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Careers

Between 2006 and 2009, 2.8% of employed doctoral graduates or 220 doctoral graduates in total are known to have been working as chemists or physicists six months after graduation.

Job description

Although subject-specific skills may differ, doctoral graduates employed as chemists and physicists largely start their careers as HE researchers, mainly on postdoctoral research contracts. Some graduates will start in non-HE research settings, but many of the job details are the same.

Much of this work is very similar in nature to the research work the new entrant carried out as a doctoral student, with an increased level of responsibility. As a result, most entrants into these roles should have a good idea of the basic nature of the job and many of the key responsibilities.

Physical science doctorates study non-living systems to increase their understanding of how the physical world works. Scientific research involves designing and conducting experiments to collect observable physical evidence of natural phenomena. This information is analysed to develop practical applications in the creation of new materials and devices.

Academic research is increasingly collaborative across all scientific fields, and the interdisciplinary nature of scientific research means that much of the work involves spending a significant amount of time working on joint projects.

Typical work activities

The exact nature of the work depends on whether you are employed in industry or in an academic research setting, but in either case, the work is usually laboratory-based. Typical tasks include:

  • Writing applications for funding
  • Managing resources (including equipment, funds, materials and workloads)
  • Conducting experiments to investigate and analyse scientific phenomena
  • Extrapolating data to develop theories to explain phenomena, and writing up results in reports and/or scientific papers
  • Arranging the testing of products or materials to ensure that they meet quality standards
  • In industry, ensuring that the large-scale manufacture of new products and materials can be carried out without problems
  • Supervising or managing other research staff or whole teams (which may include technicians and support staff) or a group of research students in an academic department
  • Collaborating with other scientists, often from other disciplines
  • Developing specialist skills and expertise

All physical scientists must be aware of relevant developments made by other researchers. This involves keeping up to date through web-based research, reading specialist literature and attending scientific presentations and discussions. Findings are often disseminated at departmental meetings as well as national and international conferences, and papers are written for peer-reviewed scientific journals. Working in industrial research and development may involve being allocated specific projects. In smaller organisations, physical scientists may be involved in all stages of production, from concept to delivery to the customer.

Entry requirements

Doctoral graduates are in a particularly good position to demonstrate job requirements particular to this role, which includes:

  • A good publication record (including conference presentations) to demonstrate a track record of successful research
  • Proven ability to access research funding
  • A logical approach to problem-solving and dealing with complex issues both systematically and creatively
  • Performing practical experiments, evaluating solutions and making improvements to the design of experiments
  • Working with computers and computer-guided equipment

Salary

  • Range of typical starting salaries: £21,000 - £30,000 (salary data collected November 2008)
  • Range of typical salaries at senior level/with experience (e.g. after 10-15 years in the role): £30,000 - £45,000 (salary data collected November 2008). Salaries at this level vary widely from between sectors
  • University professors can earn in excess of £50,000 (salary data collected June 2010).

Sector and disciplinary information

Sector information

Doctoral graduates from 2006-9 working in these occupations were known to be employed in the following profiled sectors six months after graduation:

Disciplinary background

The most common disciplinary backgrounds for doctoral graduates (2006-2009) entering chemistry or physics doctoral roles were:

Career stories

Chris Rapley
Director of the Science Museum in London, UK. Prior to taking up the post last September he was the director of the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge.

"I spent the next six years working on a NASA space mission called the Solar Maximum Mission, which studied the active Sun. It was developed and operated as an international, multi-instrument observatory, and the experience taught me about the power of working in a multidisciplinary team."

Other relevant career profiles:

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