Particle physics aims to understand what everything is made of, and how everything sticks together. By everything I mean, you and me, the Earth, the Sun, the 100 billion suns in our galaxy, and the 100 billion galaxies in the observable universe. Absolutely everything. Continue Reading
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Explore Career Particle physics aims to understand what everything is made of, and how everything sticks together. By everything I mean, you and me, the Earth, the Sun, the 100 billion suns in our galaxy, and the 100 billion galaxies in the observable universe. Absolutely everything.
What are the typical responsibilities of a Particle Physicist?
A Particle Physicist would typically need to:
Extensive research usually occurs in small- or medium-sized laboratories. However, experiments in areas such as nuclear and high-energy physics, may require large and expensive equipment, such as particle accelerators and nuclear reactors. Particle Physicists also spend considerable time in offices, planning, analyzing, fundraising, and reporting on research.
You may temporarily work away from home at national or international facilities with unique equipment, such as particle accelerators. You may also frequently travel to meetings to present research results, discuss ideas with colleagues, and learn more about new developments. The dress code may range from protective wear to business formal, depending on the work setting.
Most Particle Physicists work full time. Research scientists typically work a 37-hour week, although extra hours may be required to meet deadlines and when carrying out experiments. You may work longer hours in academia because of the responsibility for postgraduate students.
Researchers in the industry may have to work to fit in with shift patterns and business deadlines.
A Particle Physicist may find positions at international laboratories working with high-energy colliders or higher education institutes that excel in engineering and sciences. You can find R&D positions in various sectors of the industry, such as chemicals, electronics, energy, environment, food & consumer products, materials, and pharmaceuticals.
Some locations offer job opportunities through a joint project between a graduate, an organization, and a 'knowledge base,’ such as a university or a research organization, which allows PhD graduates to apply research in a commercial environment.
Look for vacancies in online and professional publications. Individual companies and academic institutions advertise jobs on their websites. Specialist recruitment agencies can be a useful source of scientific vacancies.
Particle Physicists are generally employed by:
Professional associations and organizations are a crucial resource for those interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more looks excellent on your resume to bolster your credentials and qualifications.
Before beginning full-time careers as independent researchers, aspiring Particle Physicists with a Ph.D. can apply for postdoctoral fellowships. Throughout these two- to three-year programs, fellows are allowed to conduct their research, collaborate with other physicists, and receive guidance from experienced faculty members.
Experts recommend that aspirant Particle Physicists take courses in calculus, trigonometry, statistics, and computer science classes at the secondary level. Specialization in elementary particle physics within the general majors of physics, engineering, financial management, or education will help strengthen your knowledge and skill base at the undergraduate level. Alternatively, you can work towards a major in general physics and choose your specialization in graduate school.
Postdoctoral studies are not mandatory, but a PhD in physics is of significant value in landing desirable jobs in research and academia. Extensive knowledge of classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, electrodynamics, quantum field theory, gauge theory, and the Higgs mechanism is essential.
Some positions with the government, such as those involving nuclear energy and other sensitive research areas, may require applicants to be citizens of the country they seek employment in and hold a security clearance.
Voluntary certification demonstrates competence in a skillset, typically through work experience, training, the passage of an examination, or some combination of the three. Certification from an objective and reputed organization can help you gain professional credibility, build your expertise in a specific area, and stay up-to-date on technology.
Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics. Investigating members that practice outside the Code earns trust and respect, which are the most critical elements in securing a Particle Physicist’s future.
Initially, Particle Physicists in the industry may work in hands-on functions to increase their knowledge and practical skills. With experience, they may gain greater independence in their work, as well as larger research budgets.
There are, of course, career opportunities in colleges and graduate schools. Many such positions involve working in laboratories with facilities for creating high energy collisions. Those in university positions may also gain tenure as they gather more experience.
Progress to a lectureship and ultimately to the post of a Professor with management responsibilities is only possible if you succeed in securing funding for your research project and group. Success in attracting funding depends on the time-consuming process of making funding applications.
