Wisdom for Your Path from Sigma Pi Sigma Members

Sigma Pi Sigma is the physics and astronomy honor society, and is closely associated with SPS (see sigmapisigma.org for details). Membership in Sigma Pi Sigma is for a lifetime. We asked members, from recent inductees to those now retired, What advice would you share with undergrad physics and astronomy majors thinking about their careers? Here are their responses.

Think big now, compromise to be realistic later. What are the big questions you would like to work on? What would be fun to do? Your answers will evolve during your undergraduate days. And realize your answers will continue to evolve throughout your life. Then grow wherever you find yourself.
–Richard O., Retired, 1966 Inductee

I still recall reading in the early pages of Griffith’s electromagnetism textbook—maybe in the first few pages of the second chapter—something like, “You now know everything you need to know about the subject; the rest of the course is devoted to assembling a bag of tricks to actually solve some problems.” Look anywhere and there are problems to be solved, legal ones in my case. Physics taught me how to solve them.
–Kevin Trainer, Senior Associate, Langer Grogan & Diver P.C., 2010 Inductee

Spend time with your professors outside of the classroom and take advantage of opportunities for undergraduate research, conferences, and publishing work whenever possible. It will help you grow as a scientist and as a person far more than your required courses.
–Laura Marschke, Senior Project Administrator and Document Control, M.C. Dean, 2006 Inductee

Be involved with the applications of physics to real-world problems, plus take interest in the latest physics announcements. In this manner, you will be introduced to many new concepts, but perhaps just as important, you will discover the physics subject that you cannot stop thinking about.
–Eric Jones, Retired, 1957 Inductee

Dive deep into information about possibilities. Keep in mind that it is always possible to change jobs or even career paths.
–David Garfinkle, Retired, 1959 Inductee

People don’t tend to talk about how competitive graduate programs are (especially astronomy programs) and how many people aren’t accepted to any programs the first time around. I accepted a nice fellowship offer at a top-10 university for astronomy, but I was still rejected from over 90% of the programs to which I applied. This was after taking a gap year to do research full time, publishing a paper, and having two more first-author papers submitted or in prep. You can do everything right and still not be accepted, just because your specialties don’t happen to align with what the programs you applied for want right now. Have a backup plan.
–Tristan Weaverale, Graduate Student, Penn State, 2023 Inductee

Physics is a great place to start in many careers. Many of my classmates went on to law, nuclear engineering (in the Navy), engineering, etc. I spent most of my time doing software development, but I also did physics-related work at Ford, worked on financial options on Wall Street, and worked with the insurance company Aon. Be flexible and think outside the box.
–Kenneth LaToza, Retired, 1975 Inductee

There is no “right path.” Some people go right to grad school, some get a job and decide later to go to grad school. Some go into academia. Others go out into industry, love it, and stay there. Do not assume you need a doctorate to be a successful physicist or astronomer.
–Carolynn Moore, Physicist, US Army, 2004 Inductee

Do an internship or a summer research project if possible; you only have three summers before graduation. At least two of those you should dedicate to your career. The opportunities are harder for nonstudents; most internships are for currently enrolled students. Additionally, if you’re going into an unknown research group, ask many questions to see how the group operates, especially to see if your supervisor likes to teach others. Make sure you find an advisor who is interested in mentoring someone at your level.
–Angel-Emilio Villegas Sanchez, Graduate Student, Central Michigan University, 2024 Inductee

Speak to people who know you, your academic work, your personality, psychology, etc. Get advice about your career, but also about your personal life. Most people are willing, even eager to help if you ask. After you’ve gained some insight, don’t be afraid to follow up. Ask people to speak freely about your shortcomings, not to sugarcoat their evaluations, and, when they do, take that as a sign that they may be pointing to truths that you shouldn’t ignore.
–Craig Hunter, Retired, 1979 Inductee

Learn one computer language, keep everything you do in that language, organize it, build on it, time and date stamp it, back it up.
–Thomas M. Jordan, President, Experimental & Mathematical Physics Consultants (EMPC), 1960 Inductee

It might not happen right away, and the route you take might be a roundabout one, but if you stay persistent and you are truly passionate about your field, you will find a way to bring it into your career.
–Jessica Zarkos, Program Coordinator, Central Washington University, 2022 Inductee

Think about what you enjoy doing as well as what you enjoy learning about. Sometimes the “doing” might not be as exciting as the “learning,” and you can end up overqualified in a field you love to learn about but don’t want to work in. It’s best to admit that to yourself sooner than later. Don’t let others define how you feel about yourself or your career. What’s most important is what makes you feel fulfilled.
–Jonathan Sullivan-Wood, Graduate Student, Purdue University, 2019 Inductee

Find something that you are good enough at to earn your living, finish the necessary education, and go do it. There will be lots of other opportunities later, since you are all going to live to be 100. And it is much easier to be a professional physicist or engineer and an amateur musician than the other way around.
–Virginia Trimble, Professor, University of California, Irvine, Sigma Pi Sigma Honorary Member (2019)

