Is There a Job in Theoretical Astrophysics?

[piknless]

Hello, I am new here. I had a question regarding jobs and physics. I read the book Death by Black Hole by Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and I was highly intrigued at the topics mentioned, enough to proselytize me into wanting to be a physicist in the field of Astrophysics. That was about a year ago. I have started reading Brian Greene's The Fabric of the Cosmos. More specifically, I want to be a Theoretical Astrophysicist. My question is, is there such thing as a job like that?

 

[eXmag]

Just follow your dreams and don't let anything stop you. You can be whatever you want to be. Try stephen hawkings a brief history of time. It is a good read

 

[eri]

Yes, there are jobs like that. Not many, but some. There just aren't that many universities or labs that think theoretical astrophysics is worth funding, so it can be hard to get a job if you're not a superstar in your field (and most of us aren't). So don't be all that focused on something in particular, especially since a PhD in astrophysics will take 8-12 years and you'll be exposed to many areas of research you might find fascinating along the way. Just keep in mind that reading books written for a popular audience is not a good way to figure out if you'll actually like the job itself. Starting a physics degree at a local university will give you a better idea of whether or not it's for you.