Alumni
Ever wonder what a physicist does? Physics is the archetypical problem-solving discipline. Our graduates have a wide range of opportunities open to them. Here is a list of what some of our recent graduates are up to:
M. Meserve ’24
Research Engineer, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Pullman, WA
A. Papol ’24
Journalist, PX1 Sports, Spokane, WA
D Adams ’23
Contractor, Naval Nuclear Laboratory, Scoville, ID
T. Sorrell ’23
Associate Project Manager, Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions, Seattle, WA
V. Delsasso ’23
Test Technician, Astronics Corporation, Lynnwood, WA
D. Bennett ’20
Lead Application Engineer, Radiant Vision System, Redmond, WA
K.Norbert ’20
Project Officer, United States Space Force
A. Khamechi ’16
Optical Engineer, Apple, San Diego, CA
C. Talbott ’13
Senior SEO, Tall Town Design, Des Moines, WA
Career resources
The process for winning an academic job versus an industry job is quite different. Academic jobs tend to be government-supported jobs and tend to be quite transparent, where jobs are advertised, candidates are identified, and interviews are formalized. Hiring in industry, on the other hand, is often done via internal resume circulation; you can often walk into a company and ask to speak with a person in Human Resources and get an interview on the spot. A commonality among many successful job hunts is to build a large network.
Employment stats
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics: physicists and astronomers – a broad survey
- American Institute of Physics (AIP) – stats are compiled every few years
- What color is your parachute – an annually-released compendium of stats and advice
Career preparation
- WSU ASCC and Handshake – scholarships and internships for students
- Career development | College of Arts & Sciences – career fairs, personalized advice, resume reviews
- LinkedIn – build your network of professionals
- American Physical Society – a page of articles and advice
Job listings
- American Astronomical Society – see their careers page
- AstroBetter.com – home of the infamous rumor mill
- Monster.com – established site for industry jobs
- Canadian Astronomical Society (CASCA) – see the careers page
- Academic Jobs Online – broad in scope
- Physics Today – the monthly magazine of the AIP has its own job listings
- Science careers page – Science is the periodical of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS); this page has lots of articles and advice
- INSPIRE jobs – job listings specific to high energy physics
Physics teacher
Teaching at the middle school or high school level usually requires a formal degree (e.g., BEd, MEd, MIT) and a certification or other endorsement to teach a given subject. Certifications/endorsements are often defined by local government. In very small schools, the same person might teach all the sciences: biology, chemistry, math, and physics; multiple endorsements may be required.
A strong option is to complete a BS Physics and follow-up with a Master in Teaching (MIT). The total time to both degrees is about 5 years plus practicum. A General Studies Science degree might be most helpful in obtaining multiple certifications/endorsements in subject areas as well as completing relevant coursework related to teaching, e.g., human development, psychology, languages, and public speaking.