Careers in Physics and life as a professional
- Slides: 32
Careers in Physics - and life as a professional astronomer www. le. ac. uk/physics
So you’re thinking of a career in physics? Physics covers every length scale and every temporal scale in the Universe Physics is everywhere! And physicists are everywhere… There are many, many career opportunities for physicists www. le. ac. uk/physics
Careers in physics what do physicists do? Physics as a route to other careers - and why physicists are always in demand Some statistics! Life as a professional Astrophysicist how to get into academic research - and what you do once you get there www. le. ac. uk/physics
What do physicists do? E E=mc 2 www. le. ac. uk/physics
What do physicists do? Physics is brilliant! www. le. ac. uk/physics
What do physicists actually do? www. le. ac. uk/physics
www. iop. org/careers/future-with-physics/ What do physicists actually do? Academic Research Industrial Research IT Industry Teaching Space Industry Defence industry An awful lot of things! 100, 000 STEM graduates needed in the UK per year… …we will need 830, 000 by 2020 Physics contributes over £ 70 bn per year to the UK economy Meteorology Physicists starting salaries are 16% higher than other disciplines (except medicine and law) Medicine Source: Institute of Physics www. le. ac. uk/physics
www. iop. org/careers/future-with-physics/ What do physicists actually do? Academic Research Industrial Research IT Industry Teaching Space Industry Defence industry Meteorology Medicine Contributes £ 8 bn to UK economy each year predicted to grow to £ 40 bn by 2030 www. le. ac. uk/physics
www. iop. org/careers/future-with-physics/ What do physicists actually do? Low-Carbon technology £ 112 bn worldwide Academic Research Industrial Research IT Industry Teaching Space Industry Defence industry Meteorology Medicine Nanotechnology: World market £ 10 bn to £ 180 bn Advanced materials : £ 1. 1 bn in the UK alone Source: BIS economics paper 10 A www. le. ac. uk/physics
www. iop. org/careers/future-with-physics/ What do physicists actually do? Academic Research Industrial Research IT Industry Teaching Space Industry Defence industry Meteorology Medicine www. le. ac. uk/physics
www. iop. org/careers/future-with-physics/ What do physicists actually do? Academic Research Industrial Research IT Industry Teaching Space Industry Defence industry CERN is brilliant! Meteorology Medicine www. le. ac. uk/physics
What do physicists actually do? Academic Research Industrial Research IT Industry Teaching Space Industry Defence industry Meteorology Medicine I am currently employed by EDF Energy as a Nuclear Graduate. I have visited various nuclear stations, and worked on high profile projects which affect the lifetime, productivity and safety of the station. I am currently working on the Exo. Mars rover. My role is to integrate the system that gets the picture from the cameras and sends it to the navigation software which generates 3 D maps of the terrain. www. le. ac. uk/physics
Careers in physics what do physicists do? Physics as a route to other careers - and why physicists are always in demand Some statistics! Life as a professional Astrophysicist how to get into academic research - and what you do once you get there www. le. ac. uk/physics
Physics as a route to other careers - and why physicists are always in demand Problem solving Analysis Mathematical Information technology Experimental Software skills Teamwork Leadership Initiative Communication Presentation Business awareness www. le. ac. uk/physics
Physics as a route to other careers Civil Service Commerce The Media Law Finance Management Accountancy Sales/Marketing Physicists are never short of job opportunities! Employment figures from the Institute of Physics www. le. ac. uk/physics
Careers in physics what do physicists do? Physics as a route to other careers - and why physicists are always in demand Some statistics! Life as a professional Astrophysicist how to get into academic research - and what you do once you get there www. le. ac. uk/physics
www. le. ac. uk/physics
Salary Figures from Institute of Physics www. le. ac. uk/physics
Careers in physics what do physicists do? Physics as a route to other careers - and why physicists are always in demand Some Statistics! Life as a professional Astrophysicist how to get into academic research - and what you do once you get there www. le. ac. uk/physics
How to get into academic research Step 1 - get a 2. 1 or 1 st class MPhys degree on an IOP accredited course Midlands Universities (MPhys entry grades 1) Loughborough University (AAA) University of Birmingham (A*AA) University of Leicester (AAB) University of Nottingham (AAB-AAA) University of Warwick (A*AA) University of Leicester (AAAA) Physics with Space Science and Technology 1 Source: IOP ‘Physics on Course’ www. le. ac. uk/physics
How to get into academic research Step 2 – get a Ph. D All areas should be open to you – although final year project may be important Find an area that you’re interested in! Find a University and a supervisor with a good reputation in that field! University of Leicester Supervisor: Dr Richard Jameson Ph. D in Galactic Cluster Dwarfs www. le. ac. uk/physics
Life as a professional astrophysicist Step 3 – postdoctoral research www. le. ac. uk/physics
Life as an astrophysicist Use telescopes Process data Analyse data (laboratory skills/computer programming) Write up the results in a report Present work to other scientists Present work to the public www. le. ac. uk/physics
What does an astronomer do? Use telescopes www. le. ac. uk/physics
What does an astronomer do? Use telescopes www. le. ac. uk/physics
What does an astronomer do? Process data www. le. ac. uk/physics
What does an astronomer do? Analyse my data Measure line positions and strengths Measure motions of stars Measure brightness of stars Figure out what my results mean Explain why they are important www. le. ac. uk/physics
What does an astronomer do? Analyse my data Planet/BD WD www. le. ac. uk/physics
What does an astronomer do? Analyse my data www. le. ac. uk/physics
What does an astronomer do? Analyse my data www. le. ac. uk/physics
What else have I learned by being an astronomer? How to think outside the box How to relate my work to the public How to write clear, concise reports How to computer programme How to use statistics How to understand errors and uncertainties www. le. ac. uk/physics
How do you become an astronomer? Take physics and maths at A level Degree in physics I did: Physics, Maths, Chemistry A 2 level German A 1 level MPhys degree in Physics with Space Science and Technology Ph. D in astronomy www. le. ac. uk/physics