Jobs / Employability with Chemistry / Physics degree?

[trollcast]

I'm just wondering about the above 2 degrees (or possibly physics and something like applied mathematics or computer science as a double honours) and what sort of outlook there is for jobs and variety of jobs out there.

I'm interested in the areas of science that are working to produce new technologies such as graphene and carbon based nano-tech or new polymer battery technologies etc. Which of those 2 degrees would be most suitable for these sorts of cutting edge technology research jobs and more importantly are those jobs attainable or a really low chance of success?

Thanks

 

[trollcast]

Anyone?

 

[ModusPwnd]

Both chemistry and physics are very much involved in material science. I worked in a material science lab during gradschool and we had students and post-docs with physics and chemistry degrees/majors.

Jobs in physics and chemistry can be hard to get. Specifically, getting a professor/researcher job is very, very hard to get. But with a PhD in physics or chemistry you can certainly compete for technical jobs in industry. If you don't want to do graduate school and get a PhD then you should major in a type of engineering and try to do an internship with a potential employer.

 

[carlgrace]

You'd be much better off in an engineering program, either electrical, materials or chemical, depending on the school and what research they do.

 

[trollcast]

You'd be much better off in an engineering program, either electrical, materials or chemical, depending on the school and what research they do.

there's no materials science / engineering course at the university I wish to attend, there's a module or 2 on materials science and solid state physics in the physics course though.

I'm not really interested in the chemical engineering course as there's a load of mechanical engineering modules and business / management modules that I'm not really that interested in.