Our universities’ research‐associate positions in physics
AUG 01, 1958
Research‐associate positions in physics, according to the author, play such a significant role in our country’s basic research activity and in the maturation of young PhD’s that expansion of the program seems in order. However, caution may be required by universities with regard to the rate at which these positions are established in order to prevent a runaway situation from developing, both with respect to their number and remuneration. The author, who is program director for physics in the Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences Division of the National Science Foundation, states that the views expressed in this article are his own and do not necessarily represent those of the Foundation.
Research associates play an impressive role in our university physics research. Without them research in universities would lose much of its vitality and certainly move at a slower pace. The research‐associate positions have been a boon to fresh young PhD’s wishing to extend their experience and obtain post‐PhD training. A year or two of apprenticeship as a research associate is considered the best entree to better jobs and an opportunity of doing research under burden‐free conditions.
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More about the authors
J. Howard McMillen,
National Science Foundation.
© 1958 American Institute of Physics
