An Institute of Physics report | January 2010
Survey of Academic
Appointments in Physics
2004–2008
United Kingdom and Ireland
Contents
Contents
Executive summary
1
1: Introduction
1.1:Aims and objectives 1.2:Parts of the survey 1.3:Acknowledgements 3
3
3
3
List of figures
4
List of tables
5
2: The data-gathering process
2.1:Methodology 2.2:The survey form 2.3:Quality of the data 7
7
7
7
3: Analysis of the current situation
3.1:Departmental-level view 3.2:Research-group-level view 8
8
10
4: Analysis of changes over the last five years
4.1:Arriving staff 4.2:Departing staff 4.3:Net movements 12
12
14
16
5: Concluding comments
18
Appendix A: Republic of Ireland
19
Appendix B: Survey form
22
Appendix C: Participating UK departments
27
Appendix D: Charts for UK physics research areas
28
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Executive summary
Executive summary
the UK, 47 of a possible 48 physics departments (i.e. those with a
In
significant proportion of physics academics) participated in this survey. In the
Republic of Ireland, eight of 11 departments responded – these results are
presented separately in Appendix A.
l Just over 1850 academics are engaged in physics research as reported by UK
physics departments. Of this total, 88% are male and 12% are female. These
figures compare with a 91:9% gender ratio in the previous (2004) survey.
l 74% of the total staff numbers are experimentalists, 26% are theoreticians.
l The overall breakdown by academic grade is as follows: 32% are professors,
27% are readers/senior lecturers, 18% are lecturers, 11% are research fellows,
and the remaining 12% are university teachers/teaching fellows, experimental
officers and other staff. (Postgraduate students, postdoctoral researchers,
technical and administrative staff, and visiting academics were excluded from
the survey.)
l The three most populated of the defined “physics research areas” are:
astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and space physics (23% of the total
community); high energy and particle physics (15%); and surfaces, interfaces
and materials (9%).
l Over the five-year survey period since the last survey, 268 staff departed and
499 arrived – a net gain of 231 staff members, representing some 12% of the
current community.
l The physics research areas gaining most staff members over the five-year
survey period were astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and space physics
(net gain of 60 individuals), and high energy and particle physics (51).
l As a percentage of the total staff headcount within that research area,
biophysics and biological physics has seen the largest increase with a net gain
of 15 staff members (30% of its current community).
l Within the most populated academic grades (professors, readers/senior
lecturers, lecturers and research fellows) the split across nationalities is
approximately the same, with 43–48% of staff from the UK, 32–40% from the
EU and 16–20% non-EU.
l The most common reason for staff departing remains retirement (119 = 44%
of the total), although female staff members only account for one of these
119 retirements. Moving to another academic post accounted for the second
largest group of departures with just over 30% of both male and female staff.
l
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1: Introduction
1: Introduction
1.1: Aims and objectives
changes in staff numbers in each of those key research
areas over the survey period to determine which areas
have gained and lost staff. The available data set is
then examined more closely to offer a detailed description of the age, gender, grade and experimental/theoretical profile of those leaving and arriving.
This report covers departments in the UK – England,
Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The results for
the Republic of Ireland are presented in Appendix A.
The previous survey in this series was conducted
throughout 2004 and published as the Survey of Academic Appointments in Physics 1999–2004 – United
Kingdom & Ireland in February 2005 (www.iop.org/
activity/policy/Publications/file_4148.pdf). This sur1.2: Parts of the survey
The first part of this survey provides a snapshot of the vey was based on an earlier briefing paper published
UK physics community at the survey’s reference date in November 1999, entitled Physics Statistics 3: New
(1 December 2008) followed, in the second part, by a Academic Appointments.
summary of the changes to the staff complement since
the last survey in 2004 – a survey period of five years. 1.3: Acknowledgements
The snapshot is provided in section 3, which presents This survey would not have been possible without
aggregated data for all departments indicating the staff the input of a large number of heads of department,
numbers at each academic grade. This is followed by a departmental secretaries, departmental administrabreakdown of these numbers by research area in terms tors and other support staff. Their efforts and willing
of grade, gender and experimental/theoretical divide. co-operation in obtaining the data presented are grateThese numbers all relate to the reference date. This sec- fully acknowledged. The results of this survey refer to
tion includes, where appropriate, brief comparison with staff in standard academic departments – specialist and
the same data sets from the 2004 survey.
cross-­disciplinary research units of a quasi-­independent
The second part, covered in section 4, presents the nature are not within the scope of this report.
Following two previous surveys carried out in 1999 and
2004, the Institute of Physics commissioned this survey
to determine the current state of the academic physics
community in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Its
objectives were three-fold:
●● to establish the current breakdown of the
community in terms of gender, grade and research
activity, and compare this with previous surveys;
●● to discover the movements into and out of the
community over the last five years; and
●● to help inform policy activities of the Institute.
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List of figures
List of figures
4
Figure 1: Breakdown by academic grade at departmental level
8
Figure 2: Comparison of overall breakdown by academic grade, 2008 vs 2004
8
Figure 3: Breakdown of each academic grade by gender
8
Figure 4: Breakdown of total staff complement by gender
9
Figure 5: Comparison of gender breakdown across all grades, 2008 vs 2004
9
Figure 6: Staff percentages by research area
10
Figure 7: Arriving staff across academic grades
12
Figure 8: Nationalities of arriving staff by academic grade
14
Figure 9: Departing staff by academic grade
14
Figure 10: Net staff movements by research area
17
Figure 11: Republic of Ireland – staff breakdown by academic grade
19
Figure 12: Republic of Ireland – staff breakdown by research area
20
Figure 13: Republic of Ireland – staff breakdown by research area (2004)
20
Figure 14: Republic of Ireland – net staff movements by research area
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List of tables
List of tables
Table 1: Aggregate data for all UK physics departments
8
Table 2: Female staff percentage – comparison with other subjects
9
Table 3: Total staff numbers per physics research area in descending order, 2008 vs 2004 9
Table 4: Staff per research area by grade, gender and experimental/theoretical profile
11
Table 5: Gender divide between experimentalists and theoreticians, 2008 vs 2004
10
Table 6: Arriving staff by academic grade
12
Table 7: Average age on arrival by academic grade
12
Table 8: Arriving staff by research area, experiment/theory and gender
13
Table 9: Nationalities of arriving staff by academic grade
14
Table 10: Departing staff by academic grade
14
Table 11: Reasons for departure
14
Table 12: Departing staff by research area, experiment/theory and gender
15
Table 13: Net staff movements by research area
16
Table 14: Republic of Ireland – staff breakdown by academic grade
19
Table 15: Republic of Ireland – experimental/theoretical breakdown by academic grade
19
Table 16: Republic of Ireland – arrivals and departures by academic grade
20
Table 17: Republic of Ireland – arrivals and departures by research area
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2: The data-gathering process
2: The data-gathering process
2.1: Methodology
or theoreticians – on the last characteristic,
departments were asked to make their own
judgement in each case and no definitions were
offered.
●● Section 4: a list of all staff arriving and departing
permanently from the department during the survey
period, 2004–2008. Staff names were not required
but departments were asked to supply details
of their academic grade, gender, age at arrival/
2.2: The survey form
departure, reason for departure and their main
The survey form (Appendix B) was divided into four secresearch area, including an indication of whether
tions: sections 2 and 3 contribute to the first part of the
they were experimentalists or theoreticians.
survey, section 4 to the second part.
●● Section 1: departmental contact details.
2.3: Quality of the data
●● Section 2: a broad snapshot of staff numbers at
Out of a possible 48, 47 relevant UK departments pardepartmental level as of 1 December 2008 in terms ticipated in the survey, which indicates that the results
of seven academic grade groupings (professor,
can be treated with a reasonably high level of confireader and senior lecturer, lecturer, experimental
dence (see Appendix C). For the purposes of completeand senior experimental officer, researcher holding
ness, approximate figures for the non-participating
a personal fellowship, university teacher/teaching
department have been obtained from the departmental
fellow, temporary academic staff) and gender.
website for section 3 only (departmental and research●● Section 3: a more detailed breakdown by research
level staff numbers). No data were made available for
area (according to a defined set of broad research
this department for section 4 (staff movements).
categories) as of 1 December 2008 in terms of the
Newcastle University no longer has a physics departsix academic grades, gender and an indication of
ment and as such did not participate in this survey.
whether staff members were mainly experimentalists
The survey was carried out entirely by e-mail. No departmental visits were conducted and no corroborative evidence was sought in addition to the raw data provided
by each department. The survey was conducted over
a period of 10 months; forms were initially sent out in
December 2008 and the last completed returns were
submitted in October 2009.
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3: Analysis of the current situation
3: Analysis of the current situation
Table 1: Aggregate data for all UK physics departments
Academic grade
Professor
Gender
(M/F)
Absolute numbers
M
559.2
F
39.4
Reader and senior
lecturer
M
434
F
60
Lecturer
M
266
F
70
Experimental and
senior experimental
officer
M
123
F
7
Researcher
holding a personal
fellowship
M
175
F
36.5
University teacher
(non-research)/
teaching fellow
Temporary
academic staff
M
19.5
F
9
M
49
F
4.5
Total
1852.1
598.6
494
336
Percentage
of total
30
2
23
3
14
4
Percentage
per grade
32
27
18
7
130
0
2
53.5
1852.1
0
3
0
100
12
lecturers 18%
7
79
readers
and SLs 27%
21
5
83
11
1
28.5
88
professors 32%
temporary staff 3%
teachers/TFs 2%
research fellows 11%
experimental officers 7%
93
95
7
9
211.5
Figure 1: Breakdown by academic grade at
departmental level
17
68
2
32
3
100
Figure 2: Comparison of overall breakdown by
academic grade, 2008 vs 2004
professors
readers and SLs
professors
lecturers
92
readers and SLs
experimental
officers
8
lecturers fellows
research
experimental officers
teachers/TFs
2008
2004
research fellows
temporary
staff
This analysis is divided into two parts: the departmental-level overview and the more detailed research-level
view. The first view aggregates the data across all
departments in the UK in terms of gender and the following seven academic-grade groupings:
1. Professor
2. Reader and senior lecturer (SL)
3. Lecturer
4. Experimental and senior experimental officer
5. Researcher holding a personal fellowship (e.g. Royal
Society or EPSRC)
6. University teacher/teaching fellow (TF)
7. Temporary academic staff
teachers/TFs
0%
2008 35%
5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
2004
temporary staff
Figure 3: Breakdown
each15%
academic
grade
0% 5%of 10%
20% 25%
30%
professors
by gender
35%
93% 7%
readers and SLs
88%
professors
lecturers
readers and SLs
experimental
officers
12%
93% 7%
21%
79%
88% 12%
95% 5%
lecturers fellows
research
79%
83%
experimental officers
teachers/TFs
68%
research fellows
temporary
staff
21%
17%
95% 5%
32%
83%
17%
92%
8%
teachers/TFs
male staff
68% staff 32%
female
The second view breaks these numbers down into 16 temporary staff
92%
8%
“physics research areas” based loosely on the Physics
male staff female staff
& Astronomy Classification Scheme (PACS; www.aip.
org/pacs) – and also adds the experimental/­theoretical
dimension to each gender within each grade for all of departments. Of this total, 1626 (88%) are male and
the 16 research areas.
