So You Want To Be A Physicist Discussion

[ZapperZ]

Any more news on that, mister? (:

Not at the moment, no. I've shelved it (until I talk to more high school kids and teachers) in favor of continuing with and ending it on a physics career aspect of the series.

Zz.

 

[Mépris]

Not at the moment, no. I've shelved it (until I talk to more high school kids and teachers) in favor of continuing with and ending it on a physics career aspect of the series.

Zz.

Ah shame, I would have loved to read it. Thank you for the swift reply.

I'm at this particular stage in my little life where something like this would have been useful. At any rate, I'll read the initial article in full. ;)

 

[ZapperZ]

Since a lot of people found my self-evaluation thread titled "https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=64966"" essay. I've included this topic in Part VIIIa, trying not to change the number of previous parts, since I or someone have made references to parts of the essay over time.

In this new part, I've expanded a little bit on what I wrote in that thread, with some suggestions on what one might want to do after using such self-evaluation. I may, in the future, elaborate further on the many possible steps one can do, and to test out the effectiveness of such steps by actually taking the GRE Physics Subject test.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Science Career section has an article on the Academic track in US institutions. This might be something people who are interested in going the academic route want to read.

http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2011_02_11/science.opms.r1100100

Zz.

 

[richardfatman]

Thank you for this amazing article.
I'm currently a high school senior and it is always my dream to become a physicist, especially a theoretical physicist.
After reading this great article, I truly get some idea on how to realize my dream.

 

[LizzzyBF]

Great article, just finished reading it.
I'd definitely be interested in reading anything about what to do while still in high school.
I know that I need to focus on physics and maths classes (not sure whether to do statistics as well as calculus next year though), and I have been reading some popular physics books in my spare time, but if there's any information about anything else high schoolers could be doing out there, it would be great to know.

 

[ZapperZ]

In last week's issue of Science, there was a useful article on the art of presenting a scientific talk for those who are "http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2011_06_10/caredit.a1100052" ". It gave a few simple exercises, both mental and physical, on how to overcome such anxiety, which we all go through.

In Part XIV of my http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df5w5j9q_5gj6wmt" essay, I described in detail what one needs to prepare in presenting such a talk. In the end, the only way to gain some control over such anxiety is to practice, practice, practice. As with any skill, the ability to speak and present something effectively can only be acquired upon repeated practice. Having such a skill can mitigate a bit the level of anxiety. It doesn't mean that you don't have it anymore, it just means that you have some control over it and that it doesn't overwhelm you anymore after some point.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

The question of employment in physics is one of those things that keep coming up in this forum. The AIP has now released the latest statistics obtained for Physics PhDs in the US from the class of 2007/2008. Here is the statistics on the initial employment of those PhDs.

http://www.aip.org/statistics/trends/reports/phdinitial.pdf

Over half of them (56%) went into postdoctoral position, while 33% went into a "potentially permanent" position. What is interesting is that out of those 33% that has a potentially permanent position, and overwhelming majority (62%) are in the private sector!

Looking even closer, those who have a potentially permanent position, the largest percentage of them (48%, which is almost half) are employed in a field outside of physics (Fig. 2). But is this bad? Not necessarily. If you look in Fig. 3, those who are in a potentially permanent position in the private sector are the ones with the highest starting salary (median $85,000).

Zz.

 

[Ryker]

I have to say this does NOT look gloomy at all!

 

[osnarf]

and only 19% were not in Physics, Engineering, or "Other Sciences", all of which I would probably be very happy working in. I may reconsider physics for grad school I thought it was much different.

 

[ZapperZ]

Science Careers section has a very useful tip in doing an oral presentation for non-native speakers.

http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2011_06_17/caredit.a1100056

In particular, pay attention to the tips given on your presentation:

Alley goes further, recommending what he calls an "assertion-evidence approach," in which you write a key statement at the top of your slides in place of the usual title. "If the audience didn't understand a single thing that you said, … that statement at the top is what you want [them] to walk out of the door with for that part of the presentation," Alley says. Then, instead of the traditional bullet points, present your evidence visually using photos, timelines, flow diagrams, pie charts, or movies, Alley says. Such advice applies to everyone, he adds, but it is especially relevant to non-native speakers.

