Physicists

Also called: Aerodynamicist, Aerophysicist, Astrophysicist, Atmospheric Physicist, Atomic Spectroscopist

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Physicists conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories.

Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.
Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.
Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.
Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.
Write research proposals to receive funding.
Teach physics to students.
Report experimental results by writing papers for scientific journals or by presenting information at scientific conferences.
Conduct research pertaining to potential environmental impacts of atomic energy-related industrial development to determine licensing qualifications.
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.
Collaborate with other scientists in the design, development, and testing of experimental, industrial, or medical equipment, instrumentation, and procedures.
Develop standards of permissible concentrations of radioisotopes in liquids and gases.
Conduct application evaluations and analyze results to determine commercial, industrial, scientific, medical, military, or other uses for electro-optical devices.
Develop manufacturing, assembly, and fabrication processes of lasers, masers, infrared, and other light-emitting and light-sensitive devices.
Advise authorities of procedures to be followed in radiation incidents or hazards, and assist in civil defense planning.

Work Context

Electronic Mail — 93% responded "Every day".
Spend Time Sitting — 66% responded "Continually or almost continually".
Structured versus Unstructured Work — 67% responded "A lot of freedom".
Freedom to Make Decisions — 76% responded "A lot of freedom".
Face-to-Face Discussions — 54% responded "Every day".
Work With Work Group or Team — 46% responded "Extremely important".
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 35% responded "Extremely important".

Work Activities

Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Detailed Work Activities

Apply mathematical principles or statistical approaches to solve problems in scientific or applied fields.
Analyze geological or geographical data.
Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
Develop theories or models of physical phenomena.
Collaborate on research activities with scientists or technical specialists.
Operate laboratory or field equipment.

Physics

Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.

Mathematics

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Engineering and Technology

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Science

Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Mathematics

Using mathematics to solve problems.

Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Speaking

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Active Learning

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Learning Strategies

Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Complex Problem Solving

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Instructing

Teaching others how to do something.

Programming

Writing computer programs for various purposes.

Systems Evaluation

Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.

Systems Analysis

Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

Monitoring

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Persuasion

Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.

Time Management

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Operations Analysis

Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.

Service Orientation

Actively looking for ways to help people.

Coordination

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Management of Personnel Resources

Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

Mathematical Reasoning

The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.

Mathematical Reasoning

The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.

Number Facility

The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.

Written Comprehension

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Number Facility

The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.

Written Comprehension

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Fluency of Ideas

The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Deductive Reasoning

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Inductive Reasoning

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Oral Comprehension

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Originality

The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

Oral Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Fluency of Ideas

The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Originality

The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

Oral Comprehension

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Deductive Reasoning

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Oral Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Inductive Reasoning

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Written Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Problem Sensitivity

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Written Expression

The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Information Ordering

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Information Ordering

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

Problem Sensitivity

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Category Flexibility

The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Speech Clarity

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Near Vision

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Speech Recognition

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Category Flexibility

The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Speech Clarity

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Speech Recognition

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Near Vision

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Visualization

The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Visualization

The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Speed of Closure

The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.

Flexibility of Closure

The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

Flexibility of Closure

The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.

Speed of Closure

The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.

Selective Attention

The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

Selective Attention

The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

Perceptual Speed

The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

Perceptual Speed

The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.

Far Vision

The ability to see details at a distance.

Far Vision

The ability to see details at a distance.

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.

They do well at jobs that need:

Achievement/Effort

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self Control

You might use software like this on the job:

Analytical or scientific software

The MathWorks MATLAB
RSI interactive data language IDL software
REDUCE
SciLab
SciGraphica
Wolfram Research Mathematica
Video analysis software
Vector Fields OPERA-3d
Systat Software SigmaPlot
Synergy Software KaleidaGraph
Statistical software
Spectroscopy software
Spectral Dynamics STAR
Radiation dose calculation software
Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System EPICS
Dose modeling software
Criss Software XRF11
COMSOL Multiphysics
CERN ROOT
Aptech Systems GAUSS
GNU Octave
Gnuplot
OriginLab Origin
CERN Physics Analysis Workstation PAW
Maplesoft Maple

Presentation software

Microsoft PowerPoint

Data base user interface and query software

Structured query language SQL
Oracle software
Microsoft Access
MySQL

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Physicists

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