Physics Resources
What to do with this major...
Job Titles
| Acoustics Physicist | Geologist | Optometric Assistant |
| Aerodynamicist | Geophysical Surveyor | Optometrist |
| Aerospace Engineer | Geophysicist | Particle Physicist |
| Airplane Dispatcher | Health Physicist | Pharmacologist |
| Airplane Pilot/Navigator | High School Teacher | Photogrammetric Engineer |
| Applications Programmer | High-Tech Designer | Photogrammetrist |
| Astronomer | Hydrologist | Photo-optics Technician |
| Astrophysicist | Industrial Health Engineer | Physicist |
| Atomic Physicist | Industrial Hygienist | Physics Researcher |
| Biomedical Engineer | Instrument Maker | Physiognomist |
| Biomedical Technician | Instrument Technician | Planetary Scientist |
| Biophysicist | Laboratory Technician | Plasma Physicist |
| Callistics Expert | Laser Technician | Process Engineer |
| Cardiac Imaging Researcher | Lawyer, Technology Specialty | Radiological Laboratory Director |
| Chemical Physicist | Librarian, Special | Radiologist |
| Computer Programmer | Machinist | Research Assistant |
| Computer Specialist | Manufacturers Representative | Research & Development Scientist |
| Computer Systems Engineer | Marine Geophysicist | Research Technician |
| Congressional Researcher | Mathematician | Safety Manager |
| Consultant | Medical Lab Technician | Satellite Data Analyst |
| Cosmologist | Medical Physicist | Satellite Missions Analyst |
| Crime Laboratory Analyst | Medical Products Designer | Seismic Observer |
| Criminalist | Meteorologist | Seismologist |
| Crystallographer | Microbiologist | Solid Earth Physicist |
| Editor (Science) | Molecular Physicist | Solid State Physicist |
| Electrical Engineer | Nuclear Engineer | Stratigrapher |
| Energy Engineer | Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Lab Tech | Systems Analyst |
| Engineer | Nuclear Physicist | Systems Support Representative |
| Flight Engineer | Nuclear Power Plant Project Manager | Test Consultant |
| Fluids Physicist | Oceanographer | Test Engineer |
| Geodesist | Optical Medical Devices Designer |
Personal Characteristics to be Successful
| Accurate | Efficient | Possess good vision and manual dexterity |
| Analytical | Imaginative | Problem solving |
| Assertive | Independent | Self-disciplined |
| Consistent | Intelligent | Task oriented |
| Critical thinker | Organized | Thorough |
| Curious | Persistent | Zealous |
| Dedicated |
Workplace Skills
Aptitude for scientific reasoning
Define research problems
Design equipment
Develop research models
Develop and write research proposals
Draw meaningful conclusions
Establish experimental designs
Establish hypotheses
Evaluate ideas
Exhibit excellent computer and hardware knowledge
Gather/analyze data
Inform, explain, and instruct
Maintain records
Measure distances/relationships
Observe data
Perform calculations
Proficient in reading, writing, memorization and speaking
Research project involvement
Review scientific literature
See relationships among factors
Systemize skills
Use instruments
Utilize math formulas
Work well independently or in teams
Job Postings
Physics Today Career Network: A complete career services site with job opportunities, job fair information, and resume postings. Check out the links to related sites for more employment information.
Optics.org: An online photonics resource with featured articles, news, and an employment section.
PhysicsWeb: Click on the "PhysicsJobs" section to view postings of job openings or post your resume online. Site also includes current physics news and professional resources.
PhysLINK: Contains information on Physics, astronomy, and engineering. Includes a nice job board with industry, academic, grad, and post grad positions. Great directories link to college and university departments, professional societies, institutes, and national labs.
National Science Foundation: A listing of summer internship opportunities available through the foundation.
IAESTE United States: Is a membership organization dedicated to developing global skills in tomorrow's technical leaders through international exchange, leadership training, global skill development, and technical education. Summer internships available.
Duke University - Engineering World Health Summer Institute: Places physics, chemistry and engineering majors in developing world hospitals. After a month of training in Costa Rica or Tanzania, participants work in hospitals installing and repairing instruments, taking inventory, calibrating equipment, training nurses and staff to use and maintain equipment, or other biomedical tasks.
Graduate Fellowships & Scholarships
The Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship Program
The Fannie and John Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowships
National Physical Science Consortium
NSF Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship
University of Virginia Jefferson Scholars Graduate Fellowships
Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship
Professional Science Masters: The Professional Science Masters (PSM) is an innovative, new graduate degree designed to allow students to pursue advanced training in science or mathematics, while simultaneously developing workplace skills highly valued by employers.
