requited as a fellow at CERN in Switzerland. CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is the world's largest particle physics laboratory and a prestigious workplace for a physicist. He couldn’t say no to that offer. At CERN he worked mainly on data analysis within one of the projects proposed for CERN's future, beyond the Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

– It was mainly about demonstrating what physics could be studied in the future, under various conditions. Since the project stood alongside other proposals, much of the work was centred on communication, clarity and project management, all of which I am really passionate about.

 

Skills for the business world

Rickard relates that it can be quite tough to work within academia. It is not always appreciated to come with new ideas or new perspectives.

– It is difficult to find the strength to go your own way within academia. At the same time as it is an advantage in some contexts to stand out. It’s a balancing act. A bit of good luck has played a big role in my career and I think you have to be humble and grateful for what you have received, even if it is also due to hard work.

He doesn’t believe it would be difficult to get a job outside academia if he wanted to. Many of Rickard’s contacts with doctoral degrees already got a job in industry and most feel that they have benefitted greatly from their research studies.

– We continuously lead projects and much of what we learned would be of great use also in the job market outside academia. I have not regretted one second of my research career. I feel confident that I can leave and start working in industry whenever I want, academia doesn’t have to be for life. You can follow a research career for ten years and then change course to take on completely new challenges.

Since 2019, Rickard lives in Hamburg where he is doing his second post doctorate, also connected to CERN. The project he is working on has been collecting data from the world's largest particle accelerator facility at CERN, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), for just over ten years. It’s even larger and more technically demanding than previous projects.

– I am now learning more about handling huge amounts of data and project management is of key importance. I no longer think I want to become a professor, but there are other challenges that interest me. Instead, I am focusing on building my portfolio by advancing my skills in technical knowledge such as programming, with artificial intelligence for example, but also conflict and project management skills.

 

“Developing your personal strengths is also part of your career”

Communication is something Rickard is adept at and enjoys. He has, among others, written about his research in the journals Nature Physics, CERN Courier and Fysikaktuellt. He previously recorded the science podcast Professor Magenta together with Katarina Bendtz, whom he got to know studying physics at Stockholm University. While the podcast is currently on pause, his interest in science communication is still very much alive and may be incorporated in a future career move.

– My ambition was never to become a Nobel laureate, but instead focus on what I find interesting. I really enjoy working with communication, strategy and management. I'm more drawn to building a career around those skills than within research. It would be great fun to end up in a context where I get practical use for what I have learned.

Today, Rickard thinks more broadly about his career, not only about what he wants to do but also how he wants to develop as a person.

– Developing your personal strengths is also part of your career, it's not just salary or the title on your business card. I could not identify with the Einstein-type, but I have other things that I bring to the table. I think it is important to stress that you absolutely can do research even if you do not want to become a professor. In fact, it is a great way to build a unique and interesting career and these are the things that matter most in the end.


Rickard is one of the mentors in this year's mentorship program at Stockholm University where students are matched with alumni within their subject

Read more about Stockholm University's educations in physics

 

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Alumni Relations: alumni@su.se

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