REUs, Jobs, & PhDs

Physics students listening to a presentation at LIGO.

REU Programs

The Physics Department at WWU prefers that majors participate in an REU program at another location during the summer between their junior and senior years.

Research Experiences for Undergraduate (REU) programs are conducted at many universities and national labs throughout the United States. The National Science Foundation maintains a list. Additional flyers are posted on the bulletin board across the hall from the Physics Department.

In the past several years, WWU students have completed REU sessions at the Laboratory of Atmospheric and Space Physics, Loma Linda University, Oregon State, Princeton, Purdue, University of British Columbia, University of Florida, University of Washington and the University of Michigan.

Because the REU program is funded by the US government, REU participants must be US citizens or residents.

For Canadian WWU students, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca) is the place to apply. Specific sites include:

For international students, the WWU physics department offers limited research opportunities for students who cannot get into the REU or NSERC programs.

What do physicists do?

Everything. A Physicists is the high-tech "Jack-of-all-Trades". Some jobs that WWU teachers or graduates have held are computer drafting at a semi-conductor equipment manufacturer, teaching at the high school and college level, managing in a high-tech company, programming at a phone company, researching on a quantum computer project, processing financial data, and managing a factory.

You may even have heard of some of the more famous physicists. Einstein, Fermi, and Feynman are still studied in history books for their work on atomic weapons and power. Gorden Moore, co-founder of Intel, holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry and Physics. Angela Merkel, current Chancellor of Germany, has a degree in physics.

Careers

Careers in Climatology, Earth or Atmospheric Science

High School:

Take math classes and the physical science class (if it is offered at your school).
Read the book "Chaos" by James Gleick.
If your school has a weather or geology club, join it.

College at Walla Walla University:

Freshman year: Take the calculus sequence and programming.
Sophomore year: Start working on a small research project under the direction of a WWU faculty member as time allows.
Junior year: Take Biophysics and Astrophysics as two of your electives. You might also consider taking a biology class such as Ecology or Biostatics.
Summer after Junior year: Do a Research Experience for Undergrads (REU) with an climatology or earth science emphasis.
Senior year: Present at a department event about your summer research. Apply to graduate schools with climatology or earth science programs.

Graduate School:

Option 1: Do a PhD in Physics with emphasis in Climatology, Earth or Atmospheric Science.
Option 2: Do a PhD in Climatology, Earth or Atmospheric Science.

Job Options:

Climatology career options include working for the Nation Weather Service, state, and non-profit organizations.
Atmospheric career options include working for aviation companies as well as the climatology companies.
The highest paying jobs in the earth science will be working for oil and natural gas companies helping them find new areas to drill.
Other earth science jobs involve earth quake tracking and studying volcanoes.

Careers in Space Exploration

High School:

Take as much math as you can. Ideally you will be ready for calculus as you start college.
Read books about scientists, astronauts, and space.
If an astronomy club exists in your area, join it.

College at Walla Walla University:

Freshman year: Take the calculus sequence and programming.
Sophomore year: Start working on a small research project under the direction of a WWU faculty member as time allows. You might consider taking a chemistry minor.
Junior year: Take Astrophysics and Optics as two of your electives. Also take your choice of Robotics, Mechanics of Flight, Welding, Machining, etc.
Summer after Junior year: Do a Research Experience for Undergrads (REU) with an astrophysics emphasis.
Senior year: Present at a department event about your summer research. Apply to graduate schools with ties to space programs.

Graduate School:

Option 1: Do a PhD in Physics with emphasis on Astrophysics.
Option 2: Do a PhD in Material Science.
Option 3: Do a PhD in Mechanical Engineering.

Job Options:

Designing the next, best telescope for space or ground will require physicists who know about light, electronics, and optics. It could be you.
Spacecraft will be needed for exploration. Physicists will need to work out better methods of propulsion. Rocket engines take too much fuel which weighs too much.
Spacecraft will need better skins to withstand the harsh conditions of space. Nanotechnology and material science breakthroughs will be needed.
Better heating systems, suits for astronauts, recovery systems .... the list goes on and on. Physicists will be on the front lines of all this development.

