What does a research physicist do?
A research physicist's job is to conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories based on observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories. Their duties and responsibilities include describing observations, developing simulations, and advising authorities on procedures to be followed.
Research physicist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real research physicist resumes:
- Foster cross laboratory collaboration between physics labs and between engineering, biology, and chemistry departments to accomplish share goals.
- Design and oversee construction of flow loop for development of multi-phase NMR flowmeter.
- Develop and conduct technologists' training on MR QC, QA and safety programs.
- Commission of ArcCheck (SunNuclear) for patient-specific QA of IMRT, RapidArc, and SBRT as medical physics resident.
- Perform all aspects of LDR brachytherapy procedures using VariSeed 8.0 under the supervision of the physician and three ABR certify physicists
- Commission TrueBeam Linac system as medical physics resident.
- Develop experimental strategies for generating the magnetorotational instability (MRI).
- Perform time-series analysis of magnetic data and develop models of the data to positively identify the MRI.
- Perform biochemical and microbiological analysis of cover brine using HPLC and bacterial enumeration technique in selective and differential media.
- Collaborate with other chemical engineers to better understand possible mechanisms of experimental results by performing computational modeling of support gold nanoparticles
- Synthesize and characterize colloidal room-temperature ferromagnetic CoFe2O4 nanoparticles.
- Perform radiation transport calculations (GEANT4 and self-written codes).
- Perform general lab maintenance and assist in maintaining the mouse colony and genotyping individual mice.
Research physicist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 20% of Research Physicists are proficient in Data Analysis, Laser, and Python. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Interpersonal skills, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Research Physicists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Data Analysis, 20%
Experience with experimental spectroscopy including calibration, instrument design and fielding, data analysis -Experience with computer programming.
- Laser, 15%
Researched, designed, and tested PCF amplifier systems for DoD High Energy Laser program.
- Python, 10%
Optimized Python controlling programs of the integrated optical and electrical setup to make measurements more automatically with less manual operations.
- Data Collection, 8%
Managed multiple research and development projects involving human subject data collection, requiring compliance with HIPPA and Institutional Review Board regulations.
- Technical Reports, 7%
Participated in meetings with academic as well as industry personnel, prepared technical reports, presentations and reviewed and recommended design changes
- RF, 7%
Monitored RF depositions of TCO layers finding that controlled target power offered better optical transmission stability compared to controlled deposition rate.
Most research physicists use their skills in "data analysis," "laser," and "python" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential research physicist responsibilities here:
Interpersonal skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling research physicist duties is interpersonal skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "physicists and astronomers must collaborate with others and therefore need to work well with team members and colleagues." According to a research physicist resume, here's how research physicists can utilize interpersonal skills in their job responsibilities: "assisted with the coordination of the existing interpersonal violence research projects. "
Communication skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of research physicists is communication skills. This skill is critical to many everyday research physicist duties, as "physicists and astronomers present their research at conferences, to the public, and to others." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "developed written and verbal communication skills through seminar presentations and technical reports. "
Math skills. research physicist responsibilities often require "math skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "physicists and astronomers do calculations involving calculus, geometry, algebra, and other areas of math." This resume example shows what research physicists do with math skills on a typical day: "developed data analysis model to extract quantitative information from ftir spectra of hydrated polymer films. "
Problem-solving skills. Another common skill required for research physicist responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." This skill comes up in the duties of research physicists all the time, as "physicists and astronomers use scientific observation and analysis, as well as creative thinking, to solve problems." An excerpt from a real research physicist resume shows how this skill is central to what a research physicist does: "worked closely with the osu business solutions group as a collaborative team to write, edit, and publish journal articles. "
The three companies that hire the most research physicists are:
- Princeton University9 research physicists jobs
- Honeywell4 research physicists jobs
- Varian Medical Systems1 research physicists jobs
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Compare different research physicists
Research physicist vs. Optical instrument specialist
A postdoctoral research associate is responsible for assisting the educational institution's research department, writing research reports, analyzing research methods, and collecting information and related studies to support the research claims. Postdoctoral research associates must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written, reporting research updates to the research head, performing adjustments as needed, and gaining more expertise on the subject by brainstorming and discussing strategic procedures for the study. They may also conduct field investigation or coordinate with other institutions for additional reference, depending on the research's scope and limitation.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, research physicist responsibilities require skills like "data analysis," "laser," "python," and "data collection." Meanwhile a typical optical instrument specialist has skills in areas such as "fiber optic," "customer service," "schedule appointments," and "insurance benefits." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
The education levels that optical instrument specialists earn slightly differ from research physicists. In particular, optical instrument specialists are 16.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a research physicist. Additionally, they're 27.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Research physicist vs. Optical scientist
Each career also uses different skills, according to real research physicist resumes. While research physicist responsibilities can utilize skills like "laser," "python," "data collection," and "rf," optical scientists use skills like "system design," "zemax," "optical design," and "prototyping."
Optical scientists earn a higher average salary than research physicists. But optical scientists earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $120,234. Additionally, research physicists earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $97,662 annually.In general, optical scientists achieve higher levels of education than research physicists. They're 13.8% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 27.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for research physicists in the next 3-5 years?
Nicholas Mauro
Assistant Professor of Physics, Saint Norbert College
Research physicist vs. Nuclear scientist
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a research physicist is likely to be skilled in "data analysis," "laser," "python," and "data collection," while a typical nuclear scientist is skilled in "nuclear power," "emergency procedures," "ans," and "doe-hq."
When it comes to education, nuclear scientists tend to earn similar degree levels compared to research physicists. In fact, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 22.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Research physicist vs. Postdoctoral research associate
Even though a few skill sets overlap between research physicists and postdoctoral research associates, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a research physicist might have more use for skills like "laser," "technical reports," "rf," and "dod." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of postdoctoral research associates require skills like "research projects," "post-doctoral," "cell culture," and "cell biology. "
The professional industry tends to pay the highest salaries for postdoctoral research associates, with average annual pay of $69,999. Comparatively, the highest research physicist annual salary comes from the technology industry.The average resume of postdoctoral research associates showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to research physicists. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 0.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 16.5%.Types of research physicist
Updated January 8, 2025
