Professional Physicists - Faculty: Physics & Astronomy
Faculty members of Physics and/or Astronomy Departments of colleges and universities:
Department Chair
Lecturer / Instructor
Professor
Research Faculty
Department Chair
Job title:
Chair and Professor
Educational background:
Ph.D. in Physics
What do you do?
I have the administrative responsibilities to manage a Physics Department in a research university. I also conduct my own research in computational materials physics.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I enjoy doing physics. In addition, I chose condensed matter physics because it is directly related to the technology that can improve our lives.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
I have balanced commitments by making good planning and better using the time. It is also necessary to have a partner who shares the responsibilities.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
If you want to make a lot of money, physics is not what you want to do. If you want to get paid for doing something you really like, this is the field. Physics is a field full of challenges and excitements.
Job title:
Department Chair & Professor of Physics
Educational background:
B.S. in Physics with a minor in Computer Science
Ph.D. in Computational Condensed Matter Physics
What do you do?
I'm a department chair of a combined Chemistry & Physics Department at a small state university. About half my time is spent in teaching and research, and the other half is spent as an administrator. I never wanted to be department chair, but until I can find someone else to take over the job, I'm stuck with it.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
Physics was the most challenging subject I ever had, and I'm stubborn. The prospect of a job that would always be challenging appealed to me.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
I'm an academic physicist; I teach physics and use it in my research.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
I married a fellow student as an undergraduate, and we have juggled our careers in science (he's a mathematician) ever since. We both make compromises. We attended graduate school at the university that accepted both of us, choosing it over individual offers to higher ranked schools. The hardest part was in finding two jobs together after our Ph.D.'s - the classic academic two-body problem. The first year out of graduate school we had jobs across the country from each other, but with a lot of lobbying and the help of a provost who was motivated to hire more female scientists, I was offered an assistant professor position at the university where my husband also had a tenure-track job. Since then we have risen through the ranks together.
I love being married to another academic, as he understands my job completely and isn't jealous of the time demands of this career.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
If you love it, do it.
Take as many math classes as you can; computer skills are always helpful, too. Both will give you the tools to make you a better physicist.
Choose your graduate school and especially your graduate advisor carefully. These two choices will have a huge impact on the rest of your career.
Get involved in research early on - it will give you information about what you want to do (and don't want to do!), and will also make you a more attractive candidate for graduate school and for jobs.
Be good at what you choose to do. It won't change the fact that in a majority-male field, women will occasionally feel like a dancing bear ("The wonder is not how gracefully it dances, but that it dances at all"). But by being good at your work, you'll know that you have earned everything given to you, and that any doubters are simply showing their ignorance of your abilities.
Job title:
Professor of Physics; Chair of Department
Educational background:
Ph.D., physics
What do you do?
I research, teach, and perform academic administration.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I enjoy learning physics as well as doing research
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
It is direct preparation for my career.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
It is a challenge. I have two pieces of advice: set priorities and hire household help.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Do what you think is interesting; don't do something that doesn't interest you because you think it will be "good for you" down the road.
Job title:
Professor of Physics and Chair of the Physics Department
Educational background:
B.S. in Physics & Math
M.S. and Ph.D. in Physics & Astronomy
What do you do?
I research in astrophysics, teach (mainly undergraduate courses), and do administration (chair of a 30-person department at a major university and active in a local organization of women faculty and with national organizations for women in science).
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I found physics challenging and satisfying. My way of thinking (logically and deductively) meshes well with physics inquiry. I found research fun, and the questions I address are profoundly interesting. (Still, there are many others things I could have happily done. But I like the sharp minds I find in physics, and the clarity of thought. There is no fuzziness here.)
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
It is essential to my career, since I am now educating other students in physics.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
I just decided it had to work, plus I have a husband who believes in equality. We have two daughters and have shared equally the work of having and raising them. (We even split our names - each has our two names as her middle and last names, but the order is different for the two.) I feel very strongly that women should be able to have a career - a full-time, satisfying career - as readily as a man. For now, it is more difficult for women, since they are assumed to carry the lion's share of the burden. (I never hear a young man ask, "But can I combine career and family?" They just assume it can be done. I can't wait for the day when that is the case for young women as well.) But it does not have to be harder for women than for men. I think women should assume it can be done, and the pressure on the system will lead to change (better, more affordable and accessible childcare; reasonable accommodations for pregnancy on the job; more enlightened society; partners who believe in equality).
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
What a great idea to do this! Physicists are almost never unemployed, are very well paid, and most really love their work. It's a great career.
Two pieces of advice: If you are a woman, and you start to feel out of place (because in many places, the physics culture is defined by men), try to (a) separate culture and style from what physics actually is, (b) find mentors who will help and encourage you, (c) form groups of like-minded women (possibly in other fields of science) to help you navigate any unfamiliar landscapes, and (d) consider yourself an essential pathfinder for the young women coming behind you. They are relying on you to succeed.
Second thing: when young women worry about whether they can have a family and a career, I would just say, it is a luxury that you can worry this way. Most women who have families (in the U.S.) do work - and most do not have jobs that are as flexible or pay as well as physics-trained people do. Why do we worry so much about it then? Having a family is hard work and requires sacrifices of time and money whether you have a job outside the home or not. Some of us found being full-time scientists (and parents the other 16 hours a day) rather more satisfying and relaxing than being full-time caregivers, and our daycare providers were also wonderful for our kids. Most important, having children is by far the best thing I have ever done, and has brought more joy than anything else imaginable. So I encourage young women to follow their dreams in the intellectual sphere as well as the family sphere.
Lecturer / Instructor
Job title:
University Lecturer
Educational background:
A.S., B.S. in Physics
B.A. in Mathematics
M.S. in Physics
Ph.D. in Physics (Applied Optics Specialty)
What do you do?
I am a full-time lecturer in undergraduate physics courses, a physics department undergraduate advisor, the chairman of the undergraduate curriculum committee, and a member of the teacher assignment committee
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I loved the challenge of both physics and mathematics; I am particularly enthralled by optics.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
After working in industry on optical systems for the Department of Defense for three years, I returned to graduate school so that I would be able to teach at a university. I love to teach and I am much happier in academia than in industry. Also, I feel that enjoying your career is of utmost importance.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
My husband and I chose many years ago not to have children, although this decision had nothing to do with our careers. My husband and I have, however, successfully balanced our commitments to each other and to our dog with those of our careers. We could easily have balanced children also as many of our contemporaries do.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
1) Do not be deterred by the lack of listings for physicists in the "want ads"; physicists are generally hired ahead of engineering and other science students. Physicists are trained to be very versatile. You must, therefore, decide what you would like to do for a living and market yourself accordingly.
2) It is imperative that you find a career that you love! Your health and mental well-being will suffer if you "settle" for a job that you don't like. Remember that you'll be working at that job or one like it for 30 years or more.
Job title:
Senior Lecturer
Educational background:
Ph.D., Nuclear Physics
What do you do?
I teach introductory physics at college level, occasional intermediate lab, and "Physics of Music" for general interest audience.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
Good question.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
I did not work for a couple of years, then worked part-time while my children were still in school.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
If you have a significant other and/or a family, be aware that you may have to make choices. If a choice is in favor of spending time with children rather than the best possible career, learn to feel good about it.
Job title:
Lecturer in Physics
Educational background:
B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Physics
What do you do?