Permanent research posts without teaching or administrative responsibilities are rare and highly sought after. You can enhance your career prospects by developing an international network of people working in the same field. Some Particle Physicists move into managerial positions, typically as Natural Sciences Managers, and spend considerable time preparing budgets and schedules. Most management positions require a PhD.
In academic research, short-term postdoctoral research contracts up to three years in length follow a PhD. You may take up advertised positions or apply speculatively to an established scientist with whom you would like to work. They may be based in laboratories worldwide, so the willingness to relocate can be helpful for progression. Academic promotion depends on research achievement, measured by the quality and quantity of original papers published.
A career in high energy research aims to find what physics lies beyond our current knowledge about the Standard Model. Dark matter, the neutrino mass, the search for the Higgs boson, and a unified field theory are areas of research that could lead to a new physics. Not all experimental work is to do with high energy colliders. There are job opportunities with projects and laboratories that study cosmic rays from outer space and solar radiation.
Competition for permanent research appointments, such as those at colleges and universities, is expected to be healthy. Increasingly, those with a Ph.D. may need to work through multiple postdoctoral appointments before finding a permanent position. Besides, the number of research proposals submitted for funding has been growing faster than the amount of funds available, causing more competition for research grants.
Prospects should be good for Particle Physicists in applied research, development, and related technical fields. Graduates with any academic degree in physics from a bachelor’s degree to a doctorate, will find their knowledge of science and math useful for entry into many other occupations. Database management skills also are beneficial because of the large datasets these professionals work with.
Forward-looking Particle Physicists in research posts often opt for a PhD. They can expect support and additional training from the academic institution or from Vitae, a non-profit global leader with over 50 years of experience in enhancing researchers’ skills. In partnership with governments, funders of research, academics, professional bodies, trusts & foundations, and universities & research institutes, Vitae offers training, resources, events, consultancy and membership.
Future-oriented Particle Physicists working at a university generally have access to postdoctoral training during their careers. In industry, most employers will offer you training and support to keep you abreast of research techniques and new technologies in the field. More significant industries may offer graduate training programs.
Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential throughout a Particle Physicist’s career. Local professional organizations will offer you access to training, courses, and events. They may also be licensed by the Science Council to award CSci status to experienced Particle Physicists in formal recognition of their knowledge, experience, and professionalism.
Specialization in the field of Particle Physics may range within the following subjects: electrons, protons, and neutrons; photons, neutrinos, and muons; exotic or theoretical particles; supersymmetry; string theory; dark matter; unified field theory; technicolor theories; preon theory; acceleron theory; or the boson theories.
All Particle Physicists must be aware of relevant developments made by other researchers. It may involve keeping up to date through web-based research, reading specialist literature, and attending scientific presentations and discussions.
The Beginning, the Journey, and the Goals
Particle physics evolved out of nuclear physics: its overarching goal is to identify the subatomic elements of matter and radiation and understand the fundamental forces that drive their interactions and combinations.
A Particle Physicist works with pioneering technologies such as high-energy colliders to investigate the inner workings of quantum mechanics and more high-energy physics. Particle Physicists may also incorporate other fields such as astronomy into their research, working with cosmic rays from outer space.
In 2008, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world's largest and highest-energy particle accelerator, was constructed in Geneva, Switzerland, to discover new particles and develop new theories. The particles are governed by quantum mechanics and may show both wave-like and particle qualities.
Particle physics leans more towards the theoretical side of experimentation and research. The practice of theoretical particle physics develops the standard model of particles, theories, and mathematical tools related to current and future experiments. Research in this field can lay down the foundations for many other disciplines of science, including chemistry, quantum mechanics, and general relativity.
Radical Inventions that Evolved into Commonplace Articles
Particle physics research has brought about revolutions in our understanding of the world around us. However, scientific exploration is more than just its reward.