226 are female (12%). This compares with a 91:9% gender split as reported in the previous (2004) survey.
3.1: Departmental-level view
Table 1 presents the breakdown of the academic
Section 2 of the survey form was used to collect data for grades by gender in terms of absolute numbers and
this departmental-level overview of the UK physics com- percentages; percentages are given both as a propormunity. The total staff number engaged in researching tion of the total staff number, 1852, and as a proportion
and teaching physics on the reference date (1 Decem- of the staff numbers within each grade.
ber 2008) was 1852 as reported by the UK physics
For example, the 559 male and 39 female profes-
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3: Analysis of the current situation
Table 3: Total staff numbers per physics research area in descending order,
2008 vs 2004
Figure 4: Breakdown of total staff complement
by gender
Research area
professors
readers and SLs
professors
lecturers
readers and SLs
experimental officers
lecturers
research fellows
experimental officers
teachers/TFs
research fellows
temporary staff
teachers/TFs
0%
temporary staff
10%
20%
40%
60%
male staff
20%
40%
80%
100%
60%
80%
100%
female staff
Table 2: Female staff percentage – comparison
with other subjects
% female staff, all
subjects (2006/2007)1
% female staff
in physics
(current survey)
Professor
17
7
Senior lecturer
37
12
Lecturer
47
21
Researcher
46
17
1
Physics staff statistics – draft report prepared for the Institute of
Physics, February 2009, People Science & Policy Ltd.
sors represent 30% and 2%, respectively, of the overall
total but 93% and 7%, respectively, within the professorial grade. (Percentages are given to the nearest
whole number.)
The overall total of 1852 obtained here compares
well with the total headcount of 1731 of Category A
staff across all UK institutions in unit of assessment
19 (physics) in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE; www.rae.ac.uk). The latter figure is lower
because not all academic staff will have been taken
into consideration within the RAE, and some staff
members within physics departments will have entered
other units of assessment.
At this stage we can briefly compare the results of the
of
Rank
Astronomy, astrophysics,
cosmology and space physics
432.1
23.3
1
19.2
1
High energy and particle physics
278.2
15.0
2
11.2
2
171
9.2
3
7.3
6
131.7
7.1
4
9.2
3
116
6.3
5
3.7
10
Semiconductors
110.9
6.0
6
8.4
4
Magnetism, metals, quantum
fluids and superconductivity
107.1
5.8
7
7.5
5
Mathematical physics including
string theory and quantum gravity
103.9
5.6
8
4.6
8
Atomic and molecular physics
96
5.2
9
6.6
7
Nuclear physics
70
3.8
10
3.3
11
University teacher (non-research)
51.5
2.8
11
3.8
9
Biophysics and biological physics
50
2.7
12
1.9
13
Atmospheric physics, geophysics
and environmental physics
40
2.2
13
1.9
14
Plasma physics
38.5
2.1
14
2.4
12
Medical physics
14.7
0.8
15
1.6
15
Electrical and electronic physics
9
0.5
16
0.9
16
Thermal physics and fluid
dynamics
2
0.1
17
0.3
17
Other
29
1.6
N/A
5.9
N/A
Total
1851.6
100
Optics and lasers
female staff
male staff
Survey
%
Soft condensed matter
readers and SLs
2004
2008
professors
20082004
lecturers
2004
2008
readers and SLs
experimental officers 20082004
2004
2008
lecturers
20082004
research fellows
2004
experimental officers 2008
20082004
teachers/TFs
2004
2008
research fellows
20082004
temporary staff
2004
2008
teachers/TFs
0% 2004
20%
2008
temporary staff
2004
Grade
Rank
male staff
2008
0%
%
Surfaces, interfaces and
materials
0%
10%
30% across
40%
Figure 5: Comparison
of gender20%
breakdown
professors
all
grades, 20082008
vs 2004
2004
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Number
male staff
female staff
30%
female staff40%
2008 data
present survey and the 2004 survey, as given in figure 2.
Note that the overall proportion of staff at the professorial and reader/senior lecturer level has increased, with
a fall at all other levels. Further analysis of the changes
within this period will be given in section 4.
We can again make a brief comparison with the 2004
data, as shown in figure 5. The proportion of female staff
has increased substantially at the lecturer (21% vs 10%)
and teacher/teaching fellow (32% vs 11%) grades, with
small variations at other levels.
We can also compare the figures obtained here with
similar data across all higher-education subjects, as
shown in table 2.
Although the percentage of female staff in physics
is increasing, there is clearly some ground to cover
before the proportion is in line with the average across
all subjects.
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3: Analysis of the current situation
Figure 6: Staff percentages by research area
astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and space physics
high energy and particle physics
surfaces, interfaces and materials
optics and lasers
soft condensed matter
semiconductors
magnetism, metals, quantum fluids and superconductivity
mathematical physics incl. string theory and quantum gravity
atomic and molecular physics
nuclear physics
university teacher (non-research)
biophysics and biological physics
atmospheric physics, geophysics and environmental physics
plasma physics
medical physics
electrical and electronic physics
thermal physics and fluid dynamics
other
23.3%
15.0%
9.2%
7.1%
6.3%
6.0%
5.8%
5.6%
5.2%
3.8%
2.8%
2.7%
2.2%
2.1%
0.8%
0.5%
0.1%
0%
1.6%
5%
10%
15%
20% 25%
Table 5: Gender divide between experimentalists and theoreticians,
2008 vs 2004
2008 data
2004 data
Staff
Percentage Percentage of Percentage Percentage of
numbers
of total
category (E or T)
of total
category (E or T)
Male
experimentalists
1201.5
64.9
88.3
67.3
91.2
Female
experimentalists
158.5
8.6
11.7
6.5
8.8
Male
theoreticians
425.7
23.0
86.6
23.5
89.7
Female
theoreticians
65.9
3.6
13.4
2.7
10.3
1851.6
100
Total
100
3.2: Research-group-level view
In section 3 of the survey form, departments were asked
to allocate staff members to one or more of a defined
set of physics research areas. These categories were
loosely based on the Physics & Astronomy Classification Scheme. (A number of respondents indicated that
the defined research areas originally selected are now
out of date. These will be reviewed for the next edition
of the survey.)
The nature of physics research makes it difficult to
categorise researchers within one research area, but
for the purposes of this survey staff have generally been
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Academic Appointments
classified according to the area or group to which they
devote the majority of their time. In some cases fractions were used to indicate a split of time across two
or more research areas, and these have been included
in the totals.
Table 3 presents the results of this division into these
physics research areas, with the numbers from 2004
included for comparative purposes. The top two ranking research areas remain the same, with astronomy,
astrophysics, cosmology and space physics; and high
energy and particle physics now accounting for more
than 35% of the community. Surfaces, interfaces and
materials has risen from sixth to third in the rankings,
and a poss­ible reason for this is discussed in the concluding comments (section 5).
Optics and lasers (third to fourth) occupies the next
spot, and soft condensed matter (tenth to fifth) has
seen substantial growth.
The “other” category at the end of the list covers staff
working in research areas including quantum information, acoustics, radiation detection and signal processing. As noted previously, the defined categories are
becoming somewhat outdated, and there is justification
for the development of a revised list for the next edition
of this survey. (For the purposes of direct comparison
with previous surveys, both current and revised research
categories will be used in the next edition.) Nanoscience
and quantum information are two significant research
areas specifically highlighted by a number of respondents, and staff members in these areas have typically
been allocated to surfaces, interfaces and materials;
and optics and lasers or mathematical physics including string theory and quantum gravity, respectively, or
placed in the other category.
The percentage breakdown by research area for 2008
is presented graphically in figure 6.
The absolute numbers of staff in each research area,
divided by grade, gender and experimental/theoretical
profile are given in table 4.
Finally in this section, from these data we can also
obtain the total numbers of experimentalists and theoreticians by gender, as given in table 5.
Considering the relative percentages within each category, we find that female staff members are marginally
more likely to be theoreticians than experimentalists.
The 2004 percentages are included for comparison,
and we can see that the proportion of female staff has
increased in both categories over this five-year period.
