What You'll Do

  • Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.
  • Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.
  • Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.
  • Report experimental results by writing papers for scientific journals or by presenting information at scientific conferences.
  • Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.
  • Collaborate with other scientists in the design, development, and testing of experimental, industrial, or medical equipment, instrumentation, and procedures.
  • Observe the structure and properties of matter, and the transformation and propagation of energy, using equipment such as masers, lasers, and telescopes, to explore and identify the basic principles governing these phenomena.
  • Develop theories and laws on the basis of observation and experiments, and apply these theories and laws to problems in areas such as nuclear energy, optics, and aerospace technology.
  • Teach physics to students.
  • Develop manufacturing, assembly, and fabrication processes of lasers, masers, infrared, and other light-emitting and light-sensitive devices.

Essential Skills

Science 4.88/5
Critical Thinking 4.62/5
Reading Comprehension 4.5/5
Speaking 4.5/5
Mathematics 4.5/5
Active Learning 4.5/5
Writing 4.38/5
Complex Problem Solving 4.38/5
Active Listening 4.12/5
Learning Strategies 4.0/5
Instructing 3.88/5
Monitoring 3.75/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.

Top passions

  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.

Common styles

Intellectual Curiosity, Innovation, Attention to Detail, Achievement Orientation, Dependability

Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Mathematical Reasoning 4.75/5
Written Comprehension 4.5/5
Written Expression 4.38/5
Number Facility 4.38/5
Oral Comprehension 4.25/5
Oral Expression 4.25/5
Fluency of Ideas 4.25/5
Inductive Reasoning 4.25/5

Technologies & Tools

Aptech Systems GAUSS CERN Physics Analysis Workstation PAW CERN ROOT COMSOL Multiphysics Criss Software XRF11 Dose modeling software Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System EPICS GNU Octave Gnuplot Maplesoft Maple OriginLab Origin Radiation dose calculation software REDUCE RSI interactive data language IDL software SciGraphica SciLab Spectral Dynamics STAR Spectroscopy software Statistical software Synergy Software KaleidaGraph

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Intellectual Curiosity (High importance: 5.0/5)
  • Innovation (High importance: 4.74/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.69/5)
  • Achievement Orientation (High importance: 4.45/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.43/5)

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How to Become One

This career requires extensive preparation, typically including a graduate degree (Master's or Doctoral) and several years of experience. Most professionals in this field have invested significant time in education and training.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Aerophysicist Astrophysicist Atmospheric Physicist Biophysics Scientist Cloud Physicist Computational Physicist Condensed Matter Physicist Diagnostic Medical Physicist Electrodynamicist Experimental Physicist Fluid Dynamicist Health Physicist Mathematical Physicist Medical Physicist Molecular Physicist Nuclear Physicist Plasma Physicist Quantum Physicist Radiation Control Health Physicist Radiation Physicist Research Physicist Scientist Space Physicist Theoretical Physicist Thermodynamic Physicist Thermodynamicist

Career Fit FAQs

Is this career a good fit for me

This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.

Can this help if I want to stay in my field

Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.

What should I compare first

Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.