Collaborate with a Physicist: Finding Solutions to Complex Problems

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of hiring a physicist for assistance with complex problems, particularly in the context of writing academic papers. Participants explore the availability of physicists for consulting, the types of physicists needed, and the challenges associated with engaging them.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about services to hire a physicist and the associated costs.
  • Another participant notes the prevalence of engineering consulting services compared to physicists and emphasizes the importance of the specific field of physics required.
  • A warning is issued regarding the solicitation of services, referencing forum guidelines that prohibit financial transactions.
  • Further discussion highlights the challenges of engaging physicists, particularly regarding reputations of hobbyists versus professionals, and suggests alternative avenues like Physics Stack Exchange or university departments.
  • Concerns are raised about budget constraints limiting access to qualified physicists, with suggestions that only graduate students may be available within a lower budget.
  • There is a suggestion that to attract the interest of PhD physicists, one would need a compelling idea or significant funding.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying views on the availability and feasibility of hiring physicists, with some agreeing on the challenges and limitations while others propose potential avenues for engagement. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to find and hire a physicist.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of clarity on specific physicist expertise needed, the potential stigma associated with non-professional theoretical physics work, and the financial constraints impacting the ability to engage qualified physicists.

gva
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Is there any such service anywhere where I can hire a physicist to help solve certain things? How much per solution or day or week? anyone here?
 
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There are a lot of engineering conslulting services - fewer physicists.

What kind of physicist do you need? A solid state physicist is different from a condensed matter is different from astro from nuclear, etc.

Consultants I know go from $100 - $500 per hour.
 
Careful.

[PLAIN said:
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/physics-forums-global-guidelines.414380/]Soliciting:[/PLAIN]
Soliciting or offering financial payment for any reason is strictly prohibited.
 
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Dr. Courtney said:
There are a lot of engineering conslulting services - fewer physicists.

What kind of physicist do you need? A solid state physicist is different from a condensed matter is different from astro from nuclear, etc.

Consultants I know go from $100 - $500 per hour.

Physicist expert in quantum interpretations. To help me write paper on arxiv.
 
gva said:
Physicist expert in quantum interpretations. To help me write paper on arxiv.

You've got an uphill climb.

Folks who do theoretical physics as a hobby have something of a bad reputation among physicists with PhDs.

You could try starting a discussion on the Physics Stack Exchange: http://physics.stackexchange.com/

But short of going to grad school in Physics, I'm not sure I can recommend many paths with confidence that will accomplish what you want to do.

You could also try visiting the Physics Depts of nearby universities, but you are going to need a quick pitch to convince hearers that you are not a crank wasting their time.

If your budget is only a few hundred dollars, odds are you will only interest grad students, and then you have the challenge of finding one who can really contribute to your problem on that budget.

To interest PhDs, you probably need to catch their attention very quickly with a brilliant idea, or bring a lot of cash to the table - in which case you are more of a grant source than collaborator. Physicists are not accustomed to the funding source also being the collaborator.
 

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