Discover
/
Article

Physicists in Finance

JAN 01, 1997
Though the challenges of “quantitative finance” are diverse and often exhilarating, success for the erstwhile physicist is not at all assured. What factors are involved in making the transition to finance?

DOI: 10.1063/1.881632

Joseph M. Pimbley

To a physicist facing significant difficulty in the job market, the allure of a career in finance is obvious: The industry has numerous opportunities that demand the physicist’s quantitative skills, and pay handsomely for them. Those contemplating such a move, however, need to look beyond these immediate considerations, for the culture of finance differs markedly from that of physics, having different goals and philosophies, work styles, even dress codes. Tb be successful on Wall Street, the physicist must willingly adapt to Wall Streets ways.

References

  1. 1. F. Black, M. Scholes, J. Political Economy 81, 637 (1973).

More about the Authors

Joseph M. Pimbley. New York City.

This Content Appeared In
pt-cover_1997_01.jpeg

Volume 50, Number 1

Related content
/
Article
Technical knowledge and skills are only some of the considerations that managers have when hiring physical scientists. Soft skills, in particular communication, are also high on the list.
/
Article
Professional societies can foster a sense of belonging and offer early-career scientists opportunities to give back to their community.
/
Article
Interviews offer a glimpse of how physicists get into—and thrive in—myriad nonacademic careers.
/
Article
Research exchanges between US and Soviet scientists during the second half of the 20th century may be instructive for navigating today’s debates on scientific collaboration.
/
Article
The Eisenhower administration dismissed the director of the National Bureau of Standards in 1953. Suspecting political interference with the agency’s research, scientists fought back—and won.
/
Article
Alternative undergraduate physics courses expand access to students and address socioeconomic barriers that prevent many of them from entering physics and engineering fields. The courses also help all students develop quantitative skills.

Get PT in your inbox

Physics Today - The Week in Physics

The Week in Physics" is likely a reference to the regular updates or summaries of new physics research, such as those found in publications like Physics Today from AIP Publishing or on news aggregators like Phys.org.

Physics Today - Table of Contents
Physics Today - Whitepapers & Webinars
By signing up you agree to allow AIP to send you email newsletters. You further agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.