Department of Physics & Astronomy Newsletter 31 March 2015

Transcription

1 Department of Physics & Astronomy Newsletter 31 March 2015 Contents 1. Physics Alumni Day (Fri 10 Apr, 3:00 pm) 2. Physics Colloquium/Dean s Lecture (Fri 17 Apr, 3:30 pm, SCI 126) Nora Berrah (University of Connecticut) 3. REU Opportunities 3.1. Summer research at Rowan Physics & Astronomy 4. Job Opportunities 4.1. Check the AAPT Register! 4.2. AIP Career Fact Sheet More information on above list: 1. Come to the Second (Annual?) Physics Alumni Day and hear from recent physics grads about their journey since graduation where they went, where they are now, and what you could be doing with a physics degree. The event will kick off at 3:00 pm and we will hear from 8 10 alumni. All talks will take place in Science Hall 128; light snacks will be served. 2. Probing Matter From Within, Nora Berrah, Ph.D., Chair Department of Physics, University of Connecticut; American Physical Society Fellow Short x-ray pulses from free electron lasers (FEL) open a new regime for all scientific research. The first x-ray FEL provides intense, short pulses that allow the investigation of ultrafast non-linear and multi-photon processes. Dr. Berrahs presentation discusses the femtosecond response of molecular and cluster systems to the ultra-intense, ultrafast x-ray radiation, as well as sequential multiphoton ionization, non- linear processes, frustrated absorption and double core hole production mechanisms in molecules and clusters. The colloquium (Dean s Lecture) will be Friday 17 April at 3:30 pm in Science Hall 126. All past newsletters archived under Current Students on Department of Physics & Astronomy webpage.

2 3. REU Opportunities 3.1 I case you missed the Advising Workshop on Friday 13 March, we are accepting applications for the 2015 Rowan Physics Summer Research Program (sponsored in part by the New Jersey Space Grant Consortium). We expect to have about 10 positions and there are two sessions: 4- or 5-week (7 May 12 or 19 June 2015) and 10-week (18 May 31 July 2015 with week of 4 July off). Details and form were sent out in an to all physics majors; if you need it again, please either Dr. David Klassen or Dr. Tabbetha Dobbins for more information. Applications are due 5:00 pm 6 April Job Opportunities 4.1 For those interested in teaching, and other academic positions, you should regularly check out the American Association of Physics Teachers job register at The AIP has put out a Careers Fact Sheet that gives all kinds of useful information for physics undergrads and their future. It also has a link to their Careers Toolbox that will do a walk-through to help you determine your possible path(s) and even give advice on making a CV. Read the sheet; get the toolbox! 2

3 FACT SHEET :) Connecting Physics Students To Career Opportunities TIPS FOR HELPING PHYSICS STUDENTS FIND MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT [overview & purpose] As the number of students receiving physics bachelor s degrees continues to rise, university career services staff are increasingly called upon to assist physics students with finding full-time professional jobs upon graduation at the baccalaureate level. Students completing the bachelor s degree in physics are uniquely prepared for a wide range of employment opportunities. As a fundamental science, physics produces graduates with a wide variety of skills and knowledge. The career options for these students are broad, but are not widely known, even by the students themselves. This fact sheet has been created to serve as a quick reference for career services practitioners working with physics departments and undergraduate students. [what happens after the physics bachelor s degree?] About 40% of graduates go directly into the workforce. Of these, more than half go into the private sector, and nearly threefourths of those in the private sector go into STEM positions (Natural Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Source: Trends in Status One Year After Earning a Physics Bachelor s, Classes Initial Employment Sectors of Physics Bachelor s Classes of 2009 & 2010 Combined Active Military 8% Other 5% Non-STEM 26% Civilian Gov t National Lab 10% High School 11% Field of Employment for Physics Bachelor s in the Private Sector Engineering 32% Private Sector 53% Other STEM 16% College & University 13% Computer or Information Systems 21% Physics or Astronomy 5% STEM refers to Natural Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Connecting Physics Students to Career Opportunities 1

