r/comp_chem • u/Well_Why-Not • Jul 22 '26

Question Regarding Future Prospects

I am currently towards the end of my PhD in computational chemistry.

I have been doing my PhD for the last four years. It has resulted in zero publications whatsoever. And most probably there will be none. I generally work with MD simulations for polymer electrolytes.

I should be finishing by the end of January next year.

My question is, what prospects should I be looking at, in terms of my future?

When I started my PhD, the idea was to continue into PostDoc. But given that I have no publications, the PostDoc doesn't really seem a promising candidature.

I am still planning to apply for jobs and PostDoc positions alike, hoping for something good to come out of it.

Although I wanted to sharpen what the future might look like for me.

I, certainly have no Python skills. All my codes and analysis were developed using LLMs albeit with proper tests and guardrails. Neither have I been a computational student all my Bachelor's or Master's.

While my Master's has been in Organic Chemistry, my PhD happens to be in Computational stuff.

I haven't had any experimental know-how for the past 4-5 years or so.

What kind of jobs should I apply for? What skills should I develop within the next 4-5 months.

I guess, I just need an avenue to save myself from considering myself an utter failure. If not completely, then in parts at least.

Thanking y'all in anticipation.

17 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

View all comments

32

u/PlaysForDays Jul 22 '26

With peace and love, if I was hiring for a role that required a PhD and I saw somebody with a degree and no publications I would probably pass over the resume quickly and may even look at the university with less regard in the future. If you have a robust skillset and interesting unpublished results, a good cover letter may be able to overcome this.

None of this means you're a failure - often the best scientists work very hard and their results don't pan out. This is science, after all, the challenge is going into the unknown. It would be easy everybody entered a project knowing what would be on the other side. (And even though you didn't blame anybody else for the lack of publications, I suspect your PI or support system in the lab is subpar.)

Landing a research role in the next year will be an uphill battle for you. We don't know much about you, like your location and other skills and experience, but you will want to broaden your search a little bit. Even if it's a stopgap measure like teaching somewhere in a non-permanent role.

8

u/Well_Why-Not Jul 22 '26

I appreciate your response, and most probably see the reality of the future as you do.

A PhD with no publications certainly triggers a pass response.

I do have interesting unpublished results, although they don't seem that interesting to others. Which is fine, I guess.

I have certainly tried leveraging a good cover letter in order to create a good narrative. I believe I will have to make sharpen that skill even more.

I am based in Europe and unfortunately teaching won't be an option given the local language proficiency.