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0
2
394.5
Electrical and elec…
Teacher (non-research)
Other
164.7
5
1
0
25.1
13
2
14.5
9
2
0.2
7
0
0.5
8
6
20
40.4
559.2
88
Astro and astrophysics
58.7
High energy and PP
25
31.1
Magnetism, metals…
Atomic and molecular…
9
Bio/biological physics
9
5.5
Medical physics
Atmospheric physics…
16
Nuclear physics
2
41
Semiconductors
Thermal physics…
39.7
Optics and lasers
13
16
Soft condensed matter
Plasma physics
0
Mathematical physics…
11
0
T
10.9
0
0
0
1
1
1
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
0.4
0
1
3.5
39.4
28.5
0
0
0
8
2
2
3
0
0
1
0
0
0
4
1
3
0
4.5
E
7
2
0
20
4
0
9
2
3
0
1
0
1
7
6
8
32
8
T
109
434
325
4
3
0
78
15
8
64
19
9
2
14
0
10
15
27
19
0
37
E
M
41
0
1
0
11
1
3
9
3
0
1
2
0
0
4
1
2
0
3
E
60
F
19
1
4
0
7
4
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
T
266
180
1
5
2
38
4
3
42
7
11
1
5
0
8
9
18.5
11
0
14.5
E
M
86
0
1
5
16
8
1
8
6
0
0
3
0
3
3
6
7
14
5
T
48
0
2
0
15
2
2
8
3
2
2
1
0
0
2
2
2
0
5
E
70
F
22
2
3
0
0
2
0
3
1
1
1
0
0
0
1
3
0
3
2
T
175
126
0
0
0
37
8
0
16
11
7
0
2
0
3
8
11.5
11
0
11.5
E
M
49
2
0
0
7
1
1
6
8
1
0
4
0
0
0
2
7
7
3
T
1
0
0
5
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
T
11
36.5
25.5
0
0
0
9
1
1
7
1
2
0
0
0
0
0.5
1
1
0
2
E
F
123
121
2
1
1
41
4
5
26
4
1
1
7
0
0
7
3
4
1
13
E
M
2
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
T
7
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
E
7
F
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
T
Experimental and
senior experimental
officer
55
0
10
0
22
0
1
0
1
1
0
4
0
0
0
4
0
0
12
E
70
M
15
0
10
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
1
T
11.5
8.5
1
5.5
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
E
F
3
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
T
All other grades
1851.6
29
51.5
9
432.1
100.0%
1.6%
2.8%
0.5%
23.3%
5.2%
2.2%
40
96
15.0%
5.8%
2.7%
0.8%
3.8%
0.1%
2.1%
6.0%
7.1%
6.3%
5.6%
9.2%
278.2
107.1
50
14.7
70
2
38.5
110.9
131.7
116
103.9
171
Total all grades
37.5
T
F
Research fellow
2008
percentages
Surfaces, interfaces…
E
M
Lecturer
of
Reader and senior
lecturer
Research area
Survey
Professor
Table 4: Staff per research area by grade, gender and experimental/theoretical profile
3: Analysis of the current situation
11
4: Analysis of changes over the last five years
4: Analysis of changes over the last
five years
Table 6: Arriving staff by academic grade
Grade
Figure 7: Arriving staff across academic grades
Current
(Mar 2004 – Dec 2008)
M
F
Total
Previous
(Oct 1999 – Mar 2004)
M
F
Total
professors
Professor
52
4
56
37
1
38
lecturers
Reader and SL
70
10
80
20
4
24
experimental officers
Lecturer
174
51
225
129
28
157
Experimental officer
10
1
11
4
1
5
Research fellow
104
20
124
60
17
77
2
1
3
N/A
N/A
N/A
Other (temp acad staff,
university teacher
[non-research], etc)
Total
research fellows
male
male staff
female
female staff
other (temporary
academic staff, etc)
0
50
100
150
200
250
Table 7: Average age on arrival by academic grade
412
87
499
250
51
301
In section 4 of the survey form, respondents were asked
to provide data about staff numbers joining or permanently leaving their departments over the survey period.
Each of these staff members was again categorised
by defined research area, age, gender, grade and their
experimental/theoretical profile. Arriving staff members were additionally classified by nationality (UK,
EU or non-EU).
Across all surveyed departments, over the last
five years, 499 staff arrived and 268 departed. This
represents a net gain of 231, some 12% of the total
community in 2008, indicating significant growth. This
compares favourably with the previous survey, in which
movements over a similar five-year period (1999–2004)
resulted in growth of only 1% (although four departments were unable to provide data).
4.1: Arriving staff
Table 6 presents a breakdown by academic grade of
all staff joining the surveyed departments over the fiveyear survey period and compares that with the results
of the previous (2004) survey.
The most common grades for arriving staff are lecturer
and research fellow, which between them accounted
for 70% of arriving staff members. The overall female/
male ratio for arriving staff has remained constant, with
female staff making up 17% of the arriving complement in both surveys. The highest proportion of female
staff arriving is at lecturer level with 23% of the total
(i.e. 51/225).
The average age of arriving staff in each grade is
given in table 7.
If the lecturer grade is considered to be the main
recruiting grade, then the average age of appointment
is 34 across both male and female staff. This compares
12
readers and SLs
Survey
of
Academic Appointments
Grade
Average age on arrival
M
F
Professor
46.5
50.5
Reader and senior lecturer
38.0
41.4
Lecturer
34.2
34.1
Experimental officer
35.7
33.0
Research fellow
33.2
34.1
Other (temp acad staff,
university teacher
[non-research], etc)
28.0
28.0
with an average age of 35 for the same grade in the
2004 survey. The average appointment age for both
senior grades (professor and reader/senior lecturer) is
higher for women than for men, although of course the
former figure is based on a relatively small number of
staff (four at professor level and 10 at reader/senior
lecturer), so should be viewed with caution.
Table 8 divides the defined physics research areas
into their experimental/theoretical components and
lists the absolute numbers of staff members arriving
in each area by gender. It is worth noting the relatively
high numbers of female staff arriving in cosmology and
space physics, especially experimental.
In this section, respondents were also asked to categorise joining staff members by nationality – UK, EU or
non-EU. The results of this part of the survey are given in
table 9, with staff numbers divided by academic grade.
Note that nationalities were not provided for all arriving
staff members, hence the figures represent 87% of the
total arrivals (i.e. 432/499).
As illustrated, within the most populated academic
grades the split across nationalities is approximately
the same, with 43–48% of staff from the UK, 32–40%
from the EU and 16–20% non-EU.
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4: Analysis of changes over the last five years
Table 8: Arriving staff by research area, experiment/theory and gender
Research area
E/T
M
F
Total
Astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and space physics
Experimental
62
20
82
High energy and particle physics
Experimental
44
7
51
Theoretical
22
7
29
Experimental
24
5
29
High energy and particle physics
Theoretical
24
5
29
Mathematical physics including string theory and quantum gravity
Theoretical
25
2
27
Optics and lasers
Experimental
21
4
25
Atomic and molecular physics
Experimental
22
1
23
Theoretical
17
3
20
Soft condensed matter
Experimental
11
2
13
Magnetism, metals, quantum fluids and superconductivity
Experimental
11
3
14
Biophysics and biological physics
Experimental
10
3
13
Semiconductors
Experimental
10
2
12
Atmospheric physics, geophysics and environmental physics
Experimental
10
1
11
Theoretical
7
2
9
Experimental
10
0
10
Soft condensed matter
Theoretical
8
1
9
Surfaces, interfaces and materials
Theoretical
7
1
8
University teacher (non-research)
Experimental
3
3
6
Medical physics
Experimental
4
2
6
Theoretical
5
1
6
Experimental
6
0
6
Optics and lasers
Theoretical
2
1
3
Plasma physics
Theoretical
4
0
4
Semiconductors
Theoretical
3
1
4
Mathematical physics including string theory and quantum gravity
Experimental
2
1
3
Other
Experimental
7
0
7
Atmospheric physics, geophysics and environmental physics
Theoretical
1
1
2
Nuclear physics
Theoretical
1
1
2
University teacher (non-research)
Theoretical
0
0
0
Other
Theoretical
3
2
5
No details
26
5
31
Total
412
87
499
Astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and space physics
Surfaces, interfaces and materials
Magnetism, metals, quantum fluids and superconductivity
Atomic and molecular physics
Plasma physics
Biophysics and biological physics
Nuclear physics
Survey
of
Academic Appointments
in
P h y si c s 20 0 4–20 0 8:
an
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of
P h y s i c s R e p o r t Ja n ua r y 2010
13
4: Analysis of changes over the last five years
Table 9: Nationalities of arriving staff by academic grade
Grade
Nationality
UK
EU
M
Professor
Total
F
20
M
1
non-EU
F
16
M
2
8
Figure 8: Nationalities of arriving staff by
academic grade
professors
21
18
9
F
readers and SLs
30
26
11
1
lecturers
85
79
34
experimental officers
6
2
3
research fellows
other (temporary
academic staff, etc)
49
33
20
2
4
48
Reader and SL
28
2
22
4
11
0
67
Lecturer
65
20
64
15
24
10
198
Experimental officer
6
0
1
1
3
0
11
Research fellow
42
7
26
7
16
4
102
Other (temp acad staff,
university teacher
[non-research], etc)
Total
2
0
3
1
0
0
6
163
30
132
30
62
15
432
UK
EU
non-EU
Figure 9: Departing staff by academic grade
professors
readers and SLs
lecturers
Table 10: Departing staff by academic grade
Grade
Current (Mar 2004 – Dec 2008) Previous (Oct 1999 – Mar 2004)
experimental officers
research fellows
other (temporary
academic staff, etc)
malemale
staff
female
female
staff
M
F
Total
M
F
Total
Professor
85
1
86
84
2
86
Reader and SL
78
3
81
84
2
86
Lecturer
54
9
63
57
7
64
4.2: Departing staff
Experimental officer
7
2
9
3
0
3
Research fellow
23
3
26
35
8
43
Other (temp acad staff,
university teacher
[non-research], etc)
Total
2
1
3
N/A
N/A
N/A
249
19
268
263
19
282
Table 10 presents the number of departing staff by
academic grade over the current survey period, and
compares this with data from the previous survey.
Departures are clearly most common from the two senior grades (professor and reader/senior lecturer), but
this merely reflects the high overall numbers of staff
within these grades. Taken as a percentage of the overall staff numbers (table 1), the proportion of departing
staff members is roughly the same across all of the
most populated grades, representing 12–19% of the
full staff complement within that grade.
It is worth noting that the absolute numbers of staff
departures are very similar in both the current and previous survey periods.
A breakdown of the reasons for departure (across all
grades) is presented in table 11.
Overall, retirement remains the most significant
reason for departure, accounting for 44% of the total,
which is unsurprising given that most departures are
among the senior academic grades. However, breaking
these numbers down by gender reveals that only one of
these 119 retirements was a female staff member. The
second most common reason for departure was moving
to another academic post, and within this group the
gender split is more even, in each case accounting for
just over 30% of the total.
Table 12 divides the defined research areas into
their experimental/theoretical components and lists
the absolute numbers and proportions departing from
each area.
Table 11: Reasons for departure
Reason for departure
Absolute numbers
Percentage of total
M
F
Total
M
F
Overall
Retirement
118
1
119
47
5
44
Moved to another
academic post
77
6
83
31
32
31
End of contract
8
3
11
3
16
4
Career change/
leaving academia
12
0
12
5
0
4
Early retirement/
voluntary severance
7
1
8
3
5
3
Deceased
5
0
5
2
0
2
Family/health reasons
2
3
5
1
16
2
Other
5
3
8
2
16
3
Not given
15
2
17
6
11
6
Total
249
19
268
100
100
100
14
Survey
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Academic Appointments
0%
in
P h y si c s 20 0 4–20 0 8:
20%
an
Institute
40%
of
60%
80% 100%
P h y s i c s R e p o r t Ja n ua r y 2010
4: Analysis of changes over the last five years
Table 12: Departing staff by research area, experiment/theory and gender
Research area
E/T
M
F
Total
Astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and space physics
Experimental
28
4
32
High energy and particle physics
Experimental
18
2
20
Theoretical
17
2
19
Surfaces, interfaces and materials
Experimental
17
0
17
Magnetism, metals, quantum fluids and superconductivity
Experimental
13
1
14
Semiconductors
Experimental
13
0
13
Optics and lasers
Experimental
12
1
13
Atomic and molecular physics
Experimental
11
0
11
High energy and particle physics
Theoretical
8
1
9
University teacher (non-research)
Experimental
8
0
8
Atomic and molecular physics
Theoretical
8
0
8
Mathematical physics including string theory and quantum gravity
Theoretical
7
0
7
Medical physics
Experimental
7
0
7
Other
Experimental
7
0
7
Soft condensed matter
Experimental
7
0
7
Theoretical
6
1
7
Nuclear physics
Experimental
4
1
5
Mathematical physics including string theory and quantum gravity
Experimental
3
0
3
Plasma physics
Experimental
4
0
4
Atmospheric physics, geophysics and environmental physics
Experimental
2
2
4
Biophysics and biological physics
Experimental
2
1
3
Magnetism, metals, quantum fluids and superconductivity
Theoretical
3
0
3
Soft condensed matter
Theoretical
3
0
3
Plasma physics
Theoretical
2
0
2
Atmospheric physics, geophysics and environmental physics
Theoretical
0
0
0
Biophysics and biological physics
Theoretical
1
0
1
Electrical and electronic physics
Experimental
1
0
1
Nuclear physics
Theoretical
2
0
2
Optics and lasers
Theoretical
1
0
1
Other
Theoretical
2
0
2
Experimental
1
0
1
Theoretical
1
0
1
Not given
30
3
33
249
19
268
Astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and space physics
Surfaces, interfaces and materials
Thermal physics and fluid dynamics
University teacher (non-research)
No details
Total
Survey
of
Academic Appointments
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P h y s i c s R e p o r t Ja n ua r y 2010
15
4: Analysis of changes over the last five years
Table 13: Net staff movements by research area
Research area
Arrivals
Exp
Departures
Th
Total
M
F
M
F
Astronomy, astrophysics,
cosmology and space physics
62
20
22
7
High energy and particle physics
44
7
24
Mathematical physics including
string theory and quantum gravity
2
1
Magnetism, metals, quantum fluids
and superconductivity
11
Biophysics and biological physics
Exp
Th
Total
M
F
M
F
111
28
4
17
2
5
80
18
2
8
25
2
30
3
0
3
17
3
34
13
10
3
5
1
19
Optics and lasers
21
4
2
1
Atomic and molecular physics
22
1
7
Surfaces, interfaces and materials
24
5
Soft condensed matter
11
Atmospheric physics, geophysics
and environmental physics
Total
Total
staff in
research
area
Net change
(% of total)
Net change
Exp
Th
M
F
M
F
51
34
16
5
5
+60
432.1
14
1
29
26
5
16
4
+51
278.2
18
7
0
10
–1
1
18
2
+20
103.9
19
1
3
0
17
–2
2
14
3
+17
107.1
16
2
1
1
0
4
8
2
4
1
+15
50
30
28
12
1
1
0
14
9
3
1
1
+14
131.7
11
2
32
11
0
8
0
19
11
1
–1
2
+13
96
14
7
1
37
17
0
6
1
24
7
5
1
0
+13
116
11
2
8
1
22
7
0
3
0
10
4
2
5
1
+12
171
7
10
1
1
1
13
2
2
0
0
4
8
–1
1
1
+9
40
23
Plasma physics
10
0
4
0
14
4
0
2
0
6
6
0
2
0
+8
38.5
21
Other
7
0
3
2
12
7
0
2
0
9
0
0
1
2
+3
29
10
Semiconductors
10
2
3
1
16
13
0
0
0
13
–3
2
3
1
+3
110.9
3
Nuclear physics
6
0
1
1
8
4
1
2
0
7
2
–1
–1
1
+1
70
1
Electrical and electronic physics
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
–1
0
0
0
–1
14.7
–7
Medical physics
4
2
0
0
6
7
0
0
0
7
–3
2
0
0
–1
9
–11
Thermal physics and fluid
dynamics
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
–1
0
0
0
–1
2
–50
University teacher (non-research)
3
3
0
0
6
8
0
1
0
9
–5
3
–1
0
–3
51.5
–6
No details
0
0
26
5
31
0
0
30
3
33
0
0
–4
2
–2
N/A
N/A
257
54
155
33
499
158
12
91
7
268
99
42
64
26
231
1851.6
12
4.3: Net movements
Finally in this section, we can take the data on staff arri­
vals and departures presented in table 8 and table 12
and calculate the net movements within each research
area, as given in table 13 and presented graphically in
figure 10.
In terms of absolute numbers, by far the largest
increases have been in astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and space physics (+60), and high energy and
particle physics (+51). However, this is somewhat misleading because they represent the two largest communities; a more meaningful measure of growth is given in
the final column of table 13, which shows net movement
as a percentage of current total staff numbers in each
research area. By this measure, biophysics and biological physics as a research area has seen the largest proportional increase, with an increase of 15 representing
16
Survey
of
Academic Appointments
30% of its current staff complement.
In addition to those research areas already mentioned, other growth areas include: atmospheric physics, geophysics and environmental physics; plasma
physics; mathematical physics including string theory
and quantum gravity; magnetism, metals, quantum
fluids and superconductivity; atomic and molecular
physics; optics and lasers; surfaces, interfaces and
materials; and soft condensed matter.
Other research areas have seen little growth or a
fall in numbers, but in these cases the absolute total
numbers are relatively small, so we should not infer too
much from these fluctuations.
Taking physics as a whole, we see a substantial
increase in the numbers of both experimentalists (+141)
and theorists (+90), making for a net gain overall of
231 staff over the five-year survey period, which repre-
in
P h y si c s 20 0 4–20 0 8:
an
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of
P h y s i c s R e p o r t Ja n ua r y 2010
4: Analysis of changes over the last five years
sents some 12% of the current total staff complement.
Note that the actual increase in total staff numbers is
likely to be somewhat lower than this figure. This section should exclude internal transfers between grades
(i.e. promotions), but analysis of the figures suggests
that a number of promotions from research fellow to
lecturer have been reported as new appointments (without record of the corresponding “departure”). The extent
of this inconsistency is unclear. Comparison of total
staff numbers reported in 2008 and 2004 indicates an
overall increase of approximately 100. This compares
favourably with the results of the previous (2004) survey, which reported only a 1% increase in staff numbers
over the five-year period, 1999–2004.
Figure 10: Net staff movements by research area
astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and space physics
high energy and particle physics
mathematical physics incl. string theory and quantum gravity
magnetism, metals, quantum fluids and superconductivity
biophysics and biological physics
optics and lasers
surfaces, interfaces and materials
atomic and molecular physics
soft condensed matter
atmospheric physics, geophysics and environmental physics
plasma physics
semiconductors
other
nuclear physics
thermal physics and fluid dynamics
medical physics
electrical and electronic physics
university teacher (non-research)
–10
Survey
of
Academic Appointments
in
P h y si c s 20 0 4–20 0 8:
an
Institute
of
P h y s i c s R e p o r t Ja n ua r y 2010
60
51
20
17
15
14
13
13
12
9
8
3
3
1
–1
–1
–1
–3
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
17
5: Concluding comments
5: Concluding comments
Since the previous edition of this survey in 2004,
astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and space physics;
and high energy and particle physics have reinforced
their positions as the two most heavily populated fields
within the UK physics community. They also account
for the largest number of new arrivals, between them
accounting for 38% of new appointments (191 of 499
new staff members over the five-year survey period).
Surfaces, interfaces and materials has risen from
sixth to third in the rankings. As noted previously, this
may be partly due to the lack of a unique category for
those working in the field of nanoscience.
The community as a whole has seen significant
growth over the five-year survey period, with a net
gain of 231 members of staff, representing some 12%
of the current total staff complement. The research
areas contri­buting most strongly to this growth are the
two fields mentioned above, with 60 and 51 additional
staff members, respectively, but in percentage terms
biophysics and biological physics has seen the largest
18
Survey
of
Academic Appointments
increase with a net gain of 15 staff members (30% of
its current community).
Taking into account both staff population and growth
rate, other significant research areas are mathematical
physics including string theory and quantum gravity;
magnetism, metals, quantum fluids and superconductivity; atomic and molecular physics; optics and
lasers; surfaces, interfaces and materials; and soft
condensed matter.