This is rather similar to what I suggested in Part XIV of "https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AZWAvYoPhl2_ZGY1dzVqOXFfNWdqNndtdA&hl=en_US"" essay:

For example, if there are two different graphs and you are trying to compare the two, write in point form their similarities and differences. This accomplishes two things: you can look at the screen itself and be reminded of the things you are trying to convey and can emphasize them verbally, and the audience can read them and along with your oral presentation, be reinforced on the important point that you are trying to get across. This is also helpful if you are not a native English speaker and your English pronunciation is weak. Having the points written on the screen can still allow the audience to have an idea what you are trying to say. But again, do not write lengthy prose and expect the audience to have the patience to read it.

The key thing to remember here is that, if your pronunciation is weak, you want to make sure that even if people don't listen to you, they will still get the message that you want to get across in a particular viewgraph. So make sure your viewgraphs has not only the necessary information, but also the "punchlilne" highlighted very clearly. The article suggested that you write down the punchline instead of the title for each viewgraph. That isn't such a bad idea.

Zz.

 

[Jack21222]

I re-read Zz's compendium of becoming a physicist a couple times a year. I just finished my 6th or 7th read-through, and every time, I pick up something new. I'm going into my final year of undergrad, so I focused on that area this time.

Thanks again, ZapperZ. If I ever run into you at a physics conference one of these days, I owe you a beer (or beverage of your choice).

 

[ZapperZ]

The AIP has released the latest data on US Physics Graduate Degrees.

http://www.aip.org/statistics/trends/reports/physgrad2008.pdf

This report covers the latest data gathered for 2008.

There is an overall increase in the number of PhD awarded since a significant drop in 2004. The average number of years in getting a PhD (starting with a Bachelor degree) is still around 6 years (see Fig. 6). Fig. 7 shows the distribution of specific areas in physics. Note that condensed matter/material science still leads the field, and this is reflected in the fact that this field also is the largest division in the APS.

Zz.

 

[Veritas Seeke]

Zapper's last entry was 6 years ago did the man die?

 

[Mororvia]

His last post on this forum was ~18hrs ago. I would wager he is still alive and kicking.

More on topic, its too bad more of the posters in this subforum don't browse through this thread and his writing before asking the same questions over and over.

 

[ZapperZ]

Zapper's last entry was 6 years ago did the man die?

Yes, he's dead and presently is decaying away.

Zz.

 

[weld]

Hey Zapperz, what does doing experimental work involve?

Is it aesthetically satisfying? What would the average physicist say in that regard? Cause I think it sounds kind of boring, tinkering with machines, running experiments over and over again, just to verify a hypothesis. It get worse when such experiments may take a month or so to complete 100%.

Are there any places where one can do pure, theoretical research outside of academia, such as certain corporations or research institutes? How hard will you say it is to get a job at such places?

Regarding condensed matter physics, do most consider it boring and dull, or at least aesthetically inferior to that of other physics subfields?

If one gets tenure as theoretical physics prof, how much of one's time do you estimate one gets to do research? 90%, 80%?

 

[ZapperZ]

Hey Zapperz, what does doing experimental work involve?

Is it aesthetically satisfying? What would the average physicist say in that regard? Cause I think it sounds kind of boring, tinkering with machines, running experiments over and over again, just to verify a hypothesis. It get worse when such experiments may take a month or so to complete 100%.

Er... I'm not sure where to start to dismiss such myth. That's like saying doing theoretical work is boring because one does nothing else but sit with a pen and paper solving equations!

Regarding condensed matter physics, do most consider it boring and dull, or at least aesthetically inferior to that of other physics subfields?

Wow!

I strongly suggest you go look at, say ArXiv, and see the huge range of topics covered under condensed matter physics. As for it being "inferior", I can quote Robert Laughlin in his Nobel Prize speech:

One common response in the early stages of learning is that superconductivity and the quantum Hall effect are not fundamental and therefore not worth taking seriously. When this happens I just open up the AIP Handbook and show the disbeliever that the accepted values of e and h are defined by these effects, and that ends that. The world is full of things for which one’s understanding, i.e., one’s ability to predict what will happen in an experiment, is degraded by taking the system apart, including most delightfully the standard model of elementary particles itself. I myself have come to suspect most of the important outstanding problems in physics are emergent in nature, including particularly quantum gravity.