4 [what a physics bachelor s degree qualifies graduates to do] Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are the hallmarks of a physics bachelor s degree. From solving difficult theoretical constructs to collecting and analyzing data, physics majors are marketable in a wide range of professional settings. Physics bachelor s degree recipients commonly find employment in four broad areas: Engineering Computer Hardware and Software Research and Technical Education [challenges] Although there are many jobs for physics bachelor s degree recipients, very few have the word physics in the title Hiring professionals may not understand what a physics student actually knows or is capable of doing Faculty may not understand what a physics student actually knows or is capable of doing outside of working in academia Students may lack self-awareness of or have difficulty articulating their strengths and capabilities Underdeveloped interpersonal communication skills may be a barrier to students in the job search [skills developed through a physics education] Encourage students to speak in terms of skills on their resumes, in their cover letters, and in interviews to effectively communicate their ability to do the work advertised by an employer. The following skills are developed during the typical undergraduate physics experience: Critical thinking Capacity to learn new technologies quickly Inventiveness and ability to address unforeseen problems Mechanical aptitude Research and investigation Advanced mathematics Communication, both technical writing and verbal Computer programming, modeling and simulations Working as a member of a team Experience with sophisticated equipment Strong analytical and applied mathematical skills [resume writing tips for the physics undergraduate] Writing a skills-based resume may be the best option for physics undergraduates seeking an internship or job. Focus on skills and practical experience *[careers toolbox] Translate transferable skill sets for the nontechnical reader Write a summary of technical qualifications Only highlight coursework to demonstrate knowledge of a topic Include GPA, overall or major Highlighting strong technical skills can be especially important. Consider including experience with Lab equipment (mention expertise level) Microsoft Office, Access MatLab, LabView, or similar analytical/instrument control software Programming languages (C++, SQL), technologies, and tools 2 Connecting Physics Students to Career Opportunities The Careers Toolbox for Undergradu dents is a set of tools and tips designed physics students prepare to enter the STE engineering, and mathematics) workforce. part of workshops presented by the Society resources are also available for free online. F

5 [common job titles for physics bachelor s degree job seekers] These job titles were obtained from surveys of physics bachelor s recipients from the classes of 2009 and 2010, conducted by the American Institute of Physics Statistical Research Center. They are not exhaustive or exclusive. Computer Hardware & Software Product Engineer Engineering Product Manager Application Engineer Project Engineer Analyst Associate Engineer IT Consultant Design Engineer Programmer Development Engineer Software Engineer Electrical Engineer Systems Analyst Engineering Technician Technical Support Staff Field Engineer Web Developer General Engineer Education High School Physics Teacher High School Science Teacher Middle School Science Teacher Research Engineer Systems Engineer Technical Services Engineer Test Engineer Research & Technical Laser Engineer Accelerator Operator Manufacturing Engineer Lab Assistant Manufacturing Technician Lab Technician Mechanical Engineer Physical Sciences Technician Optical Engineer Research Assistant Process Engineer Research Associate Process Technician Research Technician [where to find internship & job opportunities] There are many online job databases with robust search options that feature many opportunities for physics graduates. On these sites, search posted positions by job titles, key words, and industries, not just the term physics, as many bachelor s-level jobs appropriate for physics students do not contain the word physics. Here are a few recommended job databases: ] uate Physics Stu- d to help undergraduate EM (science, technology,. The Toolbox is offered as y of Physics Students and the For details, visit: SPS Jobs USAJobs Science Careers Dice.com Indeed.com LinkedIn Connecting Physics Students to Career Opportunities 3

6 [effective career advising for physics undergraduates] Strongly encourage students to COMPLETE AN INTERNSHIP OR OTHER NON-CURRICULAR PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY Coach NETWORKING practice, and help them develop an elevator speech Encourage students to explore THE CAREERS TOOLBOX FOR PHYSICS STUDENTS* (see page 2) early in the process Advise students to read position descriptions that seek candidates with degrees in related fields. Most positions ask for applicants with degrees in, for example, engineering and related fields. Related fields is often where physics majors fit in. Encourage students to attend career fairs and research employers who are looking for students not just in physics, but also in related fields Assign a reflection paper or informational interview as part of career fair attendance Develop an alumni mentoring group to foster better networking When employers in the fields of engineering, math, computer science, and other STEM areas attend campus events, invite physics students to participate attend along with students in those majors Host mock interview days for physics majors Propose a professional skills course or workshop series for physics majors Invite physics faculty to meet with employers during career fairs, allowing for an industry-driven conversation to occur Co-coordinate visits to employers with faculty and students Physics students often need additional help with utilizing the hidden job market. Encourage students to Attend on-campus information sessions and networking events hosted by career services, alumni associations, and the physics department Use social media such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook Complete informational interviews and job shadowing with companies they are interested in working for, or work with alumni employed in their industry of interest [summary] This is a resource designed to enhance the work done by career services professionals working with physics undergraduates and faculty. This is not intended to be a comprehensive document, but instead a starting point for individual conversations with students. Promotion of careers with an undergraduate degree in physics is essential to the success of physics bachelor s degree graduates from four-year universities, and to increasing recruitment and retention within the physics major. With the increasing costs associated with college and students desire to enter the workforce, this guide is designed to help career services professionals help undergraduates to understand what they have to offer in the job market. This resource was created as part of the American Institute of Physics (AIP) Career Pathways Project, funded by the National Science Foundation (award number ). Fact Sheet by Staci Heidtke, Associate Director of Career Services, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, in collaboration with Kendra Redmond, Programs Manager of SPS and Sigma Pi Sigma, American Institute of Physics and Toni Sauncy, former Director of SPS and Sigma Pi Sigma, American Institute of Physics. For more information, please visit or contact us at sps-programs@aip.org. 4 Connecting Physics Students to Career Opportunities