Careers in astrophysics

A perspective from Professor Tamara Davis, VC Research and Teaching Fellow

If you're anything like me, then when starting university you'd have had no idea what a career in astrophysics research might look like. Or even, if you graduated with a physics/astrophysics degree where else that might take you. Well, the answer is that it takes you all around the world to work at amazing places with amazing people. I figure it has to be one of the best jobs in the world.

So to help you out, here's a little overview of life as an astrophysicist. I'll start by going through the steps to become a researcher, but then also go through what some might think of as back-up plans, and others might think of as the primary plan, of what to do with your physics degree if you decide not to go into research.

Getting your PhD

To become a professional astrophysicist you need to do an undergraduate degree in physics, with an honours year, and then do a PhD (a doctorate). The details change from country to country, but in Australia that's the deal. An honours year is a year that is half-research, half-coursework, that gives you a taste for what research is all about and gives you a chance to show off your potential. If you do well enough in honours in Australia you can go straight into a PhD, otherwise you can try a masters (which is required in some other countries). A masters involves a longer research project, usually two years.

The PhD is the proving ground for a researcher. In Australia, they're generally three years, and you get paid a scholarship while doing it. You may have heard that PhDs are hard work, and it's true, but they're also great fun. You work closely with an experienced researcher, but it's your chance to choose a project that you're inspired by and take the lead. Your supervisor makes sure you're on track and helps you select a project that's significant, timely, and possible. But the research is yours, and you really get to put your mark on the field. By the end of your PhD you'll be a published researcher, with several articles published in professional journals.

Becoming a researcher

Once you have a PhD, you're on your way to a research career. Typically there are a few more steps in the chain before you get a permanent job. First step, postdoctoral researcher. Often people describe these as the most productive times in their scientific careers - the point at which you have the knowledge and skills to do significant research efficiently, but before other responsibilities start taking over. These are usually two- to four-year jobs, and usually you will take a couple of these in a couple of different countries before lining yourself up with a permanent position.

Permanent positions come in two main types: research only or research combined with teaching. Generally speaking the latter are usually only found in universities, while the former (research only) occur in both universities and research institutions like CSIRO.

As a professional astrophysicist you have a great range of tasks and variety in your work. You're a self-directed researcher, sometimes researching within a big collaboration, sometimes on your own, but usually with a lot of autonomy. Your hours are flexible and although we tend to work quite long hours it doesn't always feel that way, because (for me at least) I'm doing something that I'd happily do as a hobby if I wasn't being paid for it. The flexibility means you can come to work early if you like and leave early, or come late and leave late, and it's quite easy to get days off when you want them or to arrange to work from home occasionally. As long as you produce significant research it doesn't matter where or how you do it.

Teaching restricts that flexibility somewhat, but it's a rewarding part of the job as well. There are widely varying quantities of teaching in different astrophysics jobs, but one of the best parts is taking on graduate students and working with them during their PhD. It's fantastic to see someone bloom as they use new skills to discover new explanations of phenomena in the universe.

Working with the media and general public

Another aspect of the job is working with the media and the public. Because so many people are fascinated by astrophysics there's ample opportunity to discuss the latest in the field, and you're frequently asked for new astronomy news to publicise, and invited to give public talks. This can be a lot of fun.

Coordinating tasks

As you mature in your career you'll start doing more coordinating tasks, by which I mean designing new projects, coordinating other researchers, designing the telescopes and instruments needed to make the observations, and writing the funding requests necessary to get the money needed to make those projects a success. You'll also be asked for your expert opinion to referee other people's research to decide whether it's worthy of publication. Some of these tasks can be time consuming, but it means that you're getting the chance to guide progress in your field and lead something truly substantial.

Fancy yourself as a globetrotter?

All in all, it makes for an interesting and exciting work life, with never a dull moment. Since research is so international, much of the above will be done in other countries and you have to travel around the world to collaborate with the top people in your field and present your work at international conferences. Travelling for a few months each year is not unusual, and the big telescopes are in fun places like Hawaii and Chile.

For many astrophysicists the travel and international collaborations represents a fantastic opportunity to see the world. However, it can become a hardship - especially if you need to coordinate that travel around a family or other commitments. Typically it's necessary to spend several years overseas in various postdoctoral positions and if you're limited to a certain location then it can be hard to find a job at the time you need one. For an idea of the number and scope of astrophysics positions available at any particular time you can check out the American Astronomical Society's Job Register.

More about research...

Research is actually a well-paid job - way above the average wage. Sometimes we like to give it a bad rap, because the pay isn't great compared to what you can do with a physics degree if you leave research. Typically physicists become bankers, financial analysts, management consultants, or work in medical physics, mining or the environment. Basically any job that requires analysis skills and a knowledge of how to use mathematics to describe the real world. There's a high demand for such people, and therefore physicists who take up such jobs are usually very well paid, making our research salaries a little tame in comparison. (But really we're all doing pretty well.)

Making your mark with astrophysics

So I guess you can tell from my (completely unbiased!) views above, I think astrophysics is one of the best careers in the world - and that's just from the perspective of the working life you lead. The clincher in my view is that you get that great working life all while being given the opportunity to investigate nature, and to figure out the principles that govern the birth, growth, evolution and future of our universe. Absolutely fascinating. Occasionally you even see those blossom as new technologies and (hopefully) improvements to the human condition here on earth.