The overall proportion of female staff continues to
rise, with women now occupying 12% of staff positions,
as compared with only 9% in 2004. However, this proportion is still low in comparison with overall highereducation figures. In terms of new appointments, the
field of astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and space
physics is notable because almost 25% of arriving staff
members are female (27 of 111).
Three-quarters of the community are primarily experimentalists, one-quarter theoreticians. This ratio remains
the same as that reported in the previous survey.
in
P h y si c s 20 0 4–20 0 8:
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P h y s i c s R e p o r t Ja n ua r y 2010
Appendix A: Republic of Ireland
Appendix A: Republic of Ireland
Table 14: Republic of Ireland – staff breakdown by academic grade
Figure 11: Republic of Ireland – staff breakdown
by academic grade
Academic grade
lecturers 44%
experimental officers 2%
research fellows 4%
temporary staff 4%
teachers/TFs 0%
professors 16%
readers
and SLs 30%
Professor
Eight of the 11 relevant departments in the Republic of
Ireland contributed to this survey. They were:
●● Dublin
City University, School of Physical Sciences
Institute of Technology, School of Physics
●● NUI Galway, School of Physics
●● NUI Galway, Applied Mathematics (formerly
Mathematical Physics)
●● NUI Maynooth, Experimental Physics
●● Trinity College Dublin, Physics
●● University College Dublin, Physics
●● University of Limerick, Physics
●● Dublin
Academic Appointments
in
P h y si c s 20 0 4–20 0 8:
an
Institute
2
Reader and senior
lecturer
M
42
F
9
Lecturer
M
53
F
21.5
Experimental and
senior experimental
officer
M
4
F
0
Researcher
holding a personal
fellowship
M
6
F
1
University teacher
(non-research)/
teaching fellow
Temporary
academic staff
M
0
F
0
M
7
F
0
170
26.5
25
51
5
74.5
Percentage
per grade
92
8
82
30
31
18
71
44
13
29
2
4
100
2
0
0
4
7
86
4
1
14
0
0
N/A
0
0
4
7
170
N/A
100
4
0
100
Grade
0
100
Male
Female
E
T
E
T
22.5
2
2
0
Reader and senior lecturer
33
9
9
0
Lecturer
45
8
19.5
2
Advanced research fellow
5
1
1
0
Experimental and senior experimental officer
4
0
0
0
All other grades
2
1
0
0
111.5
21
31.5
2
67
13
19
1
Professor
College Cork, Physics
●● University College Dublin, Mathematical Sciences
●● NUI Maynooth, Mathematical Physics
of
24.5
Percentage
of total
14
16
1
Table 15: Republic of Ireland – experimental/theoretical breakdown
by academic grade
●● University
Survey
Absolute numbers
F
Total
These departments accounted for a total of 170 staff
between them. The three non-participating departments were:
Current staff information obtained from their websites suggests that these three departments represent
a total of approximately 50 staff unaccounted for in this
survey. The results presented in this section therefore
cover roughly 80% of the total figures for the Republic
of Ireland, and as such should be treated with some
caution. (Note that the previous survey covered 62% of
the Republic of Ireland figures.)
Table 14 presents the overall breakdown by academic
grade and gender. The first three grade levels (professor, reader/senior lecturer and lecturer) account for
almost 90% of total staff numbers. 80% of all staff are
male, 20% female, with the greatest proportion (29%)
of female staff at lecturer level.
A comparison with the data presented in the 2004
survey shows that there has been a significant change
at professorial level, which now accounts for some 16%
Gender
(M/F)
M
Total
Percentage of total
of total staff numbers, as opposed to only 6% in 2004.
Because there have been more departures than new
arrivals at this level (table 16), this indicates a number
of internal promotions throughout the survey period.
Table 15 provides a breakdown of each academic
grade by gender and experimental/theoretical research.
Overall, experimental work accounts for 86% of the
research being carried out.
A breakdown of total staff numbers by research area
of
P h y s i c s R e p o r t Ja n ua r y 2010
19
Appendix A: Republic of Ireland
Figure 12: Republic of Ireland – staff breakdown by research area
Table 16: Republic of Ireland – arrivals and
departures by academic grade
astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and space physics
13%
surfaces, interfaces and materials
11%
astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and
space
11% 13%
optics
andphysics
lasers
surfaces,
and materials
11%
biophysicsinterfaces
and biological
physics
7%
11% 13%
optics
andphysics
lasers
astronomy,
astrophysics,
space
magnetism,
metals,
quantumcosmology
fluids andand
superconductivity
7%
biophysicsinterfaces
and biological
physics
surfaces,
and materials
11%
medical
physics
6% 7%
magnetism, metals, quantum fluids and superconductivity
11%
optics
and lasers
semiconductors
6%7%
medical physics
6%
biophysics
and biological
6%7%
atmospheric physics, geophysics
and environmental
physics
semiconductors
magnetism, metals, quantumatomic
fluids and
and molecular
superconductivity
5% 6%7%
physics
6%
atmospheric physics, geophysics and environmental
medical
6%
3%
plasma physics
physics
5% 6%
atomic
and
molecular
semiconductors
2%
high
energy
and
particle physics
physics
plasma physics
6%
atmospheric physics,
and environmental
1% 3%
mathematical
physics geophysics
incl. string theory
and quantum
gravity
high
energy
and
particle physics
5%
atomic
and
molecular
1%2%
soft
condensed
matter
1%
mathematical physics incl.thermal
string theory
gravity
plasma
physics
1% 3%
physicsand
andquantum
fluid dynamics
1%2%
softand
condensed
matter
high energy
particle
1%
nuclear physics
1%
physics
and
fluid dynamics
mathematical physics incl.thermal
string
theory
and
quantum
gravity
1%
electrical
and
electronic
physics
1%
nuclear physics
soft condensed
matter
14%
other
electrical
andand
electronic
physics
1%
thermal
physics
fluid dynamics
4%
university
teacher
(non-research)
14%
other
1%
nuclear physics
2% 4%
4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14%
university
(non-research)
electrical teacher
and electronic
physics 0% 1%
14%
other
0% 2% 4%
6% 8% 10% 12% 14%
4%
university teacher (non-research)
Grade
Figure 13: Republic of Ireland – staff breakdown
area
4% 6% 8%
0% by
2% research
10%(2004)
12% 14%
astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and space physics
11%
surfaces, interfaces and materials
7%
astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and
space
11%
optics
andphysics
lasers
12%
surfaces,
and materials
7%
biophysicsinterfaces
and biological
physics 0%
optics
andphysics
lasers
12%
astronomy,
astrophysics,
space
11%
magnetism,
metals,
quantumcosmology
fluids andand
superconductivity
1%
biophysicsinterfaces
and biological
physics
surfaces,
and materials
7%
4%
medical
physics 0%
magnetism, metals, quantum fluids and superconductivity
1%
optics
and lasers
12%
semiconductors
5%
4%
medical physics
biophysics
and biological
atmospheric physics, geophysics
and environmental
physics 0%
7%
semiconductors
5%
magnetism, metals, quantumatomic
fluids and
and molecular
superconductivity
1%
physics
11%
atmospheric physics, geophysics and environmental
7%
medical
4%
plasma physics
physics
atomic
and
molecular
11%
semiconductors
4%5%
high
energy
and
particle physics
physics
4%
plasma physics
atmospheric physics,
and environmental
7%
mathematical
physics geophysics
incl. string theory
and quantum
gravity
1%
4%
high
energy
and
particle physics
atomic
and
molecular
11%
soft
condensed
matter 0%
mathematical physics incl.thermal
string theory
gravity
1%
4%
plasma
physics
physicsand
andquantum
fluid dynamics
softand
condensed
matter 0%1%
4%
high energy
particle
nuclear physics
physics
and
fluid dynamics
mathematical physics incl.thermal
string
theory
and
quantum
gravity
1% 3% 4%
electrical
and
electronic
physics
nuclear physics
soft condensed
matter
14%
other 0%1%
3% 4%
electrical
andand
electronic
physics
thermal
physics
fluid dynamics
12%
university
teacher
(non-research)
14%
other
1%
nuclear physics
12%14%
university
(non-research)
electrical teacher
and electronic
physics 0% 2% 3%4% 6% 8% 10% 12%
14%
other
14%
12%
university teacher (non-research) 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12%
astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and space physics
0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14%
0
Figure 14: Republic surfaces,
of Ireland
– netand
staff
movements by research
area
4
interfaces
materials
astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and
space
optics
andphysics
lasers 0
surfaces,
and materials
biophysicsinterfaces
and biological
physics
optics
andphysics
lasers 0
astronomy,
astrophysics,
space
magnetism,
metals,
quantumcosmology
fluids andand
superconductivity
biophysicsinterfaces
and biological
physics
surfaces,
and materials
medical
physics 0
magnetism, metals, quantum fluids and superconductivity
optics
and lasers 0
semiconductors
medical physics
biophysics
and biological
atmospheric physics, geophysics
and environmental
physics 0
semiconductors
magnetism, metals, quantumatomic
fluids and
and molecular
superconductivity
physics 0–1
atmospheric physics, geophysics and environmental
medical
plasma physics
physics 0
atomic
and
molecular
semiconductors
high
energy
and
particle physics
physics 0–1
–1
plasma physics
atmospheric physics,
and environmental
mathematical
physics geophysics
incl. string theory
and quantum
gravity 0–1
high
energy
and
particle physics
atomic
and
molecular
soft
condensed
matter –1
0
mathematical physics incl.thermal
string theory
gravity 0–1
plasma
physics
physicsand
andquantum
fluid dynamics
softand
condensed
matter 00–1
high energy
particle
nuclear physics
physics
and
fluid dynamics
mathematical physics incl.thermal
string
theory
and
quantum
gravity 00–1
electrical
and
electronic
physics
nuclear physics
soft condensed
matter
other 0
electrical
andand
electronic
physics 0–7
thermal
physics
fluid dynamics
university
teacher
(non-research)
other 0
nuclear physics
–8 university
–6 teacher
–4 (non-research)
–2physics 00–7
electrical
and electronic
other
–8
–6
–4
–2
0
university teacher (non-research) –7
–8
20
–6
–4
–2
0
2
4
4
4
2
4
4
8
8
8
3
2
3
3
2
2
2
4
6
8
2
4
6
8
2
4
6
8
2
Survey
of
Academic Appointments
Arrivals
Departures
Net change
M
F
M
F
M
F
Lecturer
18
10
7
2
11
8
Professor
3
1
7
0
–4
1
Reader
5
0
7
1
–2
–1
Total
26
11
21
3
5
8
is provided in figure 12, with data from the previous
(2004) survey presented in figure 13 for comparison.
