Professional Physicists - Writing & Publishing

Science authors write technical reports, news briefings, and creative science fiction. Who says physicists can't write?

Job title:
Freelance writer, science documentary promotions assistant

Educational background:
B.A. (physics)
M.S. (astronomy)

What do you do?
The "day job": I am the affinity outreach lead for a science documentary series. That is, I reach out about upcoming shows to universities, professional societies, hobbyist clubs and new media outlets like websites and blogs. I also draft internal and external communication, oversee our press release process and (my favorite) update our MySpace and Facebook profiles.

On the side, I am a freelance science writer specializing in astronomy and physics. I write a regular astronomy column and occasionally write articles for print and for the Web.

Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related education?
I was interested in doing research in astronomy and needed a physics background to do that.

How has your physics background helped you in your career?
It has allowed me to write on topics that would otherwise be totally inaccessible: quantum probability, wave function collapse, general relativity.... I certainly wouldn't claim to be an expert on any of these things, but having a physics background gives me the tools I need to approach them, the confidence to take them on, and a degree of credibility when I speak with the real experts.

How have you balanced family and career commitments?
Ask me again in a few years! I admit that one of the reasons I did not pursue a Ph.D. was that I worried the family sacrifices would be too great. But since then, I must say that I've watched my classmates launch vibrant careers and start wonderful families, Certainly they struggle to get the balance right, but that's not unique to academic careers. In fact, one of the things that sometimes gets lost in this discussion is that academic life can afford a degree of flexibility, in terms of working from home, choosing irregular hours, etc., that is very tough to find in the 9 to 5 world.

Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
First, I guess I would say that college students should try to get a full picture of what a "career in physics" is. As a student, you tend to see only one model of a physics career: professorship. But there are many more options out there, and it's worth it to check those options out through informational interviews, job shadowing, internships - all that stuff the career counselors talk about.

Also, if you are interested in a research career, get involved in actual research as soon as possible! I know this sounds obvious but sometimes you have to make some extra effort to seek out opportunities.

Job title:
Assistant Managing Editor for Journal Production

Educational background:
B.S. (physics and applied mathematics)
M.S. (astrophysics)
Ph.D. (physics and astronomy)

What do you do?
I manage the copyediting and production of news and feature articles that appear in scientific research journals (both in print and online).

Why did you decide to pursue a physics-related career?
I love math and enjoy solving physics problems. I wanted to learn about physical processes in stars and galaxies. I have also always loved to read and write. For me, scientific publishing is the perfect combination.

How has your physics background helped you in your career?
A science background and an advanced degree were requirements for entering the field of scientific publishing. I use the physics knowledge every day when I am reading technical material that includes equations, reactions, diagrams, statistics, etc. I also use the skills I gained from studying physics, such as logical thinking, doing analyses of situations, problem solving, and planning step-by-step solutions.

Do you have any advice for college students who are interested in pursuing careers in physics?
Physics is the basis for all other sciences and for engineering. Astronomy is based on physics. A knowledge and understanding of physics also make it easier to understand many of the concepts in chemistry and biology. There are also many interdisciplinary fields like astrophysics, biophysics, nanophysics, etc. Physics studies can lead in so many different directions. I taught physics at a university for a while and then made the transition into scientific publishing. If you are interested in physics, study it, even if you are not sure which career you will eventually pursue. A physics degree on your resume tells people that you can think logically, master complicated concepts, solve problems, etc. Those skills are valuable in any profession.