Quantum Physics Career With Bachelor's Degree?

[EarthCookie]

Do you play cards? You have got to play your cards right.
The wrong way talking to you respective employer:

I want a position applying quantum mechanics to transistors, tubes, sensors, computers etc.

Employer: we don't have anything like that. Next.

The right way:

My degree in physics has developed my mathematics, and physics to solve problems you are likely to have encountered.

Employer: Well we have a lot of legacy software that needs upgrading. We have the gravity field expressed as a series of Legendre polynomials, and spherical harmonics.

I learned about special functions in physics and you need a specialist on your team to validate and expedite your upgrading processes. A physicist can fix and locate trouble, your computer specialists can overlook. ...

In short, you keep receptive to everything your perspective employer needs.

Perhaps a year or two down the line. You approach the employer:

You know, A quantum mechanics class can expand my expertise. QM involves boundary value problems relating to special functions ...

Employer: Sure, why not. We can support this effort... We can give you time off for classes, maybe a year of advanced study leave of absence or support.

Do not laugh. I have known a lot of civilian employees that have furthered their education like this.

The main point, was expressed in a recent movie: The Big Night

First you give the customer (employer) what they want.
Later you can give the customer (employer) what you want

Amazing! Thank you for this. I realized I am new to everything and getting feedbacks like this truly helps. Thank you for the advice!

 

[Vanadium 50]

What mpresic3 describes is certainly possible, but it requires quite a few things to break your way. You need to keep your eyes open for these opportunities, but you can't plan your life around hope. "Possible", "probable" and "certain" mean three different things.

The subject has drifted far afield from "a quantum physics career". Maybe you should describe where you are and where you want to go in some detail, without presupposing the intermediate steps. Then folks can help you with charting a course from here to there.

 

[EarthCookie]

What mpresic3 describes is certainly possible, but it requires quite a few things to break your way. You need to keep your eyes open for these opportunities, but you can't plan your life around hope. "Possible", "probable" and "certain" mean three different things.

The subject has drifted far afield from "a quantum physics career". Maybe you should describe where you are and where you want to go in some detail, without presupposing the intermediate steps. Then folks can help you with charting a course from here to there.

Thank you. I am a recent graduate, and I thought I knew what I wanted to do. But now that I think about it, I must reflect upon myself exactly what I want. The advices truly helped me to rethink, and I will take some time to think more. Thank you and I hope to update the post when I am ready. So may I answer your question another time?