Physicists conduct theoretical and applied research to extend knowledge of natural phenomena and to develop new processes and devices in fields such as electronics, communications, power generation and distribution, aerodynamics, optics and lasers, remote sensing, and medicine and health. They are employed by electronic, electrical and aerospace manufacturing companies, telecommunications companies, power utilities, university and government research laboratories, hospitals and by a wide range of other processing, manufacturing, and research and consulting firms.
Possible Titles:
acoustics physicist aerodynamicist astronomer astrophysicist biophysicist cosmologist experimental physicist health physicist medical physicist metrologist nuclear physicist optics physicist plasma physicist radio astronomer research scientist, aerospace research scientist, electronics research scientist, physics research scientist, remote sensing solid-state physicist
Responsibilities:
Physicists perform some or all of the following duties:
Design and conduct research in experimental and theoretical physics
Carry out analysis of research data and prepare research reports
Participate as a member of a research or development team in the design and development of experimental, industrial or medical equipment, instrumentation and procedures.
Physicists may specialize in fields such as aeronomy and space, acoustics, atomic and molecular physics, biophysics, condensed matter or solid state physics, electromagnetics, fluids and aerodynamics, health physics, medical physics, metrology, particle physics, optics and laser physics, nuclear physics and plasma physics.
Employment Requirments:
Physicists require a master's or doctoral degree in a field of physics, engineering physics, or in a related discipline.
Additional information:
Mobility between specializations within physics and within astronomy is possible with experience.
Physicists may work closely with and perform some of the duties of engineers.
Mobility is possible to the fields of meteorology, geophysics and other fields of science.
Courtesy of: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada