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Aaron
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Mendon, Massachusetts
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What is a day in the life of a physicist like?
I want to become a physicist working in research and development, what would life be like? What are the hours? What is the work environment like? #science #physics
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Andrew Au
Professor of Mathematics & Statistics, Retired
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Andrew’s Answer
In principle, the life of a physicist is no different from his/her neighbors of various careers. Nonetheless, as a scientist, he/she will have to be highly focused and dedicated to his/her scientific work in order to be successful.
Work hours and work environment are nebulous concepts in the sense that they are difficult to define. Of course, one would like to be able to work in a friendly and healthy environment that is conducive to creativity, and work about 40 hours a week.
Unfortunately, ideal and reality may not be congruent for the life of a scientist. For example, research work is not a kind of nine-five job. The mind of a scientist does not shut down on the driving home. In fact, the mind may keep working on the yet-to-be solved or unsolved problems even during dinner or extended to late hours. Weekends may have to be sacrificed in problem solving too, if necessary. One has to be willing to do what is necessary.
In general, scientists should be able to work in a highly professional environment. However, scientists have a tendency to be eccentric and critical of fellow scientists’ work. In a way, it has to be this way or science would not be so successful. Therefore, a scientist should be ready to encounter criticism and opposition, and, persevere in such high-pressure environment. At time, it can be stressful, but it should be fruitful in the end. One has to be open-minded, but not to the point that the brian can fall out of one’s head.
Work hours and work environment are nebulous concepts in the sense that they are difficult to define. Of course, one would like to be able to work in a friendly and healthy environment that is conducive to creativity, and work about 40 hours a week.
Unfortunately, ideal and reality may not be congruent for the life of a scientist. For example, research work is not a kind of nine-five job. The mind of a scientist does not shut down on the driving home. In fact, the mind may keep working on the yet-to-be solved or unsolved problems even during dinner or extended to late hours. Weekends may have to be sacrificed in problem solving too, if necessary. One has to be willing to do what is necessary.
In general, scientists should be able to work in a highly professional environment. However, scientists have a tendency to be eccentric and critical of fellow scientists’ work. In a way, it has to be this way or science would not be so successful. Therefore, a scientist should be ready to encounter criticism and opposition, and, persevere in such high-pressure environment. At time, it can be stressful, but it should be fruitful in the end. One has to be open-minded, but not to the point that the brian can fall out of one’s head.
Vern Novstrup
Environmental Engineer
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Ventura, California
Updated
Vern’s Answer
The work day will largely depend more on the type of organization where you work. Just imagine three possible employers...world class university...the Department of Defense; or a venture capital startup. The university is likely to be slow and deliberate (academic). The Department of Defense is likely to be focused, deliberate and somewhat paperwork intensive (bureaucratic). The startup is likely to be highly competitive, chaotic, and fickle (risky).
Physics is something a person does because they are intensely interested in that something. If you are intensely interested in something you will most likely spend every waking moment thinking about it. For example, I knew a scientist who was in a serious car accident because he was reading a book while he was driving. Lesson learned was to stop driving so he could pay more attention to the subject. Go figure! If you want to fall in love with learning be a scientist and plan to spend 10 to 14 hours a day focused on the problem at hand. If you want a regular 8-hour day go into accounting, business or be a construction worker.
Note for many people intensity does not equal stress. For those people intensity can be like a video game that is never finished. It can be like a drug addiction to adrenaline. Other people simply don't feel the addiction and therefore feel a need for intensity that creates the adrenaline rush. Generally, the other people get the degree but quickly find a different career path such as teaching which is more measured.
Consider a more general plan such as a degree in physics with the expectation that you might do research, develop products, teach, or work in a patent office.
Physics is something a person does because they are intensely interested in that something. If you are intensely interested in something you will most likely spend every waking moment thinking about it. For example, I knew a scientist who was in a serious car accident because he was reading a book while he was driving. Lesson learned was to stop driving so he could pay more attention to the subject. Go figure! If you want to fall in love with learning be a scientist and plan to spend 10 to 14 hours a day focused on the problem at hand. If you want a regular 8-hour day go into accounting, business or be a construction worker.