I lecture physics courses at a university.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I enjoyed the research. It is one of those rare careers where you are free to pursue subjects that interest you and get paid for it.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
It has been essential.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
I chose to stop doing research and concentrate solely on teaching after the birth of my first child. Physics research can be a highly competitive. It often requires long hours and a willingness to keep learning new things. I made the decision once I had a child that I wanted to change direction and I have not regretted my decision. I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to do so much research, but now I am happy to concentrate on teaching and raising a family. It is a slower pace but very rewarding.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Talk to people who have some experience in this area and find out what it entails. Pursuing physics as a career gives you a whole different perspective on the world. It trains you to question ideas. Even if you eventually decide not to use your physics education directly, you will probably find skills like critical thinking, applying the scientific method and ability to problem solve ar useful in any walk of life you choose.
Job title:
Physics Instructor at University
Educational background:
Bachelor of Science with a double major in Physics and Math
Bachelor of Education in Guidance and Counseling
What do you do?
I teach courses in physics, chemistry and math for students going into Early and Middle Years Education and for those who do not have high school credit in these and need preparation for university-level courses.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I love problem solving and making sense of the world.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
I earned my B.Sc. before getting married so I enjoyed the single, student life. I earned the first year of my B.Ed. while married but with no children; my husband supported me and I worked part-time. I was then able to work in this field. I finished the B.Ed. while I had two children, through evening classes and summer school, at the university where I was employed; our tuition was free.
A friend looked after the children during the summer days when I was in school. We hired babysitters for the evenings. For the work days, a private babysitter took our children from the age of four months. That was a godsend because maternity leave was only three months then - but it paid full time - through our faculty association. There were late nights but it was very interesting. Mom would come in one day a week to keep the kids at home - that was wonderful as well. Mom kept them interested with crafts, baking, walks, reading to them and much more, and they didn't have to get up at 7:00 a.m.!
On entering university, I had intentions of being an engineer. This changed somewhat when the best scholarship support was offered at a university with only undergrad degrees, i.e. without engineering. I majored in physics and math because I loved the problem solving in them, but was unsure of the outcome. Since high school I enjoyed helping fellow students with their homework and continued this at university, getting paid for it when I served as a lab assistant in calculus and later in first year physics while I was in second and third years.
At the end of the B.Sc., I was actually accepted into a two-year meteorology course in Toronto, but decided to remain where I was and get married. My husband worked here and was not interested in moving and I decided that having this relationship was most important for me at that time. After a year of marriage (following up on a pact made with my mother), I went back to university, this time into the Faculty of Education, to pursue my third interest - becoming a high school teacher.
After a short stint teaching in high school, I was offered a part-time position as a teaching assistant for a new course in physics at university which sounded interesting. I worked at that for a couple of years and then my desire for a full-time teaching position led me to more interviews in the high school system. On returning from one of these interviews at a location that would have required a fair bit of driving, I was offered a full-time position at the university, assisting in three departments: math, chemistry and physics. That sounded good to me too, so I accepted. Soon after, the "assisting" turned into "teaching".
Since then I have enjoyed teaching adults. I've enjoyed seeing students learn subjects they thought they could not do. Students have gone on to become doctors, dentists, teachers, artists, geologists, and many other types of professionals not related to math and science. That is delightful. I have had the opportunity to teach First Nations students who are training to become teachers - making the science hands-on and fun, as well as challenging - and seeing them enjoy it and prove to themselves that they could do it! These students go back to teach in their home communities to develop the science and math backgrounds of many where, traditionally, teaching in these areas has been lacking. I am proud of them.
My husband is not an academic, and that has been helpful for us. When university gets busy, he can be my sounding board.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Pursue your interests. If you enjoy what you are studying and doing, you will be good at it. Keep yourself excited about your career. Keep learning. Keep your marks up so you are eligible for scholarships. Try work in your area through summer placements, etc. It may not be easy to have your career and family but you can do it if you wish. Nowadays, maternity leave is a full year so you have longer time to enjoy your child.
Professor
Job title:
Professor of Astronomy
Educational background:
Ph.D. in astronomy
What do you do?
I do research, teach at both undergraduate and graduate level, supervise Ph.D. students, and have been Director of Graduate Studies and Department Chair.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I loved mathematics, physics and astronomy and, of the three, I could most vividly imagine what a career in astronomy would be like. I though it would be exploration for the rest of my life, and it has been so far.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
Physics is an integral part of what I do. I use it every day.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
An academic position, perhaps, makes it easier to balance career and family. There is a great deal of flexibility in how you spend your time. For example you can choose not to attend meetings or sit in committees for a while if you have things in your personal life that require your attention and energy.
The main challenge is to keep in mind what is really important for you and take it from there.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Find out what it is that you love doing and do it!
Job title:
Currently: Post-doctoral Research Fellow
Starting September 2007: Assistant Professor
Educational background:
B.Sc. Honours Physics
Ph.D. Physics
What do you do?
Currently: 80% research, 20% functional work
Starting September 2007: Research, teaching, supervising graduate and undergraduate students.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I always had an interest in math and science. When I was exposed to modern physics (astrophysics and quantum physics) at the end of high school, I knew that is what I wanted to pursue.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
I am pursuing an academic career in astrophysics so I use my physics background every day.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
My best advice is to get exposure to research as early in your career as possible. If you are interested in pursuing an academic career, you should try to figure out if research interests you. Some of the strongest students in physics courses are not the best researchers, so if you are not the top student in the class, do not despair. Graduate schools are usually looking for students with research backgrounds and strong letters of recommendation, not only top marks.
Job title:
Physics Professor
Educational background:
B.S. in Physics
MS. in Physics
Ph.D. in Physics
What do you do?
Research and teaching
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I love doing physics.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
Very much since I am in the career of physics.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
Family is very important and I do not think a female physicist should choose one over the other. One can have a balanced family life and physics career at the same time. Many women physicists have done both successfully. I have done it.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Follow your interest and follow your heart. Work hard and you will succeed.
Job title:
Assistant Professor
Educational background:
Bachelor's: Physics and Mathematics
Master's: Astronomy and Physics
Ph.D.: Astronomy and Physics
What do you do?
I'm a full-time professor at a research university, so my responsibilities included teaching about 3 courses a year, full-time research (writing papers, grants, etc.), and serving on university and professional committees. I teach both introductory astronomy and physics courses and graduate level astronomy courses. I also advise about 2 grad students and anywhere from 2 to 6 undergraduates.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I was introduced to astronomy at a very early age by my dad. Then, in high school, I discovered physics and found that, not only did I excel in my classes, but I enjoyed them as well. It was natural to merge my interest in astronomy with my ability in physics. I also love teaching, so as a professor, I'm able to pursue all of my interests.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
Having taken AP Physics in high school, I was better prepared for my physics classes in college. With my physics background, there really isn't a class that I can't teach in my department. My research focus now is astronomy, but I still use physics every day to understand the physical processes that I observe.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
My experience is the exception to many others. I met my husband as an undergraduate, and started graduate school with a 3-month-old baby. When I graduated with my Ph.D., I had 3 kids, and now as a professor, I have 5 kids. I think that all women should know that it is possible to have a family and a career, but it takes a lot of sacrifice on both your part and your husband's part. If your husband is 100% supportive and will cook, clean, change diapers, and share the other household chores and responsibilities of parenthood, then there is nothing that you as a woman cannot do. However, if your husband isn't supportive and willing to carry his fair share of the load at home, then you might not make it. Make sure you choose the right guy to marry, and talk before you get married so that each of you is aware of what the other wants and expects and there are no surprises down the road. Having kids is a sacrifice, and you won't be the top scientist in your field if you have kids, but you can still be great at your job and having a family is worth all the sacrifice and time. You will never regret if your career gets a little side-tracked because you had a family, but you will always regret never having a child.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Stick with it, and don't let anyone tell you that you can't because you're a woman. Ignore those that attack or question you ability, find female mentors, and believe in yourself. You have these talents and gifts for a reason; this is who you are, and you should never feel like you are less or inferior because you are a woman. Embrace the fact that you are a woman, and all the advantages in life that position gives you, and pursue your dreams until they become reality. When it gets tough, just don't give up. You can make it, and those of us who have made it will help you.
