Careers for Physicists
Dr Claire Conway
Careers Adviser for Researchers
UK employment of Physics PhDs graduating between 2003 and 2007
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Using your subject directly
• In academic institutions
• In research institutes or
agency/government laboratories
• In large industries
• In small companies
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Using your subject indirectly
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Science consulting and market research
Science policy
SCIENCE
ALTERNATIVES
Science administration
Career briefing
Science communication
www.careers.ox.ac.uk/st
Science publishing
udents/occupations/
Technology transfer
Intellectual property and patents
Manufacturing
Technical sales and marketing…..and many
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Moving away from science
DPhil – many transferable skills. These
probably include:
• Problem solving skills
• Analytical skills
• Time and project management skills
• Numerical ability
• IT skills
• Communication skills, e.g., presentation
• Drive, determination and perseverance
• Attention to detail
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Professional institutions
can be great sources of information (and
inspiration)
• Institute of Physics www.iop.org.uk
• Royal Astronomical Society www.ras.org.uk
• Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine
www.ipem.org.uk
• European Physical Society www.eps.org
• American Institute of Physics www.aip.org
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Institute of Physics
www.iop.org.uk > careers
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Examples
months
– all seeking Physics PhDs advertised in last 2
• Laser Scientist, Radiantis (Spain)
• Scientist, Siemens Magnet Technology
• Graduate Development Programme, EADS
Astrium
• Physicist, Ballracing Developments (motorsport
simulation)
• R & D, Samsung Electronics
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Other jobs websites for Physicists
www.brightrecruits.com (from the Institute of Physics)
www.newscientistjobs.com
www.jobsinscience.com/
http://tiptop.iop.org/ (“dynamic jobs list for physicists”)
http://www.phdjobs.com/
sciencecareers.sciencemag.org (US and international jobs from the journal Science)
www.aps.org/careers/ (from the American Physical Society)
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Occupations – Finding
Information
• www.prospects.ac.uk
-Occupational profiles
-Prospects Planner – careers guidance
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system
Careers Service
-Career briefings
-Occupational files
‘What do PhDs do?’ - www.vitae.ac.uk
Review job advertisements
Professional associations – e.g., IOP
Talk to people (networking)
Resources for moving forwards – Careers Service
• www.careers.ox.ac.uk
• Section specifically for DPhil students
• Information Room
• Reference and take away materials
• Talks and presentations – occupational, employer and
careers skills
• Workshop
• Future Focus – careers skills workshop for DPhil
students
• Careers discussions
• ~15/45 mins
• Plan/structure your approach, identify options, CV
feedback, interview preparation
Resources for moving forwards – websites
•www.skillsportal.ox.ac.uk
•www.apprise.ox.ac.uk
•www.prospects.ac.uk
•www.vitae.ac.uk