Careers in Physics - and life as a professional astronomer

So you’re thinking of a career in physics? Physics covers every length scale and every temporal scale in the Universe Physics is everywhere! And physicists are everywhere… There are many, many career opportunities for physicists

Careers in physics what do physicists do? Physics as a route to other careers - and why physicists are always in demand Some statistics! Life as a professional Astrophysicist how to get into academic research - and what you do once you get there

What do physicists do? E E=mc 2

What do physicists do? Physics is brilliant!

What do physicists actually do?

What do physicists actually do? Academic Research Industrial Research IT Industry Teaching Space Industry Defence industry Meteorology Medicine An awful lot of things! 100,000 STEM graduates needed in the UK per year… …we will need 830,000 by 2020 Physics contributes over £70 bn per year to the UK economy Physicists starting salaries are 16% higher than other disciplines (except medicine and law) Source: Institute of Physics

What do physicists actually do? Academic Research Industrial Research IT Industry Teaching Space Industry Defence industry Meteorology Medicine Contributes £8 bn to UK economy each year predicted to grow to £40 bn by

What do physicists actually do? Academic Research Industrial Research IT Industry Teaching Space Industry Defence industry Meteorology Medicine Low-Carbon technology £112 bn worldwide Nanotechnology: World market £10 bn to £180 bn Advanced materials : £1.1 bn in the UK alone Source: BIS economics paper 10A

What do physicists actually do? Academic Research Industrial Research IT Industry Teaching Space Industry Defence industry Meteorology Medicine

What do physicists actually do? Academic Research Industrial Research IT Industry Teaching Space Industry Defence industry Meteorology Medicine CERN is brilliant!

What do physicists actually do? Academic Research Industrial Research IT Industry Teaching Space Industry Defence industry Meteorology Medicine I am currently working on the ExoMars rover. My role is to integrate the system that gets the picture from the cameras and sends it to the navigation software which generates 3D maps of the terrain. I am currently employed by EDF Energy as a Nuclear Graduate. I have visited various nuclear stations, and worked on high profile projects which affect the lifetime, productivity and safety of the station.

Careers in physics what do physicists do? Physics as a route to other careers - and why physicists are always in demand Some statistics! Life as a professional Astrophysicist how to get into academic research - and what you do once you get there

Physics as a route to other careers - and why physicists are always in demand Problem solving Analysis Mathematical Information technology Experimental Software skills Teamwork Leadership Initiative Communication Presentation Business awareness

Civil Service The Media Finance Accountancy Physics as a route to other careers Commerce Law Management Sales/Marketing Physicists are never short of job opportunities! Employment figures from the Institute of Physics

Careers in physics what do physicists do? Physics as a route to other careers - and why physicists are always in demand Some statistics! Life as a professional Astrophysicist how to get into academic research - and what you do once you get there

Salary Figures from Institute of Physics

Careers in physics what do physicists do? Physics as a route to other careers - and why physicists are always in demand Some Statistics! Life as a professional Astrophysicist how to get into academic research - and what you do once you get there

How to get into academic research Step 1 - get a 2.1 or 1 st class MPhys degree on an IOP accredited course Midlands Universities (MPhys entry grades 1 ) Loughborough University (AAA) University of Birmingham (A*AA) University of Leicester (AAB) University of Nottingham (AAB-AAA) University of Warwick (A*AA) 1 Source: IOP ‘Physics on Course’ University of Leicester (AAAA) Physics with Space Science and Technology

Step 2 – get a PhD All areas should be open to you – although final year project may be important Find an area that you’re interested in! Find a University and a supervisor with a good reputation in that field! University of Leicester Supervisor: Dr Richard Jameson PhD in Galactic Cluster Dwarfs How to get into academic research

Step 3 – postdoctoral research Life as a professional astrophysicist

Life as an astrophysicist Use telescopes Process data Analyse data (laboratory skills/computer programming) Write up the results in a report Present work to other scientists Present work to the public

What does an astronomer do? Use telescopes

What does an astronomer do? Use telescopes

What does an astronomer do? Process data

What does an astronomer do? Measure line positions and strengths Measure motions of stars Measure brightness of stars Figure out what my results mean Explain why they are important Analyse my data

What does an astronomer do? WD Planet/BD Analyse my data

What does an astronomer do? Analyse my data

What does an astronomer do? Analyse my data

What else have I learned by being an astronomer? How to think outside the box How to relate my work to the public How to write clear, concise reports How to computer programme How to use statistics How to understand errors and uncertainties

How do you become an astronomer? Take physics and maths at A level Degree in physics I did: Physics, Maths, Chemistry A2 level German A1 level MPhys degree in Physics with Space Science and Technology PhD in astronomy