An oft-repeated analogy is an expedition climbing Mount Everest. Is someone climbing Mount Everest useful to you in everyday life? Not at first glance, no matter how interesting it is for its own sake. Even so, fleece jackets and breathable waterproof fabrics were first developed for dangerous mountaineering expeditions and are now cheaply available and indispensable for the general public.
Beyond the Lab and the Textbook
In many ways, the impact of particle physics goes far beyond the laboratory and the textbook. Given that particle physics asks big questions, finding the answers requires unique and often colossal equipment. The tools of particle physics - sophisticated accelerators, sensitive detectors, grid computing, and high-volume data storage and analysis - have a significant and lasting impact on the quality of life for people around the globe.
Over the decades, particle physics has developed the technologies needed to accurately track particles as they collide and transform into hundreds of other particles. This tracking is now essential for the computer tomography, MRIs and PET scans that allow a doctor to peer inside the human body and see what’s wrong.
Once a disease is diagnosed, a doctor usually chooses to treat it with prescription medication. Many medications are developed by particle accelerators called synchrotrons, which produce exceptionally intense beams of X-rays that can determine the precise structure of disease-causing mutations and viruses. They screen potential drugs to find ones that will most likely work. Kaletra, one of the most-prescribed AIDS medications, and Tamiflu, an antiviral treatment to slow the spread of influenza, were developed using synchrotrons.
Accelerator-based therapy helps tens of millions of patients receive X-rays, proton, and ion therapy to treat cancer at more than 10,000 hospitals and medical facilities worldwide.
Myriad Applications
There are the semiconductors within a regular laptop, made smaller and faster through accelerator-assisted manufacturing. There is the touch-screen technology that has been reinvented in many applications. Then there is the ubiquitous World Wide Web, originally developed nearly two decades ago to share particle physics results around the globe. The Web now stimulates nearly US$ two trillion in annual commercial traffic.
The knowledge and tools developed in particle physics spur developments in biology, chemistry, materials science, and computer science. One such tool is Scientific Linux, an operating system used to manage a computer’s resources and provide standard services for computer programs. Its primary aim is to provide researchers with a computing platform that is stable, secure, and readily customized.
The Lab is Your Oyster
Whether you are employed in industry or an academic research setting, the work is usually laboratory-based. Particle Physicists employed in the industry ensure the manufacture of new products and materials regardless of scale. If you work in industrial research and development, you will probably be allocated specific projects. In smaller organizations, you may be involved in all stages of production, from concept to delivery to the customer. Particle Physicists working in academia teach or lecture and generally manage a group of research students or a research team comprising technicians and support staff.
Strategic Approaches to Work
The majority of young Particle Physicists hope to stick to the field and are more strategic in their approach to work. The enormous projects that dominate particle physics typically take years or even decades to build. The LHC was proposed in 1984, approved for construction in 1994, and started taking data in 2010.
No grad student or postdoc could hope to work on such a project from its inception to completion. But they must analyze real data to have any chance of advancing. To satisfy both the need for data to analyze and the desire to work on the next best thing, many young Particle Physicists moonlight in multiple efforts.
Young researchers in the field prefer smaller experiments to larger ones; it allows them to carve out a niche within a minor team. Some young Particle Physicists focus less on specialization and more on developing a broadly applicable skill set to increase flexibility.
Tapestries are made by many artisans working together. The contributions of separate workers cannot be discerned in the completed work, and the loose and false threads are covered over. So it is in our picture of particle physics.
Sometimes the public says, 'What's in it for Numero Uno? Am I going to get a better television reception? Am I going to get better Internet reception?' Well, in some sense, yeah. ... All the wonders of quantum physics were learned basically from looking at atom-smasher technology. ... But allow me to let you in on a secret: We physicists are not driven to do this because of better color television. ... That's a spin-off. We do this because we want to understand our role and our place in the universe.
Researchers at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory based at Stanford University created an underwater sound so loud that it instantly vaporizes water and appears to set the threshold for how intense sound can be in the water.
What do Particle Physicists do?
A Particle Physicist would typically need to:
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