Considering that the Higgs mechanism came out of condensed matter (see Anderson's work on spontaneous broken symmetry), and the fact that condensed matter system might be the first system to exhibit Majorana fermions ahead of any particle physics experiments, I don't know how anyone could even think of it being "inferior".

Zz.

 

[GregJ]

Fantastic read ZapperZ! Will re-read it tomorrow again :)

I haven't gone through the whole thread yet however.

 

[ZapperZ]

Fantastic read ZapperZ! Will re-read it tomorrow again :)

I haven't gone through the whole thread yet however.

Thank you.

Since I was asked this a couple of times this week already, let me again post the link to the entire essay in its present form:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=df5w5j9q_5gj6wmt

I actually wrote a new entry for the essay a few weeks ago where I intended to put in my 2 cents on what it means to be a good and useful Academic Advisor. However, after writing it, I thought it became more of my own personal, idealized vision. Although I do have a graduate student that I mentor, and have had a few students here and there over the years, I don't think I have achieved the idealized version of an Academic Advisor. The main reason for this is that, as someone who isn't at an academic institution, we do not have a role as an academic advisor.

So what I ended up doing is rewriting the chapter on what I want an Academic Advisor to be, and posted it as a blog entry.

http://physicsandphysicists.blogspot.com/2011/08/so-i-am-your-academic-advisor.html

Zz.

 

[GregJ]

Re-read the essay again today along with your blog entry.

I am finding it all very useful as I will eventually move someday from the UK to the US to continue my studies (although that will be in quite some time). So it is nice to know what's ahead and perhaps avoid any mishaps that may arise.

The T.A. section was especially useful to me (something I never knew of until I read it in your essay) and something that I will certainly have to look at in more detail, so that someday I may actively aim for it.

The blog entry sounds what every Academic Advisor should be like. I imagine you're not too far off from that version ;)

 

[ZapperZ]

This is a report on a panel discussion held at SLAC on how to find jobs outside of Academia.

http://www.symmetrymagazine.org/bre...e-students-how-to-land-jobs-outside-academia/

Many of the advices being given echoes what I had previously stated on here and in my essay, especially that on acquiring skills and knowledge in experiments/instrumentation.

Zz.

 

[Condensate]

Hi ZapperZ!

Are the courses in college going to be similar to the way high school AP courses are structured?
I ask because my interest in the Physics and Chemistry AP classes is low.

 

[Brown Arrow]

hey Greg

the links you have posted in your first post are not working,

 

[Brown Arrow]

hey Greg

the links you have posted in your first post are not working,

for me I took university chem..physic..bio..math in HS...

for all my courses at university(UofT) we reviewed first semester for the intro courses..

AP in HS can make you hate the subject... Had experience with AP did not like it

PS: I'm doing specialist in Astrophysics... got a good sense of the physics part of the course going to be taking the Astor part in the winter

 

[ZapperZ]

hey Greg

the links you have posted in your first post are not working,

Those were posted on a sister forum that is no longer running.

Again, and I should do this periodically, I suppose, the complete version of the essay (as of this moment) can be found at https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=df5w5j9q_5gj6wmt.

Zz.

 

[PookDo]

I printed it up and read parts of it this morning before work. I am focusing on brushing up on my math skills before I start school. A lot of it addressed some questions I have but I am sure other ones will be answered when I get to read it all the way through. I still question my ability to do it just starting school at 43 but it's something I want to do really bad

 

[algaidaman]

Thanks for the write-up ZapperZ! That was some really good information.

 

[algaidaman]

I printed it up and read parts of it this morning before work. I am focusing on brushing up on my math skills before I start school. A lot of it addressed some questions I have but I am sure other ones will be answered when I get to read it all the way through. I still question my ability to do it just starting school at 43 but it's something I want to do really bad

No time like the present!

 

[ZapperZ]

It's official! Physics is Hard!

http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2012/02/its-official-physics-is-hard.html

Zz.