Theoretical research only based jobs

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the pursuit of theoretical research positions outside of academia, particularly after completing a higher degree. It highlights the limited availability of research-only roles, noting that postdoctoral positions are primarily temporary and often involve teaching. Key alternatives include positions at US national labs, the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), and Perimeter Institute, which collectively offer around 100 positions annually. Additionally, industrial theory roles exist at companies like IBM, primarily in specialized areas of condensed matter physics.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of postdoctoral research roles in academia
  • Familiarity with US national laboratories and their research focus
  • Knowledge of industrial research positions in theoretical physics
  • Awareness of the job market dynamics in physics, particularly the ratio of experimentalist to theorist positions
NEXT STEPS
  • Research opportunities at US national labs and their application processes
  • Explore positions at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) and Perimeter Institute
  • Investigate industrial research roles at IBM and similar companies
  • Analyze job market trends in theoretical physics through resources like Physics Today
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and professionals in theoretical physics seeking non-teaching research roles in academia or industry.

MathematicalPhysicist
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As the title suggest I wish after I finish my higher degree to be involved in a research based career, as far as I can tell
postdoc is for continuing in academia and also teaching, which I am not fond of.

So which options are available without wanting to teach?
 
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You want theoretical research jobs only but not in academia? I would think academia would be your largest theoretical research pool.
 
Pythagorean said:
You want theoretical research jobs only but not in academia? I would think academia would be your largest theoretical research pool.

I don't mind teaching graduate students (although it depends what type of students are enrolled), but teaching first year undergraduate students is not my cup of tea.

I don't mind staying in academia, but my thought was that research only jobs in academia is mainly for postdocs, which is a temporary job anyway.

What other options are there in academia for research only jobs?
 
There are very few. There are US national lab positions plus places like IAS and Perimeter. These probably total ~100 positions, so ~3 per year open up. Note that these are in all areas of physics; if you do HEP Theory and a position in condensed matter theory opens up, it doesn't help you.

There are a small number of industrial theory positions with companies like IBM. These are essentially all in condensed matter, and often very specialized areas within condensed matter.

If you have a Nobel Prize or similar, you can get a faculty position where teaching is not required.
 
ZapperZ said:
In case people missed it, I did a quick, non-scientific survey of the type of jobs being advertised in Physics Today over a period of 4 months. One can read it here:

https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=3998201&postcount=144

In those 4 issues, the ratio of experimentalist job to theorist job was 4:1.

Zz.

Interesting; that's actually a better ratio than I'd assumed.
 
Pythagorean said:
Interesting; that's actually a better ratio than I'd assumed.

A few years ago, RIM's stocks actually went up even after posting a loss, all because the loss was less than what many analysts had predicted.

I can't help feeling that this is similar to what you had just said. And in both cases, they made me scratch my head.

Zz.
 
What are you confused about?
 

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