Careers for Physicists

Dr Claire Conway

Careers Adviser for Researchers

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UK employment of Physics PhDs graduating between 2003 and 2007

Using your subject directly

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• In academic institutions• In research institutes or

agency/government laboratories• In large industries• In small companies

Using your subject indirectly• Science consulting and market research• Science policy• Science administration• Science communication• Science publishing• Technology transfer• Intellectual property and patents• Manufacturing• Technical sales and marketing…..and many more!

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SCIENCE ALTERNATIVESCareer briefingwww.careers.ox.ac.uk/students/occupations/

SCIENCE ALTERNATIVESCareer briefingwww.careers.ox.ac.uk/students/occupations/

Moving away from scienceDPhil – many transferable skills. These probably

include:• Problem solving skills• Analytical skills• Time and project management skills• Numerical ability• IT skills• Communication skills, e.g., presentation• Drive, determination and perseverance • Attention to detail

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Professional institutions can be great sources of information (and inspiration)

• Institute of Physics www.iop.org.uk• Royal Astronomical Society www.ras.org.uk• Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine

www.ipem.org.uk• European Physical Society www.eps.org• American Institute of Physics www.aip.org

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Institute of Physics www.iop.org.uk > careers

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Examples – all seeking Physics PhDs advertised in last 2 months

• Laser Scientist, Radiantis (Spain)• Scientist, Siemens Magnet Technology• Graduate Development Programme, EADS Astrium• Physicist, Ballracing Developments (motorsport

simulation)• R & D, Samsung Electronics

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www.brightrecruits.com (from the Institute of Physics)

www.newscientistjobs.com

www.jobsinscience.com/

http://tiptop.iop.org/ (“dynamic jobs list for physicists”)

http://www.phdjobs.com/

sciencecareers.sciencemag.org (US and international jobs from the journal Science)

www.aps.org/careers/ (from the American Physical Society)

Other jobs websites for Physicists

Occupations – Finding Information

• www.prospects.ac.uk -Occupational profiles-Prospects Planner – careers guidance

system• Careers Service

-Career briefings-Occupational files

• ‘What do PhDs do?’ - www.vitae.ac.uk• Review job advertisements• Professional associations – e.g., IOP• Talk to people (networking)

• www.careers.ox.ac.uk• Section specifically for DPhil students

• Information Room• Reference and take away materials• Talks and presentations – occupational, employer and

careers skills• Workshop• Future Focus – careers skills workshop for DPhil

students• Careers discussions

• ~15/45 mins• Plan/structure your approach, identify options, CV

feedback, interview preparation

Resources for moving forwards – Careers Service

Resources for moving forwards – websites

•www.skillsportal.ox.ac.uk

•www.apprise.ox.ac.uk

•www.prospects.ac.uk

•www.vitae.ac.uk