Careers in Aviation (Airplanes, Drones, etc)

High School:

Take as much math as you can.
If your school has classes in a machine shop (welding, wood working, etc), take them.
Read books about airplanes.
Buy or build a Radio Controlled plane, join a RC club, and fly whenever you can.

College at Walla Walla University:

Freshman year: Take the calculus sequence and programming. Take an electives in welding or machining.
Sophomore year: Start working on a small research project under the direction of a WWU faculty member as time allows.
Junior year: In addition to your required classes take Robotics and Mechanics of Flight.
Summer after Junior year: Do a Research Experience for Undergrads (REU) with an aviation emphasis (Boeing would be an excellent place to apply).
Senior year: Present at a department event about your summer research. Apply to graduate schools with ties to aviation programs.

Graduate School:

Option 1: Do a PhD in Physics with an emphasis in computation or material science.
Option 2: Do a PhD in Mechanical Engineering.
Option 3: Do a PhD in Material Science.

Job Options:

Aviation companies like Boeing hires physicists to think beyond the ordinary. You could be tasked with developing a better wing material, a better design for the shape of the wing, or placement of the engine. The sky is the limit.
In a drone company, you might get a job working on the control software for the drone or maybe you might be responsible for the design of the airframe or the antenna.
In a battery company, physicists work along side chemists and material scientists to design batteries that hold more charge in less volume or weight.

Careers in High-Tech

High School:

Take as much math as you can.
Take as many computer classes as you can.
Join a computer programming club if it is available.

College at Walla Walla University:

Freshman year: Take the calculus sequence and programming. You might consider added a minor in computers.
Sophomore year: Start working on a small research project under the direction of a WWU faculty member as time allows.
Junior year: As your electives, take Physical Science and Nanotechnology.
Summer after Junior year: Do a Research Experience for Undergrads (REU) with an Nanotechnology emphasis.
Senior year: Present at a department event about your summer research. Apply to graduate schools.

Graduate School:

Option 1: Do a PhD in Physics with an emphasis in computation or material science.
Option 2: Do a PhD in Computer Science.
Option 3: Do a PhD in Material Science.

Job Options:

The High-Tech industry, including companies like Intel, Applied Materials, and Samsung, employs physicists in many different roles. Here are just a few:

Equipment designer for building the equipment that builds the next generation processing chips and memory chips used in phones and computers.
Process scientist working on the chip design making sure each step in the chip build can be done.
Vacuum designer building better pumps to get more contamination out of the build area.
Vibration specialist working to minimize vibrations during chip building.
Programming the build tools to maximize yield and reduce waste.

Careers in Energy

High School:

Take as much math as you can.
Take a physical science if your school has one.

College at Walla Walla University:

Freshman year: Take the calculus sequence and programming. You might consider added a minor in chemistry.
Sophomore year: Start working on a small research project under the direction of a WWU faculty member as time allows.
Junior year: As your electives, take Physical Science and Nanotechnology. You might also consider taking an energy class or two from the engineering department.
Summer after Junior year: Do a Research Experience for Undergrads (REU) with an energy emphasis.
Senior year: Present at a department event about your summer research. Apply to graduate schools.

Graduate School:

Option 1: Do a PhD in Physics with an emphasis in material science.
Option 2: Do a PhD in Physics with an emphasis in nuclear power.
Option 3: Do a PhD in Mechanical Engineering.
Option 4: Do a PhD in Material Science.

Job Options:

Work for a semiconductor company researching new methods of making solar cells.
Work a company like GE to design improvements for energy systems such as windmills, generators, or transformers.
Design nuclear reactors by working for the government or in private industry.

Graduate Schools (MS & PhD)

Selecting the right graduate school is a time consuming task. Please come in and talk with all the physics professors as you make your decision. The ranking of all the graduate programs in the US are available in a book kept in the Seminar Room.

Most physics majors go on to graduate school after graduating from WWU. If this isn't in your plan, take a look at the how the WWU Student Development Center can help you land a job after graduation.

Student Development Center career resources