Job title:
Assistant Professor of Physics
Educational background:
B.S. Physics
Ph.D. Physics
What do you do?
Teach one physics course each fall and spring semester and research.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
Physics was the most intellectually challenging course I encountered in college, and I found I was really interested in learning about the "why" and "how" things work. As I progressed in my studies, I also found that I really enjoyed teaching, so that led naturally to becoming a professor. However, after graduate school I did work for two years as an engineer. I found that my physics training enabled me to do anything the engineers were doing in any of several working groups, though I will say it took them a while to figure that out!
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
You can't teach physics without having taken it!
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
I'm fortunate to work in an environment where commitment to family is seen as very important, so my schedule has been very flexible which has been very beneficial as my children are still very young. The biggest help, however, is the fact that my husband has a career that allows him to work from home and stay home with our children. I find that being dedicated to work while at work allows me to keep my job confined to a forty-hour work week which leaves me ample time to spend with my family. Being a university professor is also nice because I have large blocks of time between semesters that I get to stay at home. (Being a theoretical physicist is a plus because even if I do have an experiment running, I can usually check on its status over the internet.)
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Make sure that you pursue math as diligently as you pursue physics: you can't do physics without having a good grasp of math. Computer programming skills are also very important. Some of your greatest assets as a physicist will be your ability to model systems and analyze data sets - no matter what field you are working in. Good math and computer skills will help you with both of these tasks. Try to get involved in research as early as possible, both at your school and through summer programs at other schools or institutions.
Job title:
Part-time Faculty
Educational background:
Physics Bachelor's and Master's - Semi-conductor emphasis
What do you do?
I teach one class each semester.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
In high school I really enjoyed my physics class.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
I teach one class a semester. I do all my preparation at home where I can also be with my children. I go to the university to teach my class and work one-on-one with my students. The time away from home is under 10 hours a week. I really enjoy teaching but I also do not want to be away from my children more than necessary. This also gives me a project to work on while my children play.
Job title:
Assistant Professor
Educational background:
Ph.D. Physics
B.S. Physics and Anthropology
What do you do?
I am a professor at a large research university. I teach courses (both undergrad and grad), supervise graduates students and undergrads in my lab and do research. I still do some of the laboratory work, but I also help my students plan experiments, analyze data and write papers. These are my most important responsibilities, but I also spend a good deal of time applying for grants and serving on various university committees.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I had a lot of fun in the lab.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
It's almost impossible to become a professor in a physics department without a Ph.D. in physics. My research is quite interdisciplinary, so other departments might have been options for me, but I really like the way physicists approach problems.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
I am married and have two small children, so family commitments are quite substantial right now. My husband also works and my children have good full-time daycare. I think I am lucky because my husband is not in academia and because our job requirements are different, it was relatively easy for him to follow me to my current job. For example, he has a much more rigid schedule than I, but he can leave his work at the office more easily than I can. Kids, of course, take a lot of time, but having a baby as a postdoc or as a professor is not impossible if you plan ahead. For example, if you figure out early in the pregnancy how your work will be affected both before birth and during maternity leave and tell your supervisor/coworkers/students, most people will work with the situation. For this reason, I really wouldn't recommend having a baby in graduate school because it is much harder to plan your time far in advance.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Physics will rarely make you rich, but it is a really fun life. Physics departments are still fairly insular places so don't be afraid to pursue interdisciplinary interests, scientific or otherwise.
Job title:
Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Educational background:
A.B. - Physics
M.Phil. - Physics
A.M. - Physics
Ph.D. - Physics
What do you do?
As a professor, I teach courses ranging from freshman physics to junior mathematical physics to graduate research courses. I have had undergraduates, M.A. students, and Ph.D. students complete thesis projects and publish papers under my supervision. I do outreach to pre-college students, especially young women interested in science. I undertake theoretical research with collaborators from around the world and enjoy traveling to conferences to present our research and hear what others have learned.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I loved physics, research, and teaching. Becoming a professor has allowed me to do all three.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
It is required for my career as a physics professor!
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
Like many women physicists, I am married to another physicist and we have two school-age children. We've been equal partners in housework and childcare from the beginning. I think that having a spouse who is also an academic physicist has been helpful because he is familiar with the particular constraints and pressures of this career (all careers have their own challenges, of course). The balance we maintain is dynamic - the particular tasks we each take on at home vary over time as we each encounter professional and personal deadlines at different times. We keep a large family calendar on the wall to make sure everyone knows who's taking which child where when.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
1. Get to know your professors - go to office hours and ask them about their research and advice on graduate school and careers. Answering this kind of question is part of the job of a professor and most view it as enjoyable. We like to see our students succeed!
2. Get involved in research - whether for academic credit, as a volunteer, or for pay, join at least one research group as an undergraduate to try out different kinds of physics careers.
3. Get involved in teaching - if there are opportunities to act as a tutor or learning assistant at your college, do so to find out whether you enjoy teaching. Tutoring someone else can be a great way to deepen your own understanding of the basics, too.
4. Read/listen about science - whether it's Scientific American, the science section of The Economist, or the NPR Science Friday podcast, keep in touch with what's new and interesting out there.
Job title:
Associate Professor in Astrophysics
Educational background:
B.S. in physics
M.S. in astronomy and astrophysics
Ph.D. in astronomy and astrophysics
What do you do?
I am an associate professor in an astronomy department at a public university, so my work is divided into three components: research, teaching, and service efforts.
My research efforts are focused on the field of galaxy formation and evolution, from the present to ten billion years ago, where the latest instrumentation enables a rich, detailed set of observations for a significant fraction of the total galaxy population. I use optical, infrared, and radio telescopes to study the distribution of gas and stars in galaxies, to understand how gas cools and condenses into stars, how various stellar populations evolve over time, and the relation between luminous matter and the underlying dark matter halo potentials. Sometimes I travel to telescopes in Chile or Hawaii to make observations, and sometimes I stay at home and observe remotely (to my regret, NASA never approves my requests to observe on-site with the Hubble Space Telescope!). Once my observations have been completed, I spend months working with computers to reduce and analyze the data, modeling observational effects to understand the limits of the data sets and simulating patterns of galaxy evolution to match observations of the local and distant Universe.
