How to Move from Smart Contract Dev to zkRollup Research?
Alright, folks, I need some help. I’ve been deep in the smart contract trenches for a while now, but lately, zkRollups and Zero-Knowledge Proofs have taken over my brain. I want to transition into a more research-heavy role, but ngl, I have no idea if I’m approaching this the right way.
I’ve played around with zk tech before, but research feels like an entirely different beast. Also, what do companies even want in a zk researcher? I don’t want to spend months grinding the wrong things.
Some burning questions:
👉 What skills actually matter? Do I need to go full cryptography nerd, master zk protocol design, or focus on something else?
👉 Is a PhD a hard requirement? Or can I hustle my way in with open-source contributions, certifications, and good ol’ self-learning?
👉 What’s the zk research interview process like? Am I going to get grilled on theoretical proofs, or is it more about problem-solving and applied knowledge?
👉 How do I stand out? Should I start writing papers, contributing to zk projects, or just slide into the right DMs on Twitter?
If anyone has made this jump (or knows someone who has), I’d love some real talk on how to actually break into this space. Any advice, resources, or just general "been there, done that" wisdom would be greatly appreciated. 🙏