The Surprising Reality of Physics and Astronomy Career Paths

As a new college student, the thought of majoring in physics never occurred to me—not even once. I declared a math major, but only because I had to choose something. Even the humanities weren’t off the table. I took astronomy for fun, and it ended up being my gateway to physics. The enthusiastic astronomy professor (who also happened to chair the physics department) reeled me in, and I became a physics major.
Growing up, the adults I knew were teachers, nurses, therapists, and the like, not scientists. As a senior physics major, the only physicists I knew were either professors or they worked at the independent research lab where I spent a summer. I’d heard the message, “Physicists can do anything!” But that was all theory, to my mind.

Now, more than two decades later, I know that message isn’t purely theoretical. I’ve met and interviewed many physics and astronomy majors who, by profession, are writers, analysts, engineers, leaders in community organizations, entrepreneurs, patent examiners, software developers, managers, and medical professionals. Most physics and astronomy undergraduates never become professors! As you’ll see in the statistics and stories presented in this issue of the SPS Observer, their paths are sometimes twisty, sometimes surprising, and nearly always fulfilling.

The Alumni Careers Showcase (starting on page 22) is filled with the stories of people who’ve been in your shoes—physics or astronomy undergrads looking to the future. You’ll learn about cool jobs and pick up excellent advice from individual contributors, but I also encourage you to consider the stories collectively. When I did this, two themes stood out to me.

Careers evolve: Many people end up in places and positions far from their initial plan—sometimes in jobs that didn’t even exist when they graduated from college! Some deviate because their interests change, others for practical reasons (like where their partner is based or what field is hiring), and still others because fascinating new opportunities arise or they create such opportunities for themselves. Considering your whole self, keeping an eye out for what might be next, and being flexible is a great way to have a fascinating career!

It’s about the journey: Many people work in vastly different types of jobs over their career. It strikes me that they don’t talk about each stop as a rung on a ladder. Instead, they talk about each stop as doing what was right for them at that time. Throughout your career your goals will likely change, sometimes significantly. Changing course doesn’t mean you’re behind in some race to an ending—it means you have another opportunity to learn, grow, and embrace where you are in the moment.

As a physics major, I didn’t really know what my options were or how to discover them. I liked the idea of science writing, but I didn’t know how to get into that field. So I did what I thought most physics majors did; I went to physics grad school. Within a year I knew it wasn’t the right place for me, which left me feeling pretty isolated and lost. I got a master’s degree and, with luck and timing on my side, secured an internship in physics outreach. That led to 10 years of working in physics outreach and programs at professional societies (including SPS!). When my ambitions and life circumstances changed, the feelings returned, but I fumbled my way through, combining my love of writing and physics into a great career as a freelance science writer and editor.

If there’s a third theme I hope you take away from this issue, it’s that you don’t have to be like me and try to figure everything out on your own. The physics and astronomy community is here for you. Many of us have stumbled around at times, feeling lost and uncertain of our paths. There’s nothing wrong with these feelings, but you don’t have to navigate them in isolation. Reach out to people doing what you love and ask about their path—odds are they’d love to talk with you.

It can be challenging and confusing to decide on a path, figure out how to get on that path, and, if necessary, change course. No matter where you are in the process, we hope you walk away from this issue of the SPS Observer excited about your options, equipped to explore them, and empowered to reach out to people in your fields of interest for insight and guidance.

Want to get connected?

Check out the SPS Alumni Engagement Program—a database of participants willing to be speakers, panelists, tour guides, and mentors for SPS chapters—at spsnational.org/programs/alumni-engagement .