Become a Particle Physicist: What You Need to Know

[blepenske]

Hello, I am going to make you think I am crazy with the very notion of can he do it.
I am 37. I have been many things but not what I would like to be. I have always wanted
to be a particle physicist. I am in my first year of returning to college after some things.
can someone point me in the right direction to this career choice? I need all the info: what
to take in school. I am currently ramping up from an abysmal personal decision (when I was younger) into thinking that math doesn't matter. so I need to know what can be my first tentative step onto the pathway. I have decided that this is what I want and I should do it. I am not going to worry about funding. I want to do it and do it now. I guess basicaly I am asking is there someone there that might take a bit of time to help me get through the first few years of classes. I need a direction. thanks

 

[micromass]

In my university, students take the following classes:

First year:
- Mechanics
- Analysis: differentiation, integration, ODE's (which seems to be calculus I-IV stuffed into one course)
- Chemistry I
- Linear algebra I
- Introduction to programming
- Physics: waves and thermodynamics
- Experimental physics (= performing various experiments in labs)
- Waves and elektromagnetism
- Applied statistics
- One more scientific course the student can choose.

Second year:
- Solid state physics
- Elektrodynamics and special relativity
- Complex analysis
- Theromdynamics
- Analytical Mechanics
- Astrophysics
- Introduction to Quantumphysics
- Two more scientific courses the student can choose

 

[blepenske]

thank you. I appreciate it. As I am just getting started I will print this out and see What I can do. My advisor is ironically in the math department. I seem to have a lot to do. Wish I could get rid of all the fluff stuff and just take courses that matter but that is after the bachelor's I presume.

 

[blepenske]

I guess I need to hear this now as opposed to later. Do you think there is any reason why someone my age can't make a drastic change in life goals and accomplish this. Is there anything to recommend someone younger as to someone older. I do realize I am not as mentally flexible as I used to be. I still think I can do this but is there a serious issue with age and receptability. When I worked in the tech industry I hated the little kids just out of college. I was more hireable but I had to pretend that I actually knew more than they did. I could do things but didnt have the basics and that eventually meant I hit a brick wall. The basic fundamental education is the only thing I can see that was essentially missing. I had to find new people to show me new things or I stagnated. I want to be out there with the actual understanding of the field so I can progress as far as I can. So, that being said, is there a point where someone doesn't necessarily have it any longer. I saw it in the tech field. The brilliant everlasting ones that seemed to be able to figure everything out and the guys like me who eventually kind of went away. Still there and comfortable with the money, etc but just not at the edge of it. I want to finally do something on my own, sink or swim.
Any ideas?

 

[a7d07c8114]

I guess I need to hear this now as opposed to later. Do you think there is any reason why someone my age can't make a drastic change in life goals and accomplish this. Is there anything to recommend someone younger as to someone older. I do realize I am not as mentally flexible as I used to be. I still think I can do this but is there a serious issue with age and receptability. When I worked in the tech industry I hated the little kids just out of college. I was more hireable but I had to pretend that I actually knew more than they did. I could do things but didnt have the basics and that eventually meant I hit a brick wall. The basic fundamental education is the only thing I can see that was essentially missing. I had to find new people to show me new things or I stagnated. I want to be out there with the actual understanding of the field so I can progress as far as I can. So, that being said, is there a point where someone doesn't necessarily have it any longer. I saw it in the tech field. The brilliant everlasting ones that seemed to be able to figure everything out and the guys like me who eventually kind of went away. Still there and comfortable with the money, etc but just not at the edge of it. I want to finally do something on my own, sink or swim.
Any ideas?

I don't want to discourage you from doing what you want, not by any means, and neither do I want to pretend I know everything about this issue. However, if you want an honest answer to what could potentially prevent you from pursuing this career path, it's how much time it will take. Becoming a particle physicist means grad school. I don't know at what point you'll restart your education, but if you're starting over near the beginning of undergrad level to recover your basics, it'll take well over half a decade, depending on whether you go for the PhD or not (which will set bounds on what exactly you'll be capable of within the field). You may easily end up doing this for the next ten years. It's certainly possible, and if you're determined who knows how far you'll go, but ten years in the future for a new undergrad is different than ten years for someone in their thirties.

By no means, though, does this have any bearing on your actual mental ability. It's more of a technicality than a reason not to do what you want. Think long and hard - five to ten years is a long time to lose at 37, and you want to be absolutely sure. Keep in mind that particle physics isn't exactly something with very many industry options, and you want to be certain it's something you'd like to stick with for the rest of your life.

Good luck, whatever you end up doing, I hope that clears at least something up for you.

 

[yster]

Well all I have to say is. If you put your mind to it and you really are capable then by the time you retire (60) you'll have almost 20 years of experience. That's more than enough time to make your mark in any industry, I believe, or at least become a specialist.

We had one electronic engineer who was only an intern at 40. That was his first year at university, he was a maths teacher before that. He had what it took, he is currently a third year student and I believe he can make it and so can you

 

[ParticleGrl]

Long term jobs in particle physics are incredibly hard to come by, most people who get phds in the field leave. Its also a long path, you'll have to finish an undergrad physics major + phd (maybe 10 years all together) + 6 years of postdocs to get a shot at a faculty position.

BUT, if you want to do particle physics research that is different. Go find a professor who works in particle physics right away. Ask about research opportunities. If you can program, there will be work you can do. If you aren't ready to start research immediately, find out what you need to do. You'll also do particle physics research all through your phd, and any postdocs you decide to take.

 

[elkement]

Hello, I am going to make you think I am crazy with the very notion of can he do it.
I am 37. I have been many things but not what I would like to be. I have always wanted
to be a particle physicist. I am in my first year of returning to college after some things.

First and foremost - I do not at all think that this is crazy. I am your generation and I basically feel surrounded by people who start all over again today, sometimes after taking some months time off from work. I am from middle Europe -so I do not know if you see that trend in the US as well. I am also considering a shift in career which involves going for another degree.

Some years ago I felt that colleagues and friends used to study part-time to work on a (mainly) business-related degree that perfectly matched their current career. Today I recogonize all kinds of career moves - very often real breaks associated with ditching that was called a successfull career in the traditional sense. (But I am still talking about real jobs, not breaking out in the 1970ies way and living in an Indian community... ;-)).

Having said that I want to mention some caveats. It sounds materialistic but finally it depends on what you can afford financially. The more money you have accumulated in your career to date, the more exotic (in terms of: not making you very employable) your studies can be. I once talked to a former sales manager from the IT industry who started to study philosophy. He wold me he was able to live on his savings for a couple of years.

I am an experimental physicist and now IT expert so I cannot say much about particle physics. But from second hand experience and other discussions in forums like this I agree with ParticleGrl. You need to be aware of the fact that it is extremely hard to find a permanent position I that area - and it depends on a lot of factors that you cannot influence, no matter how well you score.

So I would encourage you to enjoy your studies in terms of returning to what you really want to learn etc. But I would still try to evaluate all options you might have in addition to working as a particle physicist - e.g. like a research programmer in that area. Do you have a chance to combine what you did in your previous career with physics / research? Random example: If you are a skilled writer you could consider also working as a science writer, focussing on particle physics.

I really do not want to discourage you, rather the opposite. If you really want to enjoy studying - especially in case of studying later in life - I would try to disentangle studying and trying to find a job in _exactly_ that area a bit. I believe that latter could finally cause your excitement about physics to cool down.
I am speaking from experience: Today I can afford reducing my working hours and stress level and dedicate some time to self-studying theoretical stuff I did not select at the university such as QFT and general relativity. I might go for another degree but not in a theoretical area.