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I am a fourth-year student who is doing a master's in theoretical physics as part of an integrated master's program (3-year undergrad + 1 year master's). I have been between condensed matter experiment and condensed matter theory for a while, but I am currently leaning more towards condensed matter theory, mainly because I want to spend a bit more time thinking about physics problems rather than technical problems. Furthermore, I want to apply to PhD programs this year, mainly in the US.

I currently have two summer internships. The one in my second year could be considered a quantum optics theory internship, and hopefully a paper will soon come out of it. The one I did this summer, however, was an experimental condensed matter internship. The good news is that I learned so much, had a wonderful time while doing it, and it is very closely related to the topic I would want to pursue as a condensed matter theorist (strongly correlated 2D materials). However, the bad news is that at the end of the day, the day-to-day workings of a theorist and experimentalist are very different, and the research experience I gained in this internship was entirely experimental.

I don't entirely regret my choice in doing this internship, as it was very enriching and it helped me get a clearer vision for my future, but I also don't know how I will be able to spin this when I am applying to highly competitive programs. Will this be a massive disadvantage for me?

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    I don't think theoretical physicists are prohibited from having knowledge and experience in experimental physics. Commented Oct 11 at 21:03
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    Acquiring such knowledge should be encouraged! Commented Oct 12 at 4:43
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    @AndreasBlass a well known teoretician was banned for good from few labs (W.Pauli) Commented Oct 12 at 7:20
  • @fraxinus Though this is more about an experimentalist being banned from a theorist's blackboard ;) Commented Oct 12 at 10:54
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    @user151413 So we've excluded Pauli—at least in principle? Commented Oct 12 at 21:54

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You are completely overthinking this. An internship in whatever field will not hurt your chances to secure a PhD position. The point of internships is to explore different directions. Rather, that you do internships in different directions is a good sign that you are broadly interested.

In particular, since you mention that the PhD topic you want to pursue is closely related to your internship, I would argue that this is a big plus. A not uncommon problem among theoretical physicists is that they are too little interested in experiments, and they have difficulties talking to experimentalists, or making proposals for experiments which are realistic. Having done a successful internship in an experimental lab close to the topic you intend to do a PhD in is thus something I would consider a big plus: It shows that you are interested in applications of your work, its relevance for experiments, and that you are able to talk to experimentalists.

Good luck with your applications!

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