Note for many people intensity does not equal stress. For those people intensity can be like a video game that is never finished. It can be like a drug addiction to adrenaline. Other people simply don't feel the addiction and therefore feel a need for intensity that creates the adrenaline rush. Generally, the other people get the degree but quickly find a different career path such as teaching which is more measured.
Vern recommends the following next steps:
David Avezov
Client Senior Pre-Sales Systems Engineer
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New York, New York
Updated
David’s Answer
A Day in the Life of a Physicist
The physicist deals with all aspects of matter and energy. His or her work ranges from basic research into the most fundamental laws of nature to the practical development of devices and instruments. The study of physics falls into many categories. These include studies of the motion and properties of physical objects both large and small (classical and quantum mechanics, astrophysics), the properties of waves (optics, acoustics, electromagnetics), the properties of states of matter (solid state, plasma physics), and the fundamental properties of matter and energy (atomic, nuclear, and particle physics). Because of the vast range of subject matter, at the graduate level physicists tend to specialize in one of these categories. Across most categories, physicists also tend to specialize in theoretical and experimental work. Theoretical physicists use mathematical concepts to analyze and predict the behavior of the physical world. Experimental physicists use laboratory experiments to verify these theoretical predictions or develop devices and instruments. Physicists tend to be curious, creative, and dedicated. The majority of physicists are employed by universities and divide their time between research, teaching, and writing scientific articles. Many physicists work independently on problems, while others work in laboratories as part of teams for the duration of particular projects. Physicists working in industry are a varied lot. Many work in traditional areas just like the university physicists, but many branch out into engineering fields and other scientific fields, working with engineers and other scientists in overlapping areas. Because of their broad scientific background, physicists in industry are known for their ability to work in many areas and have helped create many non-traditional fields. Physics is not for the faint-hearted, but for those with good mathematical skills who want a broad scientific education and the ability to branch out later into other fields, physics may be just the thing. Like those in many other scientific fields, a physicist’s career progresses from being a team member doing hands-on work to being a team leader, responsible for developing new projects, running existing ones, and raising money to fund the project. One Ivy League physicist complains that fundraising is a necessary evil in his line of work. In both universities and industry, there have been recent cutbacks in research funding that have affected almost everyone in the field.
The physicist deals with all aspects of matter and energy. His or her work ranges from basic research into the most fundamental laws of nature to the practical development of devices and instruments. The study of physics falls into many categories. These include studies of the motion and properties of physical objects both large and small (classical and quantum mechanics, astrophysics), the properties of waves (optics, acoustics, electromagnetics), the properties of states of matter (solid state, plasma physics), and the fundamental properties of matter and energy (atomic, nuclear, and particle physics). Because of the vast range of subject matter, at the graduate level physicists tend to specialize in one of these categories. Across most categories, physicists also tend to specialize in theoretical and experimental work. Theoretical physicists use mathematical concepts to analyze and predict the behavior of the physical world. Experimental physicists use laboratory experiments to verify these theoretical predictions or develop devices and instruments. Physicists tend to be curious, creative, and dedicated. The majority of physicists are employed by universities and divide their time between research, teaching, and writing scientific articles. Many physicists work independently on problems, while others work in laboratories as part of teams for the duration of particular projects. Physicists working in industry are a varied lot. Many work in traditional areas just like the university physicists, but many branch out into engineering fields and other scientific fields, working with engineers and other scientists in overlapping areas. Because of their broad scientific background, physicists in industry are known for their ability to work in many areas and have helped create many non-traditional fields. Physics is not for the faint-hearted, but for those with good mathematical skills who want a broad scientific education and the ability to branch out later into other fields, physics may be just the thing. Like those in many other scientific fields, a physicist’s career progresses from being a team member doing hands-on work to being a team leader, responsible for developing new projects, running existing ones, and raising money to fund the project. One Ivy League physicist complains that fundraising is a necessary evil in his line of work. In both universities and industry, there have been recent cutbacks in research funding that have affected almost everyone in the field.