The most notable change is the increase in staff numbers in the field of biophysics and biological physics,
for which no staff members were reported in 2004 and
now accounts for 7% of all staff. A similar increase has
been seen in magnetism, metals, quantum fluids and
superconductivity, which has risen from 1 to 7% of the
total staff count. As for the UK, the largest number of
staff is found in the astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and space physics category with 13% of the total
(up from 11% in 2004), while surfaces, interfaces and
materials is now ranked in second place with 11% (up
from 7% in 2004) jointly with optics and lasers (down
from 12% in 2004).
The greatest drop in staff numbers has been among
university teachers, falling from 12% in 2004 to just 4%
in 2008. Atomic and molecular physics has also seen
a drop in numbers, from 11% of the total in 2004 to
just 5% in 2008. In both data sets, the high proportion
of researchers in the “other” category is partly due to
a number of staff in the optometry department in the
School of Physics at Dublin Institute of Technology.
Table 16 provides a breakdown by academic grade
and gender of staff arrivals and departures over the
five-year survey period. The largest overall change was
at lecturer level, with a net gain of 19 staff members
(11 male and eight female), while there was a net fall in
staff numbers in both professor and reader/SL grades.
Of the 24 reported departures across all grades, 21
were due to retirement. Note that no staff movements
were reported at any other academic levels.
Table 17 presents arrival and departure data by
research area. As indicated previously, the largest net
gain in staff has been in the category biophysics and
biological physics, with eight new appointments and no
departures over the survey period. Optics and lasers;
surfaces, interfaces and materials; atmospheric physics, geophysics and environmental physics; and magnetism, metals, quantum fluids and superconductivity,
have all seen net increases in staff numbers. There have
been seven departures and no new appointments in the
university-teacher category.
Finally in this section, these net staff movements are
presented graphically in figure 14.
in
P h y si c s 20 0 4–20 0 8:
an
Institute
of
P h y s i c s R e p o r t Ja n ua r y 2010
Appendix A: Republic of Ireland
Table 17: Republic of Ireland – arrivals and departures by research area
Research area
Arrivals
Departures
Net change
Exp
Th
Total
Exp
Th
Total
Biophysics and biological physics
6
2
8
0
0
0
8
Optics and lasers
4
0
4
0
0
0
4
Surfaces, interfaces and materials
4
1
5
1
0
1
4
Atmospheric physics, geophysics and
environmental physics
5
1
6
3
0
3
3
Magnetism, metals, quantum fluids and
superconductivity
1
1
2
0
0
0
2
Astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and
space physics
4
1
5
5
0
5
0
Soft condensed matter
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
Plasma physics
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Semiconductors
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
Nuclear physics
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Thermal physics and fluid dynamics
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Medical physics
1
0
1
1
0
1
0
Electrical and electronic physics
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
High energy and particle physics
0
0
0
1
0
1
–1
Mathematical physics including string
theory and quantum gravity
0
0
0
0
1
1
–1
Atomic and molecular physics
0
1
1
1
1
2
–1
University teacher (non-research)
0
0
0
7
0
7
–7
Other
3
0
3
1
0
1
2
Total
29
8
37
21
3
24
13
Summary
●● Astronomy,
●● A
significant increase in staff numbers at
professorial level has occurred since the previous
(2004) survey. Because there have been more
departures than arrivals at this level, this increase
must be due to a number of internal promotions.
●● The university-teacher category has seen the
greatest fall in numbers, with seven departures and
no new arrivals.
Survey
of
Academic Appointments
in
P h y si c s 20 0 4–20 0 8:
an
Institute
astrophysics, cosmology and space
physics is now the most popular research area in
terms of overall staff numbers; this matches the
results of the UK survey.
●● Also reflecting the UK data, biophysics and
biological physics is the fastest growing research
area, with eight new appointments and no
departures over the survey period.
of
P h y s i c s R e p o r t Ja n ua r y 2010
21
Appendix B: Survey form
Appendix B: Survey form
Appendix B - Survey Form
SECTION 1 Contact Details
University/Institution Name
Department Name
Person Completing This Form
Name
E-mail
Telephone
SECTION 2 Broad Departmental Profile
st
Enter Staff Numbers as of 1 December 2008
Numbers
Male
Female
Professor
Reader and Senior Lecturer
Lecturer
Experimental and Senior Experimental Officer
Researcher holding a personal fellowship
(e.g. EPSRC, STFC, Royal Society, etc.)
University Teacher/Teaching Fellow
Temporary Academic Staff
(e.g. those on 1-3 year fixed contracts excluding Research
Assistants on research grants)
NOTE:
22
exclude all grant funded researchers and visiting staff (i.e. professors/fellows)
include all academic staff and researchers holding a personal fellowship
(e.g. EPSRC, STFC, Royal Society, etc.)
Survey
of
Academic Appointments
in
P h y si c s 20 0 4–20 0 8:
an
Institute
of
P h y s i c s R e p o r t Ja n ua r y 2010
Survey
of
Academic Appointments
in
P h y si c s 20 0 4–20 0 8:
an
Institute
of
P h y s i c s R e p o r t Ja n ua r y 2010
NOTE:
High Energy and
Particle Physics
E
M
T
E
F
T
E
M
T
E
F
Readers and
Senior Lecturers
T
E
M
T
E
Lecturers
F
T
E
M
T
E
F
T
Advanced Research
Fellows
E
M
T
E
F
T
Experimental and Senior
Experimental Officers
E/T = Experimental/Theoretical (please make a judgement)
exclude all grant funded researchers and visiting staff (i.e. professors/fellows)
include all academic staff and researchers holding a personal fellowship (e.g. EPSRC, STFC, Royal Society, etc.)
Magnetism, Metals,
Quantum Fluids and
Superconductivity
Biophysics and Biological Physics
Medical Physics
Nuclear Physics
Thermal Physics and
Fluid Dynamics
Plasma Physics
Semiconductors
Optics and Lasers
Soft Condensed Matter
Mathematical Physics including
String Theory
and Quantum Gravity
Surfaces, Interfaces and Materials
Staff Numbers
st
1 December 2008
Professors
M/F = Male/Female
SECTION 3 Broad Research Profile
E
M
T
E
All Other
Grades
F
T
Appendix B: Survey form
23
24
Survey
of
Academic Appointments
in
Other (<Please specify here>)
Other (<Please specify here>)
University Teacher (non-research)
Electrical and Electronic Physics
Astronomy, Astrophysics,
Cosmology and Space Physics
Atomic and
Molecular Physics
Atmospheric Physics, Geophysics
and Environmental Physics
Staff Numbers
st
1 December 2008
Section 3 continued …
E
M
T
E
Professors
F
T
E
M
T
E
F
T
E
M
T
E
Lecturers
F
T
E
M
T
E
F
T
Advanced Research
Fellows
E
M
T
E
F
T
Experimental and Senior
Experimental Officers
E/T = Experimental/Theoretical (please make a judgement)
Readers and
Senior Lecturers
M/F = Male/Female
E
M
T
E
All Other
Grades
F
T
Appendix B: Survey form
P h y si c s 20 0 4–20 0 8:
an
Institute
of
P h y s i c s R e p o r t Ja n ua r y 2010
Appendix B: Survey form
SECTION 4 Arrivals/Departures per Research Area
Please complete for each staff member arriving and departing permanently during the full
Survey Period Mar 2004 – Dec 2008. No names are required. See codes overleaf.
Exclude internal transfers between grades, e.g. Lecturer (L) to Reader (R).
Grade
M/F
Place an “x” if
New
Permanent
Appointment
Departure
(please
indicate
whether UK,
EU or nonEU)
For example
P
F
R
Survey
of
x (EU)
M
Academic Appointments
x
in
P h y si c s 20 0 4–20 0 8:
an
Institute
of
Age (on
appointment/
departure)
Reason
(if departure)
Research
codes
– see
overleaf
45
-
NP (T)
49
Moving to
another
academic post
AA (E)
P h y s i c s R e p o r t Ja n ua r y 2010
25
Appendix B: Survey form
NOTES
For Section 4
Research Codes
Include E or T to signify Experimental or Theoretical
Surfaces, Interfaces and Materials
SS (E)
or
SS (T)
Mathematical Physics including
String Theory and Quantum Gravity
SQ (E)
or
SQ (T)
Soft Condensed Matter
SM (E)
or
SM (T)
Optics and Lasers
OP (E)
or
OP (T)
Semiconductors
SC (E)
or
SC (T)
Plasma Physics
PP (E)
or
PP (T)
Thermal Physics and Fluid Dynamics
TF (E)
or
TF (T)
Nuclear Physics
NP (E)
or
NP (T)
Medical Physics
MP (E)
or
MP (T)
Biophysics
BP (E)
or
BP (T)
Magnetism, Metals, Quantum Fluids
and Superconductivity
MQ (E)
or
MQ (T)
High Energy and
Particle Physics
HE (E)
or
HE (T)
Atmospheric Physics, Geophysics
and Environmental Physics
AP (E)
or
AP (T)
Atomic and
Molecular Physics
AM (E)
or
AM (T)
Astronomy, Astrophysics, Cosmology
and Space Physics
AA (E)
or
AA (T)
Electrical and Electronic Physics
EE (E)
or
EE (T)
University Teacher (non-research)
UT (E)
or
UT (T)
Other
OT (E)
or
OT (T)
Grade Codes
Professor
Reader/Senior Lecturer
Lecturer
Experimental/Senior Experimental Officer
Researcher holding a personal fellowship
(e.g. EPSRC, STFC, Royal Society, etc.)
