Government Physicist: Research, PHD & Job Prospects

[Rhine720]

So I've been reading around a lot and from what I've gathered The job pool for engineers pay more, but my real passion was for physics and research. So I read more.

My questions are, what is government research? When people say they want to do research does that mean strictly for government or is that personal research or a mixed both? Seeing as how no matter where I read that getting places with a PHD in Physics is rough i came to figure that doing research for the government would be a safe bet, plus getting be on the edge of new research. Can someone give me a little more information? Thanks =]

 

[nickryg]

So I've been reading around a lot and from what I've gathered The job pool for engineers pay more, but my real passion was for physics and research. So I read more.

My questions are, what is government research? When people say they want to do research does that mean strictly for government or is that personal research or a mixed both? Seeing as how no matter where I read that getting places with a PHD in Physics is rough i came to figure that doing research for the government would be a safe bet, plus getting be on the edge of new research. Can someone give me a little more information? Thanks =]

Here is just one possible opportunity for you: http://www.darpa.mil/