How to get the best of the last half of a PhD? I'm a PhD student in Physics with one year and a half to go. My project is at the border between physics and computer science (I am developing a new method to analyse materials). I'm fascinated by computer science and I would prefer not to work in a research center, which seems to be the natural prosecution of what I'm doing. I did research in a number of different field (biophysics, x-rays, neutrons, algorithms), finding out I'm not super talented, but I learn fast and I have some intellectual stamina. I also have some experience as a reporter/journalist.

I like doing research, even if sometimes I find the academic environment a bit boring and alienating. I don't have much working experience outside academia, but I don't exclude the possibility of a non-academic job. I started studying machine learning books to expand my computer skills and employability. 

Is there anything you suggest to do to maximize my possibility to land a nice postdoc (ideally in physics/computer science, which should be a way to keep open the possibility to work in the industry, and ideally in the US) or a job as a data scientist?
Postdocs are typically useful for two types of things:


They build experience as a (semi)independent researcher that is now typically required before you can be considered for a faculty post
They are a chance to broaden or shift focus of your research


For example, I know somebody working in robotics whose thesis worked was entirely in simulation due to grad school circumstances, and used the "focus shift" opportunity of a postdoc to get into hardware.  So a postdoc is worth considering if you feel that your current work is too narrow to be noticed by the type of organizations you might like to join.

As for where to go next: if you aren't absolutely driven to try to do a faculty job, don't try for it.  There is a huge world of non-traditional scientific opportunities out there, which are often hard to be aware of from inside traditional academia.  Some things to consider, with a lot of strange ecological niches that you can't even be aware of until you start talking to people in them.  Do note, however, that if you aren't a US citizen or permanent resident, then many of these opportunities may be harder for you get due to visa issues.

For pursuing all of these questions, however, the big thing you need to start doing is networking.  Get to know more professors in your department than your advisor, especially any ones who have had non-traditional career paths.  Go to conferences and meet people.  Look for events in your field that are also attended by non-academic researchers (this will likely be more in computer science or material science than physics), and look for the more informal and discussion-oriented attached events like Ph.D. symposia and workshops.  If your advisor can help you get introductions, that's the best help you can possibly get, but since you're interested in a non-standard path they might not be able to.

As you meet people, be honest about your situation.  There are always a lot of people trolling for good possible hires for non-faculty positions, both in academia and out of it, and there's a word of mouth network. If you've got good core computer science skills and don't come off as needy or desperate, there are a lot more possible matches out there than you might imagine.