As a university professor, I also teach classes (to students ranging from undergraduate non-science majors up to astronomy graduate students), and mentor my own undergraduate and graduate students working on their own astronomy research projects. I also serve on several university, national, and international committees, working to improve the state of research efforts at my own university, and at various observatories throughout the world. One of the fun aspects of my position is the opportunity to give public talks and observing sessions to community members; it is refreshing to show people how much I enjoy a research career, to experience their interest in the universe, and to encourage children to study the sciences.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I have always enjoyed tinkering, and figuring out "How Things Work." I studied physics and engineering in college, and when it came time to graduate I realized that while many of my classes had felt like hard work, the astrophysics had always felt more like fun. Faced with a choice between working and having fun, I choose to pursue the field which allowed me the most intellectual stimulation. For me, a critical part of my job is the knowledge that at the end of a task, I will have learned something that no one knew before.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
My physics degree has opened many doors for me. It was invaluable in beginning graduate work in astrophysics, and if I had decided to go into industry instead, it would have made me very marketable. I began my undergraduate work as a physics major, in fact, because I felt that it left the most options open to me while I matured (the intense level of preparation was such that I could transfer out to many other science and engineering fields if I wished to, while shifting into physics later would have been much more difficult).
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
One of my mentors once told me that in order to succeed as a female astrophysicist, I could hold one other passion in my heart simultaneously - but no more. For me, this has been my husband. He is an industry engineer, and was willing to follow my career all over the world during our early years. His flexibility has been a huge asset to me in my research career. We have not had children, but I do not feel that this choice was due to my choice of career.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Physics is a great field because it opens so many doors! Physicists can work in universities, in research centers, and in industry, and can find all sorts of interesting projects in all of these places. Technical training in highly valued by our society, and so a background in physics allows one to choose great projects, rather than being slotted into someone else's plans.
Job title:
Assistant Professor of Physics
Educational background:
B.A. in Physics and Mathematics
Ph.D. in Physics
What do you do?
I teach undergraduate- and graduate-level physics courses, research in the field of biological physics, and mentor students in my laboratory.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I pursued physics to be different. There are not a lot of people (or women) in physics, and I wanted to do something different than most people.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
Since I am a physics professor, knowing physics helps a lot!
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
I am married to another physicist, and we now have a 9-month-old baby. We got married in graduate school. After graduate school, we had to solve the "two-body problem" when finding post-docs. I finished my Ph.D. early so that we could move together. Since my husband had a job offer at a particular school, I pursued finding a post-doc at the same institution. We were lucky that it was an excellent choice for both of us, although my position was in the medical school, and his was in the physics department.
We wanted to have a baby after establishing ourselves in our post-docs. We resolved to focus on our post-docs for at least a year before getting me pregnant. This worked out well, and I was able to complete a manuscript within a year.
We also began searching for professorial jobs after one year. We knew it would be unlikely to find two positions in close proximity to each other, so we started our job search early. We both had over 5 interviews, and I had several offers. We decided that, since we were searching so early, that if we could not be close, we would turn down jobs this year and try again the following year. Luckily, one school came through with two independent tenure-track positions for my husband and myself. We accepted the offer, and deferred our start date for one year. This gave me time to set-up the lab space, which needed to be renovated, and gave us time to adjust to having a new baby before moving.
I believe it is possible to have a career and a family. My post-doc advisor, who is a cell biologist, has a family and a thriving professional life, and she was a great role model for me. It takes focus and drive, but if a trailblazing woman in physics cannot do it, then who can?
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Whether pursuing a career that is squarely in physics (as I did) or on the fringes, like several of my college classmates who went into finance or computer science, the skills you learn from physics will take you very far in your career. Most people do not have the quantitative reasoning skills you will acquire, and this will give you an advantage.
Job title:
Assistant Professor
Educational background:
B.A. in Physics
M.S. and Ph.D. in Astrophysics
What do you do?
My responsibilities are research, teaching, and service.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I was hooked on astronomy and physics from a very early age, from the first time I saw Star Wars. I used to read everything I could on the sky as a youth. And I've always had a passion for teaching. Combine those two, and I pretty much fit as a university professor.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
As a professor in a physics department, the connection, for me at least, is pretty clear. It is 100% relevant to what I do, as I teach physics and direct research.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
This one is tricky. It is certainly true that we women have extra challenges in this area. Part of me thinks the challenge isn't so much the need to fit family in, but the lack of a wife at home. Many of the men in our field have wives who take care of everything home-related, so they don't need to fuss over bills, or cook, or clean, or do laundry, or take care of the children, or in some cases, they don't even need to pack their bags for conference trips. Of course, there are exceptions, and some of our colleagues do all of these things.
The other huge piece is that a physics-related career may require moving to a specific location (especially for university jobs). If there is a spouse with a career, this may cause problems for relocation. In physics, we call this the two-body problem, and it is a big deal for women faculty.
How have I balanced this? Well, that is quite personal. But I can say that some relationships did not survive the demands of my career, and sometimes my career is slowed by relationship efforts. Lots of us joke that we need a "portable" partner, but if you, like me, prefer partners who are also in science, then this can be tricky.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Don't expect this to be easy. Females will have to fight harder and do more to be accepted in this very male-dominated field. Just stand your ground, and realize that you are your own worst critic. Try to find other women in science to help support each other - it makes a huge difference.
Job title:
Professor in astronomy
Educational background:
Ph.D. in theoretical astrophysics
What do you do?
I am responsible for teaching, research, and supervision of student research.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I pursued physics due to innate interest. Working in physics, you have to think both abstractly and concretely. A thing called "physical intuition" is rooted in everyday life but can extend to the end of the universe. I also like the colleagues I work with; they are intelligent and kind humans.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
Obviously useful.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
By first having a commuting relationship and then having children rather late in life (mid thirties) after my husband and I had settle in the same city. It was tough during the process, but now it is rather comfortable. I don't have the regret of having to give up something for family life. Nowadays, more work places are accommodating to the needs of female professionals (like spousal positions), so things should get easier.
But in any case, you should let your passion for physics tell you what your choice is.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
It sure leads to a more interesting/fulfilling life than, say, investment management. It doesn't have to be physics professorship at the end. Having a physical sense of the world and knowing how to solve both real-world and virtual problems are the biggest gift you will get out of a physics education. You can do a wide range of jobs and do it better than others.
Job title:
Professor of Astronomy
Educational background:
B.S. in Physics
M.S. in Astronomy
Ph.D. in Astronomy
What do you do?
I teach astronomy courses at all levels: introductory astronomy for non-science majors, upper division undergraduate courses in astronomy for science majors, and courses in astronomy for graduate students in astrophysics. I also work with graduate students who are carrying out independent research, and continue my own research programs in astrophysics.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
The subject is interesting. Our knowledge of astronomy is growing and changing so fast that exciting new discoveries happen every day.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
Yes, of course. I use physics every day in my research, both the detailed knowledge of how physical systems work and the general way of thinking about relationships, cause and effect, and data.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
The balance is hard but it can be managed to be reasonably successful as a parent and as a scientist. But it does take organization and flexibility, and it is sometimes difficult to change roles mentally. It's hard to leave work at work and also hard not to bring concerns from home to work.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Be sure that you love working in physics. If it seems like work, pick something else. I love what I do, and would rather to it than anything else. It's what I do for fun!
Job title:
Associate Professor
Educational background:
Ph.D. in Physics
Master's in Physics
Bachelor's in Physics
What do you do?
As a professor, I teach physics courses at the undergraduate and graduate level, perform experimental research and train graduate (Ph.D. and Master's) and undergraduate students, including students in REU or RET programs, and also perform service, in the department and nationally through several professional societies (session chair, symposium organizer, etc.)