Find a career and job that fascinates you. Work to do what you love, the money will take care of itself. Good luck, and HAVE FUN.
–Bob Kvaas, Retired, 1971 Inductee

Physics is one of the most universally applicable degrees for any career path. It provides a framework and skill set for identifying and solving problems. Be open to career paths you may not have previously considered prior to getting your degree. You’ll be amazed at how many opportunities are out there and how uniquely positioned you are to pursue those opportunities.
–Lukas Swanson, Senior QA Specialist, GSK, 2006 Inductee

Do undergrad research and internships to find what you like. Email people you’re interested in working with. The worst they can say is no. And it’s okay if you don’t have the perfect CV.
–Cole Stewart, Graduate Student, Michigan State University, 2021 Inductee

If you see a job posting that you like but you’re not sure you meet 100% of the requirements, remember this: If you’re confident you can do 80% of it, they’ll train you on the rest.
–Cassie Crowe, McDonald Observatory Telescope Operator, University of Texas at Austin, 2015 Inductee

Don’t feel boxed in when considering your future career! Whether it be knowledge or money, you still have many more years to obtain them both. While not unique to physics, the critical thinking and mathematical framework we develop as undergrads is translatable to many professions aside from research and academia. Experiment to find what excites you, as ultimately, that will be what gets you out of bed each morning.
–Nathaniel Sparrow, Graduate Student, University of Louisville, 2017 Inductee

Be honest with yourself about what you actually enjoy and what you want to do. However, it’s okay if your plans don’t turn out like you expect, and it doesn’t mean you’ve failed or done the “wrong” thing. Try to appreciate each stage and season for what it is, and grab hold of interesting opportunities (like viewing eclipses or engaging with people in your extended network) when they arise! Just as life is more than work, physics and astronomy are more than academic disciplines. They are inextricably embedded in the world around us.
–Betsy Olson, Physics Contract Author and Private Tutor, 2012 Inductee

A defense-related job may seem attractive and interesting, but it’s hard to escape from once inside. Certain other careers (for example, medical devices) pretty much require you to be in at an early age to achieve advanced roles appropriate for later in your career. Figure out what your passion is early on, and follow it.
–Alex Matulich, Retired Technical Program Manager, Seagate Technology, 1980 Inductee

Take things one step at a time. Trying to plan everything out in advance is daunting and, frankly, scary. More than anything, just remember to breathe. We have good days and bad days, but we’ll all wind up where we want to be eventually.
–Garath Vetters, Graduate Student, Texas Tech University, 2022 Inductee

Science in and of itself is fascinating, yet using science to help others is life-changing. Choose a mission that’s meaningful to you and infuse science into that field. By aligning your expertise with your passion, you set yourself up to experience the highest degree of purpose and fulfillment in life!
–Beverly Rogers, CEO and Life Coach, Core Level Lifestyle, 2008 Inductee

Learn how you can best interact with peers and colleagues to achieve common goals.
–Jack Lloyd, Retired, 1967 Inductee

Make sure to take classes that you think might benefit you that are not part of your required classes.
–Glenn Mesa, Systems Engineer, 2009 Inductee

Share your love of physics with others your entire life.
–Richard G. Born, Associate Professor Emeritus, Northern Illinois University, 1972 Inductee

Sometimes it can feel like you’re not “cut out” for physics, but if you keep working hard and always seek the wonders of the universe, you will find your fit. Keep working towards your goals and see that you have an unbelievable community around you—in SPS, Sigma Pi Sigma, and more. You stand on the shoulders of giants that came before you. Your work is what others will use to further unravel the universe’s secrets in time. Keep going!
–Connor Pickett, PhD Student, University of Surrey, 2021 Inductee

Follow your passion, and remember three things: You understand the physical world better than most people. You have demonstrated that you know how to handle complexity. You love word problems—you are a problem-solver!
–Dave Wasil, Climate Advocate and Retired Director of Strategic IT Projects, Matthews International, 1982 Inductee

Explore interdisciplinary fields, gain practical experience, develop strong analytical skills, stay informed about industry trends, consider graduate studies, explore diverse career paths, and build a professional network—all of which can help you navigate your career path effectively.
–Frank Efe, Graduate Student, Morgan State University, 2023 Inductee

Remember the study skills you learned here. Learning new things is easier in a group. Form study groups with peers that you get along with, and not only will you excel at work but you’ll enjoy it more too.
–Jess Kenny, Supervisory Scientist, US Navy, 2016 Inductee

Your future career may be in a specialty that doesn’t yet exist. So prepare by getting broad course exposure and varied work or intern experience. Not all STEM degrees lead to research, just as not all English degrees lead to successful writing careers. You will find that the math and problem-solving skills you develop will serve you well. Don’t neglect the communication skills, both in writing and in speech.
–William A. Watson, Retired Program Manager, NASA, 1970 Inductee

Physics is everywhere! Don’t limit yourself, and never stop wondering or asking questions to find out more.
–Glenn Spiczak, Physics Professor and Department Chair, University of Wisconsin - River Falls, 2020 Inductee

Some responses have been edited for clarity and length.