r/Physics • u/RoundElephant5876 • 6d ago

employed physicist

Those of you who have completed research physics and are currently working, how is it, what exactly do you do, are you satisfied, do you work inside your country (and if yes, which one) or abroad, online, how difficult was it for you to get your current job?

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u/QuantumMechanic23 6d ago

  1. Do you mean research physics as in at least PhD level?

  2. When you say employed, do you specifically mean as a research physicist or anything in general?

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u/RoundElephant5876 6d ago

Honestly I am interested in anything, just any physicist that isn't a teacher and is using his diploma for the work field that he is in.

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u/QuantumMechanic23 6d ago edited 6d ago

I have completed an integrated masters in physics (MPhys)

I have also completed a masters degree in medical physics (MSc)

These (my degrees) spanned three research projects. Two in computational physics, one involving optimisation of second harmonic generation in a waveguide and the other simulating quantum photonic circuits.

My research in medical physics involved statistical and experimental analysis of a fundamental mathematical error in a velocimetry technique in MRI.

I work as an MRI medical physicist at a hospital now.

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u/RoundElephant5876 6d ago

Are you satisfied with your job? Are you still able to work in research alongside your current job? Is working as a physicist what you expected it to be? I am a highschool student currently and I have to choose the college I will go to. I am in between medicine and physics so if you could share more how does your current job as a medical physicist look like, do you think it combines both parts? Do you think love and interest towards physics are enough to study it? What would you say do you still love it or has it become a job like any other? I am sorry for so many questions I don't have anyone to ask. Feel free to write whenever you have time. I appreciate it, thank you!

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u/QuantumMechanic23 6d ago edited 6d ago

No. I'm not satisfied with my job. The usage of physics is negligible. If you just do what is required and no more, you can end up as a glorified technician. Some people don't consider me a physicist despite my title. For example, see here where a PhD physicist doesn't consider me a real physicist:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Physics/s/5Pyd70RPyt

Is it what I expected it to be? No. I think on all the career talks and open days I attended the use of physics and incorporation was grossly over-exaggerated unfortunately.

My hospital is attached to a university (not common in medical physics) . We can be involved in clinical research, but I enjoy physics and maths. I am an honorary lecturer in mediacal physics for the University. I am new to my job, so I will try to involve some physical and mathematical research into my work and hopefully collaborate with someone in the university. I don't know if this is possible, but I will try. If not possible... I may try a career change in a few years when I have enough money.

I do not think it is a good blend of medicine and physics. I think medical physics is it's own unique thing... (shadow one to actually see how it is).

I feel like a exception in medical physics. Most of my colleagues are very good, and that they go out their way to implement new technology that betters treatment for patients. They are not the ones making or designing the technology, that is the vendor (companies). I on the other hand still love physics and maths and I try to implement it into my work as much as possible. Since I am new, I have yet to see how doable this task it. I will know when I get in contact with my university and share my research ideas.

All jobs, even in pure physics research just feel like jobs at the end of the day. Even pure research physicist spend more time doing excel, writing grants, trying to publish papers to secure funding, making presentations etc. Compared to writing on a blackboard all day. Plus there are a lot of funding cuts happening in physics research all around the world... Scary times.

See here : https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sarah-heywood-8818aa88_last-week-was-a-difficult-week-at-the-university-share-7462076680191451137-7gay/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_android&rcm=ACoAADtnoPsBAPAqu5DTatGtRoLoUeJxSi8tF7E

Although my job is comparitivley more boring, it pays better and is more secure than research physics. It also has the immediate benefit that I'm saving people's lives, whereas many working in theory can go whole lifetimes without managing to achieve anything useful.

Any more questions please ask.

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u/RoundElephant5876 5d ago

Im sorry to hear that you aren't satisfied. If it means anything to you I consider you a physicist. I hope you will be able to incorporate research into your work in the near future. Best of luck! And thank you for your answers!

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u/QuantumMechanic23 5d ago

Thank you. I appreciate that. Here's hoping the research works out

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u/xrelaht Condensed matter physics 4d ago

I am not a MP, but I want to add a couple things since I know a few of them. One is that there are MPs who design instruments, and using physics is a much more daily thing for them than it is for someone using those instruments while working in a hospital. Another is that I have a friend who worked as an MP in a hospital for about five years post-PhD before deciding he wanted to get back to doing the kind of research which caused us to meet, and he’s told me the work he did there is still the thing he’s most proud of.

Also, anyone who claims MPs aren’t “real” physicists is just spouting nonsense. They either don’t understand what being an MP involves or have an overly grandiose idea of what research physicists do. Most of what you do in any scientific job ends up being the same administrative tasks, even if you’re working as a researcher. At least MPs still get to work with instruments!

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u/Slight-Kangaroo-5871 5d ago

I've seen some of your posts on the STP subreddit and I really appreciate your honesty. This might not be what people want to hear but if that's your honest opinion then you can't ask for more than that. Your responses are always detailed and easy to read, which is also greatly appreciated. I was disappointed when I read what you had to say about being a Medical Physicist but at least if I get a place on the STP, I can only be pleasantly surprised! My first thought was perhaps I can make connections with the manufacturers and try to work for them if I get dissatisfied but maybe I'm being neive there. Especially if it means moving somewhere I don't want to live. It is however, definitely a big deal to know you are directly contributing to saving lives. I personally have a soft spot for the NHS because they saved my life when I was in my early 20s.

In any case, I really hope your new job as a lecturer goes well. Thanks again for all your help and insights 👍

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u/QuantumMechanic23 5d ago

No problem. I do think I'm being too harsh on medical physics and I'm still a medical physicist (Just most medical physicist in the UK will have to teach and get an honorary lectureship as part of their job).

I think it needs to be said though. I there is so much is information from medical physicist about medical physics. I fell for this multiple times as I attended several career talks from different ones in undergrad.

Vendors like Siemens, etc., do hire physicists. Most of the sales reps I meet at conferences (and being a mdeical physicist, the training has given me the opportunity to go to 10+ now) are former medical physicists. Sales is where most tend to end up. There are some scientist positions as well although harder to come by. More common in scandanavian countries and places like the Netherlands.

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u/Naive-Product-381 6d ago

Can I dm you further in regard to MP?

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u/QuantumMechanic23 6d ago

Yes. Might not respond straight away

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u/h0rxata Plasma physics 5d ago

If you're considering physics or medicine, a more basic question is whether you'll be happy with the outcome of the career. According to AIP data, only 10-15% of Physics PhD's still work in physics research 10 years after getting their PhD. I don't remember where I read this, but over 90% of medical school graduates are still working in medicine 10 years later. So if actually working in the same field you graduate in is important to you, that is something very important to consider. Most physicists don't end up staying employed in the field, either by choice or due to lack of stable long-term jobs.

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u/RoundElephant5876 5d ago

That is definitely a very good thing to consider. Thank you!

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u/skyy182 5d ago

I’m interested in talking to you about optimization of second harmonic generation. Please dm me.

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u/db0606 5d ago

At least in the US, the fraction of Physics majors that are K-12 teachers is relatively small. So small, in fact, that it's a major problem for the field and the American Physical Society and the American Association of Physics Teachers are constantly trying to figure out ways to get more Physics majors into K-12 teaching.

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u/Classic_Department42 5d ago

Maybe with tenure (or whatever an unlimited contract is called) and higher salary?

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u/db0606 5d ago

Sure, but APS and AAPT don't control that.

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u/RoundElephant5876 5d ago

the need is same in Croatia, I just don't think I would make a good teacher