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
At first, because physics is the most mathematical of the sciences, and later, because I enjoy the experimental aspects of my work.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
As I am a physics professor, my physics background helps in all the obvious ways for teaching courses and performing my research, but more specifically, it has enhanced my ability to critically approach and solve all different kinds of problems.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
I went to graduate school directly after completing my undergraduate work, did one two-year postdoc, and then went into a tenure-track position. I was young enough to postpone having children and waited until I was going through the tenure process. My husband is also a physicist, so before we had children, it was easy for us to work late and keep similar hours but also take breaks together - we have always made a point of eating lunch together, for example. Since we've become parents, our child is top priority, but we've been able to coordinate our teaching schedules so that one of us is always available if our child becomes sick. I've made a conscious choice to spend time with my child in the evenings and on weekends and every chance I get - so for a few years my paper production will not be as high - but I am still able to do my job well and just need to adjust any unreasonable expectations or demands on myself.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Go for it! But if you head down that path and don't like it or find it too difficult, there is no shame in pursuing something else you enjoy. While it is nice to encourage young women (and men!) to pursue physics as a career, it is not and should not be a quota system, and you should pursue it because you enjoy it and are good at it.
Job title:
Associate Professor, Astronomy
Educational background:
B.S., Astronomy & Chemistry
M.S., Astronomy
Ph.D., Astronomy
What do you do?
As a professor at a research institution, my time is split between research, teaching, and service. I teach courses at a variety of levels, from introductory astronomy to graduate courses in my specialty area (extragalactic astronomy). I also supervise undergraduate and graduate students working on research projects.
My students and I are working on several projects related to galaxy formation and evolution, all of which require acquisition and analysis of multiwavelength (ultraviolet, optical, infrared, and radio) observations. Thus, I usually spend the equivalent of approximately 1 month per year at research-quality telescopes. The remainder of my research time is spent analyzing our data, writing papers, writing grant and telescope proposals to obtain further funding and telescope time, and attending conferences (local and international) to present the results of our research.
On the service side, I serve on departmental and university committees, on committees for our national observatories, and on national review panels (for grants and telescope time); I also review papers submitted for publication. The combination of teaching, research, and service usually keeps me busy!
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I was always interested in science and knew early on that I wanted to become a college professor in a scientific discipline. My interest in astronomy arose from the fact that astronomers get to ask the basic questions: Why does the sun shine? How did the Milky Way form and evolve? How did the solar system form? As scientific research is driven by the questions we ask, and by our approach to finding the answers, astronomy seemed to be a natural fit for me. I love spending time at observatories (the sky is absolutely amazing when viewed from a dark site with dark adapted eyes!), and I enjoy solving problems/puzzles - which is the very nature of scientific research.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
A strong background in physics is usually a necessary prerequisite for research in astronomy, as almost all of our knowledge of the universe is based on detection of electromagnetic radiation (i.e., light). However, my own background is actually in chemistry, not physics. As an undergraduate, I only took 1 year of introductory physics, and spent the remainder of my time taking astronomy and chemistry courses (including Physical Chemistry and Quantum Mechanics). As a graduate student, I chose to take the required statistical mechanics and quantum mechanics courses through the chemistry department, and thus the only physics courses I took as a graduate student were 1 year of undergraduate E&M and 1 semester of graduate E&M. That said, this is not the path that I would recommend for most students interested in a career in astronomy! A solid foundation in classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, and statistical physics (not to mention E&M - the source of all our data!) is necessary in order to understand and interpret astronomical observations. Whether it be the interpretation of line strengths of spectroscopic observations of galaxies to obtain elemental abundances (quantum and statistical mechanics), or the interpretation of the observed Doppler shifts of an individual spectral line to derive a dynamical mass estimate (classical mechanics), basic physical principles underlie all of astronomical research.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
I find this a difficult question to address because I haven't actually balanced these two aspects of my life! This is not to say that it can't be done, just that I have not chosen to do so. I have chosen to spend most of my time on my career commitments (I easily spend 80 to 90 hours a week in the office, and more than that while on observing runs). While this is a personal choice - I enjoy my time at work - I do think it would be difficult to achieve the research goals I set for myself if I were to have to split my time between career and family commitments.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
My one piece of advice for students interested in a research career in astronomy/physics is that they should choose their research topics based on what interests them, rather than on what is the "hot" topic of the decade. As research is largely a self-motivated activity, you are more likely to succeed if you are working on a project that will lead to answers to a question that you care about. There is nothing better than being in the lab (or at a telescope, or in front of a computer) waiting in eager anticipation to see what the result will be. "I can't wait to see what will happen next," is the best motivation you can have, and comes naturally paired with, "I wonder why it turned out like that? Hmm, what if I try this...?"
Job title:
Assistant Professor
Educational background:
Ph.D. in theoretical physics
What do you do?
I teach, research, supervise graduate students and do committee work at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
For most physicists, physics is a passion. It started earlier in my high school years with a enormous interest for the physical sciences courses.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
My physics background is essential for most of the work I do. Teaching physics courses requires that background and the research I do is based on physics theories that were first introduced to me in my undergraduate studies.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
This is always very hard as the physics world is designed for men. But things are changing and there is increasing awareness in this country toward family-related issues. In my work place, the management is very supportive of professional women having children. And as a matter of fact, I am about to have my first child.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Make sure you really like to material. There are always obstacles in the way, and it is important to have the driving force of really enjoying what you do. Then just go for it! If problems appear, there are now a few women around with whom you can talk to and will help you get through.
Job title:
Professor of Physics
Educational background:
B.Sc. in Honours Physics
Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics
What do you do?
I have 3 main responsibilities as a professor: research, teaching and administration. My research is in theoretical astrophysics. I do theoretical modeling of the properties of stars. I teach a variety of courses in both astronomy and physics. This year I have become responsible for our department's graduate program, so my administrative duties include: deciding which students should be accepted into our graduate program, counseling students and nominating students for awards.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I enjoy working on mathematical problems. I am also fascinated by the Universe and everything in it. Physics provides me with a way to answer the questions that I have about our world.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
Everything that I do in my career uses physics! Mathematics is also very important for what I do.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
I don't have children, but I don't feel that this is because of my career. From a very early age I remember thinking that I didn't want to have children. At my university, there are very good maternity benefits, so it would have been possible for me to have children if I wished.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Sometimes students feel pressured to decide between physics, mathematics, chemistry or engineering. Students who are early in their university years can usually switch easily between programs as long as they keep up their grades. Take a wide variety of courses at university and see what you like best. The most important thing is that you should enjoy whatever you do.
Job title:
Assistant Professor
Educational background:
Ph.D. in Physics
What do you do?
I am an experimental particle physicist working on a collider experiment and developing a new detector to search for Dark Matter form the Cosmos.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I became interested in particle physics when I was 16 and read a book about the discovery of the Z0 and W bosons. I started working on improving my math and physics knowledge that very summer, and two years later I enrolled in college as a physics major. I consider myself very lucky to have had my dream come true.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
I use my physics knowledge every day, in teaching and research.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
Balancing family and career is not easy, but it can be done if you work really hard at making things work. I am lucky: I have a fantastic job and 2 wonderful kids (ages 5 and 7). My husband is a physicist too, and he travels a lot for work. The secret? We have a wonderful nanny who has been with us in the past 7 years. She helps with the kids and with the house, and is very understanding when my husband and I have to travel to conferences.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Follow your dream! Physics is exciting, intellectually challenging, and rewarding. How many other jobs can guarantee you that you will never get bored? :)
If the academic path does not work out, the skills you learn in your training as a physicist will be precious for a variety of other career paths, such as finance, software engineering, management,....
Job title:
Professor of Physics
Educational background:
B.S. and Ph.D. in Physics
What do you do?