26
Survey
of
Academic Appointments
P
R
L
E
F
in
P h y si c s 20 0 4–20 0 8:
an
Institute
of
P h y s i c s R e p o r t Ja n ua r y 2010
Appendix C: Participating UK departments
Appendix C: Participating UK departments
Universities in England
●● University
of Reading, Department of Physics
of Salford, Joule Physics Laboratory
●● University of Sheffield, Department of Physics and
Astronomy
●● University of Southampton, School of Physics and
Astronomy
●● University of Surrey, Department of Physics
●● University of Sussex, Department of Physics and
Astronomy
●● University of Warwick, Department of Physics
●● University of York, Department of Physics
●● University
●● University
of Bath, Department of Physics
of Birmingham, School of Physics and
Astronomy
●● University of Bristol, Department of Physics
●● University of Cambridge, Department of Physics
●● Durham University, Department of Physics
●● University of Exeter, School of Physics
●● University of Hertfordshire, School of Physics,
­Astronomy and Mathematics
●● University of Hull, Department of Physics
●● Keele University, Department of Physics and
Astrophysics
●● University of Kent, School of Physical Sciences
●● University of Central Lancashire, School of
Computing, Engineering and Physical Sciences
●● Lancaster University, Department of Physics
●● University of Leeds, School of Physics and
Astronomy
●● University of Leicester, Department of Physics and
Astronomy
●● University of Liverpool, Department of Physics
●● Liverpool John Moores University, Astrophysics
Research Institute
●● London – Imperial College, Department of Physics
●● London – King’s College, Department of Physics
●● London – Queen Mary, Department of Physics
●● London – Royal Holloway, Department of Physics
●● London – University College, Department of Physics
and Astronomy
●● Loughborough University, Department of Physics
●● University of Manchester, School of Physics and
Astronomy
●● University of Nottingham, School of Physics and
Astronomy
●● Nottingham Trent University, School of Science and
Technology
●● The Open University, Department of Physics and
Astronomy
●● University of Oxford, Department of Physics
●● University
Survey
of
Academic Appointments
in
P h y si c s 20 0 4–20 0 8:
an
Institute
Universities in Scotland
●● University
of Aberdeen, Department of Physics
of Dundee, Division of Electronic
­Engineering and Physics
●● University of Edinburgh, School of Physics and
Astronomy
●● University of Glasgow, Department of Physics and
Astronomy
●● Heriot-Watt University, Department of Physics
●● University of St Andrews, School of Physics and
Astronomy
●● University of Strathclyde, Department of Physics
●● University of the West of Scotland, School of
­Engineering and Science
●● University
Universities in Wales
●● Cardiff
University, School of Physics and Astronomy
University, Department of Physics
●● Swansea
University in Northern Ireland
●● Queen’s
University Belfast, Physics and Astronomy;
and Mathematics and Theoretical Physics
The Institute of Mathematics and Physics at Aberystwyth University was the only department not to participate in the survey.
of
P h y s i c s R e p o r t Ja n ua r y 2010
27
Appendix D: Charts for UK physics research areas
Appendix D: Charts for UK physics research areas
1. Surfaces,
Surfaces, interfaces
interfaces and
and materials
materials
1.
2. Mathematical
Mathematical physics
physics including
including string
string theory
theory and
and quantum
quantum gravity
gravity
2.
1. Surfaces,
Surfaces, interfaces
interfaces and
and materials
materials
1.
professors
professors
1. Surfaces,
Surfaces, interfaces
interfaces and
and materials
materials
1.
2. Mathematical
Mathematical physics
physics including
including string
string theory
theory and
and quantum
quantum gravity
gravity
2.
43.9
43.9
professors
professors
2. Mathematical
Mathematical physics
physics including
including string
string theory
theory and
and quantum
quantum gravity
gravity
2.
2.readers
Mathematical
physics,
incl.string
string
theory
and quantum
43.9
43.9
professors
professors
2.
Mathematical
including
and quantum
gravity
readers
and SLs
SLs physics
and
33 theory
33
53
53
1.
Surfaces,
interfaces
and materials49
53
professors
professors
1.
Surfaces,
interfaces
and materials
4953
readers
and SLs
SLs
readers
and
professors
professors
readers
and SLs
SLs
readers
and
lecturers
lecturers
professors
readers and
and
SLs
readers
SLs
lecturers
lecturers
research
fellows
research
fellows
professors
professors
readers
and SLs
SLs
readers
and
lecturers
lecturers
professors
readers and
and
SLs
readers
SLs
lecturers
lecturers
research
fellows
research
fellows
53
4953
49
26.5
26.5
4953
49
26.5
16.5 26.5
16.5
readers
SLs
lecturersand
lecturers
research
fellows
research
fellows
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
lecturers
research
fellows
research
fellows
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
all other
other grades
grades
all
26.5
16.5 26.5
1316.5
13
16.5 26.5
1316.5
13
research
fellows
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
all
other grades
grades
all
other
1316.5
13
experimental
officers 00
all other
other grades
grades
all
00
all other grades
20
13
1320
13
40
40
60
60
80
80
100
100
120
120
20
1320
40
40
60
60
80
80
100
100
120
120
20
20
20
40
40
40
60
60
60
80
80
80
100
100
100
120
120
120
00
0
3. Soft
Soft condensed
condensed matter
matter
3.
49
3. Soft
Soft condensed
condensed matter
matter
3.
professors
readers and
and
SLs
readers
SLs
lecturers
lecturers
research
fellows
research
fellows
readers
and
SLs
lecturers fellows
lecturers
research
fellows
research
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
lecturers
research
fellows
research
fellows
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
all
other grades
grades
all
other
research
fellows
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
all
other grades
grades
all
other
40
40
29
20 29
20
40
40
29
20
20
22 29
22
40
00
0
40
40
60
60
80
80
100
100
120
120
20
20
40
40
60
60
80
80
100
100
120
120
20
20
20
40
40
40
60
60
60
80
80
80
100
100
100
120
120
120
53.4
53.4
26
26
53.4
53.4
15
15
26
26
53.4
53.4
15
8.5 15
8.5
26
26
53.4
15
8.5 15
778.5
26
1122 77
17
research
fellows
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
all
other grades
grades
all
other
7
1122
experimental
officers 00 112
all other
other grades
grades
all
00 1
all other grades
00
4. Optics
Optics and
and lasers
lasers
4.
0
80
80
100
100
120
120
60
60
80
80
100
100
120
120
20
20
20
40
40
40
60
60
60
80
80
80
100
100
100
120
120
120
46.7
46.7
46.7
46.7
14.5
14.5
34
34
29.5
29.5
46.7
33
14.5
14.5
34
29.5
29.5
3344
14.5
14.5
29.5
3344
14.5
344
20
20
40
40
60
60
80
80
100
100
120
120
4
20
20
40
40
60
60
80
80
100
100
120
120
00
20
20
40
40
60
60
80
80
100
100
120
120
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
40
40
60
60
80
80
100
100
120
120
experimental
officers 00
all other
other grades
grades
all
00
all other grades
6. Plasma
Plasma physics
physics
6.
professors
professors
6.
Plasma physics
physics
6.
Plasma
professors
professors
6.
Plasma
readers
andphysics
SLs
readers
and
SLs
13.5
13.5
11
11
professors
professors
readers
and SLs
SLs
readers
and
lecturers
lecturers
professors
readers
and
SLs
readers
and
SLs
lecturers fellows
lecturers
research
fellows
research
13.5
13.5
11
11
11
11
13.5
11
11
11
11
8.5
77
13.5
13.5
33
000033
120
120
experimental
officers 00000
all other
other grades
grades
all
20
20
40
40
60
60
80
80
100
100
120
120
all other grades
20
60
40
00
20
60
40
0
20
60
40
7.7.
physics
fluid dynamics
7. Thermal
Thermal physics
physics
and and
fluid dynamics
dynamics
Thermal
and
fluid
80
80
80
100
100
100
120
120
120
7. Thermal
Thermal physics
physics and
and fluid
fluid dynamics
dynamics
7.
000
8. Nuclear
Nuclear physics
physics
8.
professors
professors
8.
Nuclear
physics
8. Nuclear physics
22
professors
professors
7. Thermal
and00fluid
dynamics
readers
andphysics
SLs
readers
and
SLs
2
2
0
00
professors
professors
0
readers
and SLs
SLs
readers
and
lecturers
lecturers
professors
professors
8.
Nuclear
readers
andphysics
SLs
readers
and
SLs
professors
professors
readers
and SLs
SLs
readers
and
lecturers
lecturers
professors
readers and
and
SLs
readers
SLs
lecturers
lecturers
research
fellows
research
fellows
readers
SLs
lecturersand
lecturers
research
fellows
research
fellows
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
lecturers
research
fellows
research
fellows
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
all other
other grades
grades
all
professors
readers and
and
SLs
readers
SLs
lecturers
lecturers
research
fellows
research
fellows
readers
SLs
lecturersand
lecturers
research
fellows
research
fellows
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
lecturers
research
fellows
research
fellows
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
all other
other grades
grades
all
000
00
0
000
00
0
99
66 99
66 9999
20
20
40
40
60
60
80
80
100
100
120
120
20
20
40
40
60
60
80
80
100
100
120
120
all other grades
00
0
20
20
20
40
40
40
60
60
60
80
80
80
100
100
100
120
120
120
00
00
0
in
60
60
80
80
100
100
120
120
60
60
60
80
80
80
100
100
100
120
120
120
23
18 23
18
18 23
18
18
9
556699
000
Academic Appointments
40
40
40
40
40
23
18 23
18
research
fellows
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
all
other grades
grades
all
other
experimental
officers 00
all other
other grades
grades
all
of
20
20
20
20
20
23
23
research
fellows
experimental
officers 0000
experimental
officers
all
other grades
grades
all
other
experimental
officers 00000
all other
other grades
grades
all
Survey
20
20
00
8.8.
physics0
8. Nuclear
Nuclear physics
physics
Nuclear
22
professors
professors
7. Thermal
Thermal physics
physics and
and fluid
fluid dynamics
dynamics
7.
