Careers 2022
Physics careers are often spoken of as a binary—academia or industry. But the public sector offers many rewarding careers: national lab researcher, patent examiner, policy adviser, and more. This year Physics Today highlights physicists’ opportunities and experiences in government. Scroll down to see the best of our past content on other career paths.
Featured online content
Career Q&A: Jami Valentine Miller on reviewing patents
Physicists and physical scientists are uniquely suited to determine whether to award patents for novel technologies.
Network of clubs is building a new pipeline of science policy professionals
A grassroots network led by early career scientists is offering new windows to policy careers.
Postdoc program brings PhDs into government research
The Research Associateship Programs support 20 federal agencies and more than 1500 research projects.
Physicists in government, by the numbers
A look at where government physicists work and what they do, with a focus on recent physics graduates.
From the October 2022 careers issue
Commentary: Thinking of moving from academia into industry? Here are some things to consider
Past careers coverage
Staff scientists in academia and government labs follow rewarding careers
Being a faculty member is not the only way for scientists to stay in basic research.
Risky business: A study of physics entrepreneurship
Physicists who work at startup companies create and improve marketable technologies. But their goals are not always aligned with those of the funders who pay the bills.
Commentary: Lessons learned from leaving academia
Among the lessons: Leaving academia doesn’t make you a failure.
How to become a successful physicist
All scientists and engineers solve research problems by calling on relevant knowledge to make a series of common, critical decisions.