I research, teach at all levels through advanced graduate, and do university and national service.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
When I was 10, my father told me what physics is about, after I said I was interested in math and engineering (his field) but not sure I'd want to either of them full-time. When he described physics, I decided to be a physicist. Since I didn't know what else one did with a Ph.D., I decided I'd be a professor.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
My career has been both physics and committee/administrative work. The problem solving ability, teamwork and objectivity developed in physics have helped in the committee/administrative aspects.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
It was at times very hard to be raising children and working on getting tenure or just plain going to work when I felt I should be at home. We hired college students for day care during the kids' ages 6 through 16 years, and they were great! We tried to have someone at home after school, even when they were old enough to be alone. We spent summers doing neat things with them, while also doing research. I think if you want both you just do both and get lots of advice from those who have done both.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Keep in sight whatever got you interested in physics and what you have found most interesting in your courses and realize that the subject gets better the further you go. Seek out mentors!
Job title:
Assistant professor
Educational background:
Ph.D. in Physics
What do you do?
I teach students and conduct research.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
Because I've always liked physics; that was the only subject where I could get good grades by only thinking, not memorizing!
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
It was the main requirement for the job.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
I just do my best in both - there is no true balance here. I had my child when I was a third-year graduate student, and support from my husband (on one hand) and from my academic advisor (on the other) helped me continue working on my Ph.D. thesis. When looking for a postdoctoral position, I carefully chose the supervisor who respected and valued my duties as a mother.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Just do it! Physics is amazing science; it has many facets, and it became an integral part of many other natural sciences.
Also, there is a big improvement in accepting women in science; I personally never experience any negative attitude because of my gender. However, there are still not that many women in physics, so it is important to be proactive and to connect with others. From my experience, many more senior female scientists are very passionate about helping younger women to get on their feet.
As for balancing a scientific career with a family: First of all it is all about multi-tasking! Then, find a "support group," both for emotional support and for babysitting! Initially, believe that this is the right thing to do and forget about feeling guilty (the hardest part)! Being a good mother and a good scientist at the same time is hard - but totally worth it!
Job title:
Professor
Educational background:
Ph.D. in physics
What do you do?
I split my time mostly between teaching and research; some fraction of my time is spent on administrative duties. I enjoy teaching, but I love research even more.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I've wanted to be a scientist since I was five or six. At a very early age, I was interested in astronomy, but then spent my preteen years fascinated by biological things. At age thirteen or so, I took a chemistry course, and instantly knew that I wanted to do physical science. Actually, at that time, I thought I wanted to be a chemist; it wasn't until later that I realized that what I really enjoyed most was physics. I am delighted to have a career which allows me to pursue pretty much exactly what I'm interested in.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
I am an academic physicist by profession, so of course physics training was essential!
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
My partner is also a physicist, and we have had some constraints over the years due to the "two-body" problem; however, we've always managed to find positions we are happy with in the same city. We have chosen not to have children, but the reason has not been that we feel it's impossible to have both career and family - I know many people who have successfully combined both.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
My general advice is that if physics is what you most enjoy, then go for it, even if you're not sure you want to be a "traditional" academic physicist. Training in physics will equip you for a huge variety of interesting and fun careers.
Job title:
Professor of Physics
Educational background:
Ph.D. in Physics
What do you do?
I teach physics courses and research in physics.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
It takes hard work, focus on research, and determination.
Job title:
Assistant Professor
Educational background:
Undergraduate degree in Physics
Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics
What do you do?
I co-run a group of 5 post-doctoral and senior research scientists, 5 graduate students and 3 undergraduate students. I am Deputy Spokesperson of a multinational experiment of more than 500 physicists from 12 countries. I also lecture during term time to graduate and undergraduate students. My research field is in nuclear physics and my experiment is operated at an American national laboratory that is approximately 60 miles from my home institute. Out of term time, my days are filled doing research, supervising our post-docs and students and helping manage the large collaboration
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I really enjoy science and physics in particular. I wanted to do a job that allowed me to do pure research and help educate future scientists. I also love that the job is very flexible both in the hours I put in on any given day and in what I research choose to pursue. The travel was also interesting to me, although all the excitement of plane flights and staying in hotels diminishes with time. Still I do get to see places in the world that I would never otherwise visit.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
I had to have a Ph.D. in physics to become a professor.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
I'm not married so this is not yet a problem for me. You do need to have a very forgiving partner as you do need to travel, sometimes for several weeks at a time. I know several women who do have families and successful careers but it still a big juggling and you sometimes have to compromise.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Make sure whatever career you pick that you love the work. It is hard work so you need to enjoy it. If you meet someone who says you can't do something because of who you are don't believe them. Take it as a personal challenge to prove them wrong. However, do accept any proffered advice or help. For me, having a mentor who helped me decide on career moves, offered advice, told me when I was doing something right, and, more importantly, doing something wrong, has been invaluable. Finally, people will ask you to do many things. It is okay to say "no" sometimes. Sometimes doing a few jobs really well is better that doing many merely okay.
Job title:
Associate Professor
Educational background:
Ph.D., Physics
What do you do?
I coordinate a large research group, publication committees of experiments, technical boards, proposals for grants, software development, and data analysis.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
It was challenging.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
A lot, but many times I had to study again things since university courses could have been better.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
Research has a primary role with respect to family.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
You have to like it and then it can be rewarding, after many efforts. It is not easy, no question, but enjoyable.
Job title:
Associate Professor of Physics
Educational background:
B.A. Physics
M.S. Physics
Ph.D. Science Education
What do you do?
As a physics professor at a comprehensive institution, I teach introductory physics courses as my primary responsibility. I also conduct research in physics education and women and science issues, trying to determine how physics classes can be promoting or hindering women's participation in science. I also do service work for my university and my community, such as committee work, creating new majors for my school, helping work on policy issues, and serving as a conduit for bringing news from my research community to my department and school.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I have several family members in science and math. I grew up liking physics and had a fantastic physics teacher in high school. I knew from about 11th grade that I wanted to teach college physics. I love showing people how cool and interesting basic day-to-day physics is.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
As a physics professor, I needed a solid physics background to prepare me for being the one at the front of the class. I still am learning about physics. Every time I teach a class I think of something new or actually grasp a physics concept a little better.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
I am lucky to have a husband who works at home, and have not had to deal with the two-body problem of finding two jobs in one city. I am child-free, but still have family obligations with many family members living in my town or within close driving distance. I don't bring work home. Once I leave the office it's time for my personal life, and I try to not work over 50 hours a week.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Physics is so much fun! Enjoy your physics classes, but be sure to take other classes to keep you balanced. Do research as an undergraduate, and if you can get funding to go to a professional conference, offer a presentation. It's wonderful preparation for a future career in physics.
Job title:
Physics Professor at a liberal arts college
Educational background:
B.S., engineering physics
M.S. and Ph.D., physics
What do you do?
I teach undergraduate physics courses and do research in my field (materials physics).
