Should I Leave Physics? Deciding Between a Career in Physics & Engineering

[ZapperZ]

My evidence is purely anecdotal based on my conversations with people and observations from 2 different Nat'l Labs and 2 different universities.

I'm not saying the situation is GOOD. There is still a lot of physics graduates when compared to available permanent positions in the traditional areas. But I am starting to see it being better than it was, especially even just a year ago when we simply did not get the money that we were told we were going to get. Our students are getting not only interviews for postdocs, but also interviews for staff positions, which used to occur only very rarely.

I think in the next 6 months, the full effect of the stimulus bill will be even more pronounced once the allocated funds really kick in. I think that in engineering hiring, this may already be apparent. Still, the major drawback on this is that there's only so much the govt. and academic sector can do without the rest of the economy recovering as well. And as I've said earlier, for there to be any meaningful increase in physics employment, this can't be a one-shot or even a short-term increase in physical science funding.

Zz.

 

[josh_einsle]

One is that there is a perception that someone with a BS in physics should be able to get a job as an engineer. I don't know how this got started, but my advice is that if you want a job as an engineer, get a degree in engineering.

I will say case and point that I am an example of a person with a BA in Physics doing an engineering job. For me, physics thought me how to learn, gave me the basic math skills needed in all engineering jobs and a basic understanding of the physical processes involved in most semi-conductor processes.

I will not say i do the job of an EE or ME or CE, but in most semi-conductor/ data storage / mems related companies, there is very little engineering that is not process based. This means these companies expect you to be able to learn how control a process, learn how your tool set works and then move on to other tool sets in a few years. Yes EE, ME and material scientists and or physicists might have bigger roles in device design, but the basic roles of process control engineering will be great entry level jobs for most people with a bachelors in physics.

Additionally, I actually work for a capital equipment manufacturer and again there is a large cross-section of 'physicists' (people who studied physics at all levels from Bachlors to Phd) in the company doing various roles in sales, marketing, product development, systems engineering, demonstrators and research.

Overall the ones that have been successful are the ones who learned to learn while being educated. Most engineering principles can be thought to a physicist as long as they are receptive to learn.

 

[ronridings]

just thought that you would like to know i was looking at jobs posted on the department of energy website a few months ago, just out of curiosity, i saw many available positions for engineers and also for physicist. i am assuming that they were looking for people with a phd though. the starting pay was 125k. not sure though. check it out.

 

[merry]

Good point.

I have a PhD in theoretical particle physics (from a very well known US university) and a postdoc but am unemployed now. I will soon be looking for a job delivering pizzas or washing dishes in a restaurant. But I have no regrets, I prefer to have challenged my mind and learned a lot than having made lots of money to buy a house, a fancy car and other stuff.

Aww man that's put a heavy load on my heart! I want to go for particle physics as well, but then everything in the universe seems to point towards engineering right now... Its so hard to choose between what you love and what will help you survive in the future. T.T

 

[MaxwellsDemon]

Good point.

I have a PhD in theoretical particle physics (from a very well known US university) and a postdoc but am unemployed now. I will soon be looking for a job delivering pizzas or washing dishes in a restaurant. But I have no regrets, I prefer to have challenged my mind and learned a lot than having made lots of money to buy a house, a fancy car and other stuff.

I have a masters in physics and I've already done both of those jobs! I'm currently working in a restaurant as a cook/dishwasher. I decided to go into a high school teacher certification program at a local university. When I'm done I'll have a second masters in education. I may not get to go into any depth in the subject matter when teaching to kids, but it'll give me free time to work on my ideas and hopefully some of my passion for physics will rub of on some impressionable young minds. There is an enormous need for quality high school science teachers these days...you may want to consider it as a career path. It beats spending every day elbow deep in dishwater. You won't get rich as a teacher, but you'll be making a difference.