2
00
00
0
11
003
100
100
7
11
11
11
0033
80
80
28
60
60
40
40
46.7
46.7
60
60
all other grades
40
40
20
20
34
34
29.5
29.5
40
40
001
20
20
34
34
20
20
all other grades
33
17
17
readers
SLs
lecturersand
lecturers
research
fellows
research
fellows
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
lecturers
research
fellows
research
fellows
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
all
other grades
grades
all
other
research
fellows
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
all other
other grades
grades
all
8.5 15
11 778.5
research
fellows
experimental
officers 11
experimental
officers
all
other grades
grades
all
other
0011
experimental
officers
all other
other grades
grades
all
43.9
6.6.
physics
6. Plasma
Plasma physics
physics
Plasma
professors
professors
5. Semiconductors
Semiconductors
5.
professors
professors
5.
Semiconductors
readers
and SLs
SLs
readers
and
readers
SLs
lecturersand
lecturers
research
fellows
research
fellows
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
lecturers
research
fellows
research
fellows
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
all
other grades
grades
all
other
33
33
22 77
lecturers
research
fellows
research
fellows
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
all
other grades
grades
all
other
research
fellows
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
all
other grades
grades
all
other
5.
Semiconductors
5. Semiconductors
Semiconductors
5.
professors
professors
readers
and SLs
SLs
readers
and
lecturers
lecturers
professors
readers
and
SLs
readers
and
SLs
lecturers
lecturers
research fellows
fellows
research
17
17
readers
SLs
lecturersand
lecturers
research
fellows
research
fellows
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
lecturers
research
fellows
research
fellows
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
all other
other grades
grades
all
professors
readers and
and
SLs
readers
SLs
lecturers
lecturers
research
fellows
research
fellows
readers
and
SLs
lecturers fellows
lecturers
research
fellows
research
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
22
20
20
5
77
professors
professors
4.
Optics
and
lasers
readers
and
SLs
readers
and
SLs
professors
professors
readers and
and SLs
SLs
readers
lecturers
lecturers
20
22
22
00 55
experimental
officers 0000
all other
other grades
grades
all
000
all other grades
5. Semiconductors
Semiconductors
5.
29
29
00 55
43.9
43.9
4.professors
and
lasers
professors
4.Optics
Optics and
and
lasers
4.
Optics
lasers
40
40
29
20
20
22
22
55
33
33
4. Optics
Optics and
and lasers
lasers
4.
3.
condensed
matter
professors
professors
3. Soft
Soft condensed
condensed
matter
3.
Soft
matter
professors
professors
3. Soft and
condensed
readers
and SLs
SLs matter
readers
professors
professors
readers and
and SLs
SLs
readers
lecturers
lecturers
17
17
gravity
6
55 99
55 9
20
20
40
40
60
60
80
80
100
100
120
120
5
20
20
40
40
60
60
80
80
100
100
120
120
20
20
20
40
40
40
60
60
60
80
80
80
100
100
100
120
120
120
P h y si c s 20 0 4–20 0 8:
an
Institute
of
P h y s i c s R e p o r t Ja n ua r y 2010
Appendix D: Charts for UK physics research areas
9.
Medicalphysics
physics
9.
9.
Medical
9.
Medical
physics
9.Medical
Medicalphysics
physics
10. Biophysics and biological physics
10.
10.
Biophysics
and
biological
physics
10.
Biophysics
and
biological
physics
10.Biophysics
Biophysicsand
andbiological
biologicalphysics
physics
professors
professors
professors
professors
6.7
6.7
6.7
6.7
professors
professors
professors
professors
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
readers
readers
and
SLs
readers
and
SLs
readersand
andSLs
SLs
333
3
readers
readers
and
SLs
readers
and
SLs
readersand
andSLs
SLs
lecturers
lecturers
lecturers
lecturers
444
4
lecturers
lecturers
lecturers
lecturers
research
researchfellows
fellows
research
fellows
research
fellows
14
14
14
14
research
researchfellows
fellows
research
fellows
research
fellows
000
0
10
10
10
10
experimental
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
experimentalofficers
officers
111
1
experimental
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
experimentalofficers
officers
1111
all
all
other
grades
all
other
grades
allother
othergrades
grades
000
0
all
all
other
grades
all
other
grades
allother
othergrades
grades
111
1
0000
20
20
20
20
40
40
40
40
60
60
60
60
80
80
80
80
100
100
100
100
120
120
120
120
0000
20
20
20
20
40
40
40
40
11. Magnetism, metals, quantum fluids and superconductivity
12. High energy and particle physics
professors
professors
professors
professors
professors
professors
professors
professors
11.
11.
Magnetism,
metals,
quantum
fluids
and
superconductivity
11.
Magnetism,
metals,
quantum
fluids
and
superconductivity
11.Magnetism,
Magnetism,metals,
metals,quantum
quantumfluids
fluidsand
andsuperconductivity
superconductivity
40.1
40.1
40.1
40.1
readers
readers
and
SLs
readers
and
SLs
readersand
andSLs
SLs
research
researchfellows
fellows
research
fellows
research
fellows
all
all
other
grades
all
other
grades
allother
othergrades
grades
444
4
all
all
other
grades
all
other
grades
allother
othergrades
grades
0000
61
61
61
61
30
30
30
30
experimental
experimentalofficers
officers
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
111
1
20
20
20
20
40
40
40
40
60
60
60
60
80
80
80
80
100
100
100
100
120
120
120
120
27
27
27
27
000
0
0000
20
20
20
20
40
40
40
40
13. Atmospheric physics, geophysics and environmental physics
14. Atomic and molecular physics
professors
professors
professors
professors
professors
professors
professors
professors
13.
13.
Atmospheric
physics,
geophysics
and
environmental
physics
13.
Atmospheric
physics,
geophysics
and
environmental
physics
13.Atmospheric
Atmosphericphysics,
physics,geophysics
geophysicsand
andenvironmental
environmentalphysics
physics
14
14
14
14
readers
readers
and
SLs
readers
and
SLs
readers and
and SLs
SLs
research
research
fellows
research
fellows
research fellows
fellows
experimental
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
experimental officers
officers
all
allother
othergrades
grades
all
other
grades
all
other
grades
0000
all
allother
othergrades
grades
all
other
grades
all
other
grades
20
20
20
20
40
40
40
40
60
60
60
60
80
80
80
80
100
100
100
100
120
120
120
120
15. Astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology and space physics
15.
15.
Astronomy,
astrophysics,
cosmology
and
space
physics
15.
Astronomy,
astrophysics,
cosmology
and
space
physics
15.Astronomy,
Astronomy,astrophysics,
astrophysics,cosmology
cosmologyand
andspace
spacephysics
physics
122.1
122.1
122.1
122.1
professors
professors
professors
professors
116
116
116
116
readers
readers
and
SLs
readers
and
SLs
readersand
andSLs
SLs
69
69
69
69
lecturers
lecturers
lecturers
lecturers
research
research
fellows
research
fellows
researchfellows
fellows
experimental
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
experimentalofficers
officers
42
42
42
42
all
all
other
grades
all
other
grades
allother
othergrades
grades
25
25
25
25
0000
Survey
of
20
20
20
20
Academic Appointments
in
40
40
40
40
60
60
60
60
P h y si c s 20 0 4–20 0 8:
80
80
80
80
an
100
100
100
100
Institute
of
60
60
60
60
80
80
80
80
100
100
100
100
120
120
120
120
60
60
60
60
80
80
80
80
100
100
100
100
120
120
120
120
10
10
10
10
555
5
000
0
0000
20
20
20
20
40
40
40
40
16. Electrical and electronic physics
16.
16.
Electrical
and
electronic
physics
16.
Electrical
and
electronic
physics
16.Electrical
Electricaland
andelectronic
electronicphysics
physics
professors
professors
professors
professors
111
1
readers
readers
and
SLs
readers
and
SLs
readersand
andSLs
SLs
000
0
777
7
lecturers
lecturers
lecturers
lecturers
58
58
58
58
120
120
120
120
24
24
24
24
experimental
experimentalofficers
officers
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
666
6
1111
100
100
100
100
16
16
16
16
research
researchfellows
fellows
research
research
fellows
fellows
222
2
80
80
80
80
41
41
41
41
lecturers
lecturers
lecturers
lecturers
6666
60
60
60
60
14.
14.
Atomic
and
molecular
physics
14.
Atomic
and
molecular
physics
14.Atomic
Atomicand
andmolecular
molecularphysics
physics
readers
readersand
andSLs
SLs
readers
and
SLs
readers
and
SLs
11
11
11
11
lecturers
lecturers
lecturers
lecturers
120
120
120
120
82
82
82
82
research
research
fellows
research
fellows
researchfellows
fellows
21
21
21
21
experimental
experimentalofficers
officers
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
100
100
100
100
78.2
78.2
78.2
78.2
lecturers
lecturers
lecturers
lecturers
17
17
17
17
80
80
80
80
12.
12.High
Highenergy
energyand
andparticle
particlephysics
physics
12.
High
energy
and
particle
physics
12.
High
energy
and
particle
physics
readers
readers
and
SLs
readers
and
SLs
readersand
andSLs
SLs
24
24
24
24
lecturers
lecturers
lecturers
lecturers
60
60
60
60
research
research
fellows
research
fellows
researchfellows
fellows
0000
experimental
experimental
officers
experimental
officers
experimentalofficers
officers
111
1
all
all
other
grades
all
other
grades
allother
othergrades
grades
000
0
120
120
120
120
P h y s i c s R e p o r t Ja n ua r y 2010
0000
20
20
20
20
40
40
40
40
29
Survey of Academic Appointments in Physics
2004–2008
For further information contact:
Tajinder Panesor
The Institute of Physics
76 Portland Place, London W1B 1NT
Tel +44 (0)20 7470 4800, Fax +44 (0)20 7470 4848
E-mail tajinder.panesor@iop.org
www.iop.org
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