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I always loved science and became fascinated with physics in high school because it explains how things work with simplicity and elegance. I felt that learning physics was the key to understanding all of science, since it is the most fundamental.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
I now teach physics courses to undergraduate college students, so my physics background is obviously useful there. My research experience has given me the skills to work on projects in many interdisciplinary areas of science, and that is extremely useful in the environment of a liberal arts college.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
Balancing family and career can happen. I have a four year old son, and he was born before I got tenure. I planned ahead to make sure my research was in order before starting a family. I took a one semester leave to stay home with him when he was very young; most colleges or universities allow this and it does not impact negatively on your career (some will even give you an extra year until tenure review). My son started full-time daycare when he was 8 months old, and I do not regret that decision one bit. Quality daycare is a wonderful option for professional parents, despite pressure to keep your child home that may come from other directions (parents, other moms, etc.). Do what is best for you and your child.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
If physics is what you love, then do it. You will never be happy in a career that is something less than your true passion. Also, be flexible. I left grad school not having a job and followed my husband to a city where he had a job (he is also a physicist). After a year of part-time teaching and a two-year post-doc in an area totally different than my graduate work, I was a much more well-rounded physicist and much more employable. I ended up with a great choice between a full-time research career or a faculty position. I never dreamed when I left graduate school that I would have such luck, and I never knew I would have such a rewarding career.
Job title:
Professor
Educational background:
Ph.D., Physics
What do you do?
I research, teach, and perform administration.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I decided to stay in physics in order to pursue fundamental research.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
It was essential.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
I have two children (8 and 5 years old). I could only balance family and a career through the constant help of my husband and the availability of full-time child-care.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
They should only pursue a career in physics if physics is their passion and there is nothing else they would enjoy more.
Job title:
Professor of Physics
Educational background:
Ph.D. in theoretical physics
What do you do?
I do research and teach 1 course per semester.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
Physics was my favourite subject as an undergraduate.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
Physics is directly related to my career.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
My boyfriend is also a scientist. I don't have kids.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Physics is a great career. There's lot's of opportunity to travel and explore new experiences. It's a big asset if you are flexible about where you live and what kind of work you are willing to do.
Job title:
Assistant Professor in Department of Earth Sciences and Canada Research Chair in Glaciology
Educational background:
B.A., Physics with chemistry minor
Ph.D., Geophysics
What do you do?
My work involves both teaching and research. I teach graduate and undergraduate courses in the earth sciences and my research is in the field of glaciology - the study of glaciers and ice sheets. This research has theoretical, computational and empirical components. I spend 6 to 8 weeks out in the field each year (primarily in southwest Yukon) making measurements related to the mass balance, dynamics, hydrology and surface meteorology of several alpine glaciers. The rest of the year I spend at the computer analyzing data and developing theoretical and numerical (computer) models related to the physics of glaciers: how they move, how water drains through them and how they respond to climate.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
When I started university I was interested in physics, astronomy and environmental science as potential majors. After taking undergraduate courses in physics, chemistry and geology, I settled on physics as a major because I loved the way in which physics addressed the very fundamentals of nature and that its study emphasized understanding over memorizing. In the summers I had opportunities to work in physics-related fields designing and fabricating photovoltaic devices (solar cells), measuring long baselines for earthquake and fault motion applications, and building an atom trap just before BEC was achieved in the lab. These research experiences allowed me to sample a few diverse fields in which physics plays a central role. In graduate school I decided to pursue geophysics, specifically glaciology, to combine my background in physics with my interest in the natural world. Like many of my colleagues in glaciology, I started as a physicist with a nagging interest in skiing.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
I still think physics and math are the best basic building blocks for any graduate study or career in science. It is not so much the particular content that is indispensable, but rather the problem-solving methodology that is so valuable and transportable to any other field of scientific study. We often take this for granted because it is how we learn rather than what we learn. By studying physics we learn how to approach and solve problems and we develop an intuition about the physical world. Because physics underpins all of what we observe in nature, I think it was the best possible preparation for my career in glaciology.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
This dichotomy between family and career is unnecessary, and unfortunately it is especially pronounced in North America. My colleagues in Scandinavia especially are living examples of how things could be: men and women sharing responsibilities at work and at home. They have a greater sense of balance in their lives that permits both men and women to be good researchers and teachers, as well as good parents. We are not there yet in North America, because we are rewarded in the workplace for achievements that often require behavior that undermines personal and family lives. More women than men in physics are partnered with people who also have demanding full-time careers; thus, women in physics, on average, have fewer resources to devote to family life and are at a disadvantage. I think as women increasingly make their way into physics-related careers, there will be a shift to a more sustainable model where it is "normal" to have a family and to divide time between work and home. While I think the family/career dichotomy is unnecessary, I cannot say that it does not exist in our culture - it does, and it will not change if women are intimidated or discouraged from entering the work force.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
I think you can't go wrong by studying physics and pursuing a career in a physics-related field. With a background in physics you can really go in any direction. Many majors force a premature specialization in my opinion; physics is one where you keep your options open.
Job title:
Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy (tenure-track)
Educational background:
B.S. in Physics
Ph.D. in Physics.
What do you do?
My work breaks down into roughly 65% teaching, 35% research over the course of one full calendar year. I spend the summer and winter break doing research. My area of expertise is astronomy. During the school year, I have a few hours a week for research, but my primary job responsibility then is teaching. I teach both introductory and advanced courses on physics and astronomy.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I knew I wanted to be a scientist, but as an undergraduate I wasn't sure what field to specialize in, so I chose to be a physics major because it gave me the most options: physics is the one science that is fundamental to all other fields of science and engineering. By my senior year I'd chosen astronomy as my research area. I then chose to get a Ph.D. in physics (not astronomy) because I anticipated going into education and felt my job prospects were best with a Ph.D. in physics.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
Because physics is a fundamental science, you can still be an astronomer and teach astronomy with a Ph.D. in physics. On the other hand, if you have a Ph.D. in astronomy, it's somewhat harder (but not impossible) to land a physics position, and there aren't as many positions in astronomy. But if you are sure you want to be an astronomer, there is no reason not to get a degree in astronomy, specifically.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
I am glad you asked, I am happy to share my experience in this matter, so that young women know what other people have chosen to do and lived to tell about it! I wish someone had told me this so plainly when I was just starting out. Here are the facts: obtaining an education is essential to having a life that is personally and financially fulfilling, it takes a lot of effort and time. Is it more difficult to have a family as well as a career? Of course it is, because if you want to have more in your life, you have to work harder. But it's completely doable. The alternative - to not be educated, and thus to not be financially self-sufficient and secure, and to not have fulfillment from your life activities - is simply not an option. Having a relationship and/or children does not require you to curtail your professional growth or fulfillment. To have both a relationship and career can sometimes require tough professional choices and occasional compromises by both parties - it is not easy to have everything you want out of life, whatever those things may be.
My degrees in physics have allowed me to make a financially secure living doing something I am extremely good at and that I enjoy, namely teaching and research. Every day, I get the enormous satisfaction of making an immediate and positive impact in the lives of my students. I also have flexibility and freedom at work to pursue what interests me. Most of the time, I put in your basic solid 40-hour work-week. Sometimes things get busy and I have to put in the occasional night or weekend at work. For the 20 weeks each year that I am not on a Monday-Friday teaching schedule, I have the flexibility to take some time off to spend more time with the people who are important to me, and to pursue my personal interests, which include mountaineering and travel.
