Jobs in Theoretical Physics
Sir Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein are considered pioneers in the field of theoretical physics. Taking information and observations and combining it with math and calculus to explore subjects like the creation of the universe have significantly changed the world's understanding of science. Theoretical physics can be applied to traditional careers in science and various other non-science career fields.
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What is theoretical physics?
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Theoretical physics is the study of physics using mathematical equations to design formulas which may not be able to be proved through testing. The formulas are typically based on complex problems in which researchers create a theory but are unable to experiment or test the theories but determine the accuracy of the theory using established, predictable observations.
Academic careers in theoretical physics
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Careers in the area of theoretical physics are found in higher education institutions. Teaching students, conducting academic research, grant writing or designing experiments is a typical way to utilize theoretical physics at a university or college. Work loads would depend upon teaching or research schedules and expectations of the institution. It is also expected that completed research be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Jobs could include research fellow in Astro/Nuclear/Particle Physics, non-tenure track physics faculty positions, postdoctoral research or theoretical high energy physics teaching positions.
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Corporate careers in theoretical physics
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Consulting and corporate positions use the skills of reason and research that theoretical physicists possess. Corporations such as Google, IBM Research, Microsoft, Yahoo and Texas Instruments use theoretical physicists for positions such as quantitative researcher, analytical programmer and computational scientists.
Government careers in theoretical physics
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Government agencies and laboratories regularly hire theoretical physicists. Agencies such as NASA, Jet Propulsion Lab, Pacific Northwest National Lab and Los Alamos National Lab seek out theoretical physicists to formulate new theories that support the agency's agenda. Jobs could include theoretical scientist, staff scientist, computational/theoretical physicist or scientific fellowships.
Considerations
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Academic careers in theoretical physics can be difficult to secure. There are a limited number of higher education institutions that teach theoretical physics, therefore the number of teaching and research positions are finite.
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