I am now 38 and coming up for tenure in 2 years. I recently moved in with my boyfriend, whom I met after starting my current job. This is the first time I have lived with a romantic partner. At this point in my life, I have decided I would rather not have children of my own, even though I love kids and I do a lot of work with children of all ages, including spending part of my summer teaching at a science camp for underprivileged kids 10- to 12-years-old. (Interestingly, none of my science-camp colleagues have kids of their own, either.) When I was younger, I had no idea that you were allowed to not have kids. :)
I don't know if this is the right forum to voice my feelings on this matter, but I get a bit irritated at studies that make a big deal of the correlation between a woman's educational level and whether she is married and has kids. There is indeed a (relatively weak) correlation that the more educated a woman is, the less likely she is to marry and have kids. These studies seem to ask us to conclude that "if you want to increase your chances, girls, don't become too educated or too successful." But what really matters is the powerful correlation between a woman's educational level and whether she is financially secure and fulfilled with her life overall. That is a no-brainer. Also, I have heard of studies that show that educational level correlates strongly with the amount of fulfillment a woman has in her relationship. I don't think that one thing causes the other, but they probably have a common origin: anyone who pursues an advanced degree is also the type of person who will not settle for less, in any capacity.
The bottom line is, I know many people, both men and women, who regret that they did not pursue a college or graduate degree. But I never have met anyone who regrets that they did obtain a higher education.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
If you are undecided about what you want to focus on, or are interested in different areas of science and/or technology, you can't go wrong with physics, especially if you have a sense that you want to pursue research or education. You can easily go into any graduate program in physical science with a degree in physics: astronomy, geology, planetary science, oceanography, engineering, atmospheric sciences, environmental sciences, etc. Physics degrees often require other study in another field, and also require that you take computer programming which is extremely helpful as well. Also, you learn the standard laboratory procedures and equipment that you will need in your career as well. And if anyone says you can't have it all, they are wrong!
Job title:
Professor of Physics and Astronomy and Director of University Honors Program
Educational background:
B.A. Physics
M.S. Physics
Ph.D. Physics (dissertation area: general relativity and cosmology)
What do you do?
My university has a heavy teaching load (4 courses a semester, or 12 load hours per semester). At present, I receive a 4 load hour per semester release from teaching to direct the honors program. My teaching consists of astronomy at all levels (non-major, introductory majors, observational astronomy, astrophysics) and general earth science. I also teach one interdisciplinary honors course each spring in a topic in Science and Society, and each fall I teach at least one course that is for freshmen-only.
My workload also consists of committee work and advising students (the former I don't enjoy, the latter I enjoy immensely). Given my heavy teaching and administrative load, my research has migrated from theoretical physics to more "down to earth" areas, such as the history of astronomy, the influence of science on literature and the arts, and improving the teaching of science. I am also involved in many public outreach projects, including our observatory and planetarium, and various programs for middle school and high school students. In recent years, I have aided science education professors in my department in developing enrichment workshops for in-service teachers (to improve their understanding of physics, astronomy, and general earth science).
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
In middle school, my love of science migrated from paleontology to astronomy, more particularly astrophysics. By age 16, I decided I was going to have a Ph.D. by the time I was 26 (I was off by a year).
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
Without my educational background, I wouldn't have this job.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
I learned early on that it takes an exceptional person to be a happy partner to a woman as driven as myself. I haven't found that exceptional person yet. The only children I am interested in having are furry ones, so this has not been an issue in my life.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Don't forget that reading and writing are very important to scientists, as well as the obvious need for mathematics. Be happy in whatever you do. I love coming to work in the morning - you should too!
Job title:
Professor of Physics
Educational background:
B.A. in physics
Ph.D. in physics
What do you do?
I teach, carry out research, and serve on department and university committees. The typical breakdown of time in those three activities at a major research university is 30% teaching, 50% research and 20% committees.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I went to a small liberal arts college where I did not need to declare a major until the end of my 2nd year. I had a lot of different interests (language, music history, science). Because of a few courses in the history and philosophy of science, and because of some very encouraging physics professors, I became fascinated with physics. What excited me most is that physics, and more generally science, is such an open-ended pursuit - there will always be more to learn. At the time, I had no clue what I would do in the future, and graduate school was the obvious next step, so I did that, stumbled onto a really good research advisor, and liked the projects I worked on.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
As a professor at a major research university, the training that I got was pretty much required.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
I did, while I was trying to get established in my career, have the sense that I had to make a choice between pursing my particular career and having children. The path of least resistance for me was to put off having children, and in the end I did not have any. I don't regret that decision now, but this is obviously a choice that each person has to make based on their own circumstances.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
The main advice I would give is to be flexible, open-minded, and opportunistic about your possible career paths. If you have the chance to try out working a couple of different research environments (either through on-campus research or through the myriad of summer programs) in college, then do it, even if you think you might not be interested in going on in research. At the least, it will give you a flavor of what research is actually like, give you a sense of your own work style, and help you develop some hands-on skills that you don't get in a classroom environment. If you decide to go to grad school, remember that research directions change constantly, and work styles vary a lot from one sub-discipline to the next. My experience is that it is less important to pursue that hottest topic (which will likely be less hot by the time you graduate) than it is to find a good advisor and good working environment.
Job title:
Professor of Physics
Educational background:
B.A. and M.S. in Physics
Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics
What do you do?
My responsibilities are about 30% teaching, 30% research and 40% administration.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
Physics is incredibly beautiful. There is no greater challenge than trying to figure out how the physical world works. If you can get paid for having that much fun, it is well worth doing.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
I work as a university faculty member. The Ph.D. is a union card for that, of course. I have also had the chance to apply my physics training to society's problems as Foster Fellow at the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency where I worked on problems of treaty verification; as a Congressional Staffer where I dealt with policy on how the government decides what science to fund; and as a program officer for the National Science Foundation. Physics training teaches you to break complex problems into manageable parts and is a terrific background for dealing with complex social issues.
How have you balanced family and career commitments?
This is not easy for any working woman. The "two body" problem is hard for all of us. I have been fortunate in picking the right man to marry. He has supported me in my professional life as well as in my personal life, and we have two great kids. It is wonderful to have a person whom you know is on your side. The down side is that we spent 25 years in a commuter marriage. That meant we were together on weekends every other week. However, during those weekends, the entire family focused on one another, and I think my girls are closer to their father than most daughters simply because of that intensity. We also made sure to talk every day, no matter what. It is very important that each partner in such a marriage have a home at either end, and we did. Marriage and a career are the best way to go if you can find the right partner - choose carefully and marry a friend!
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
First, you should love physics. If you really hate doing it, then it's not for you. Physics in any form requires hard work, so this is not for the lazy. However, if you like physics, it is the only way to go. I enjoy about 85% of my job. That's pretty good since no job is 100% joy, or you wouldn't get paid for it. I think that people who are older find that many other careers are simply less joyful.
Research Faculty
Job title:
Research Faculty
Educational background:
BA in Physics
MS and Ph.D. in Astronomy
What do you do?
Most of my time is devoted to research, although I teach one or two courses a year if someone in my department takes a sabbatical and they need someone temporarily to cover his/her courses.
Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I have always liked science in general, but it was not until my high school physics class that I discovered how much I liked physics and astronomy. Once I took classes in those subjects in college, I decided I wanted to pursue a physics-related career.
How has your physics background helped you in your career?
My physics background formed the foundation for my career. It enabled me to get a Ph.D. in astronomy and continue on to be a professional astronomer.
Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Take advantage of as many opportunities as you can. For example, summer research internships at national laboratories or even at a university can be a terrific way to a) explore a new area of physics, b) see if you like doing research, c) see a different part of the country or world, and d) meet new people, some of whom you may end up working with professionally some day.
© 2007 - 2008 Laura Seward ![laura [at] astromiror [dot] org](emailsmall.jpg){kind=small}
- Last modified February 16, 2008
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