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Message
PhD or Masters in Physics for an Engineering Company
Posted on 11/13/13 at 3:53 pm
Posted on 11/13/13 at 3:53 pm
For the last 2 1/2 years I have been pressuring my PhD in High Energy Experimental Physics. I have decided that I do not want to teach and I don’t want to stay in the field. I would like to get my masters and go into industry at an engineering company like Raytheon, Northrup Grumman etc..
I have my BS in electrical engineering, math, and physics as well. Is a PhD necessary to move up in these type companies? I feel like getting my masters and a job soon will allow me to gain a lot of necessary experience which is very valuable IMO instead of doing several more years of PhD work that doesn’t relate to the field I want to be in. If I didn’t have my EE degree or if I was in a field like optics then it would be different.
Any advice would be appreciated.
I have my BS in electrical engineering, math, and physics as well. Is a PhD necessary to move up in these type companies? I feel like getting my masters and a job soon will allow me to gain a lot of necessary experience which is very valuable IMO instead of doing several more years of PhD work that doesn’t relate to the field I want to be in. If I didn’t have my EE degree or if I was in a field like optics then it would be different.
Any advice would be appreciated.
This post was edited on 11/13/13 at 3:59 pm
4
Posted on 11/13/13 at 6:44 pm to greenwave
I can't speak for those companies in particular, but generally a PhD is not required. A masters can help. The PhD isn't going to necessarily "hurt" you (some people claim it may), but if you want to be outside of a research field, I don't think the time spent pursuing the PhD will be worthwhile.
Posted on 11/13/13 at 7:10 pm to LSUtigerME
Thanks for the response, and I agree even if I did get my phd I would still be applying for the same jobs that I will when I get my masters. I think the working experience would be more beneficial. I spoke to a friends mom who is the VP of a large defense company and she suggested going the masters route as well. Other companies I would look at would be Boeing, Teledyne Brown, Lockheed, and others in Huntsville AL
It also would be nice to go ahead and get decent salary.
It also would be nice to go ahead and get decent salary.
Posted on 11/13/13 at 7:15 pm to greenwave
if gaston sees this thread he'll die of explosive ejaculation.
Posted on 11/13/13 at 7:53 pm to Dooshay
:fap:
Posted on 11/13/13 at 9:18 pm to greenwave
quote:
I would look at would be Boeing, Teledyne Brown, Lockheed, and others in Huntsville AL
Some of the companies you have mentioned have somewhat of a dual career ladder allowing engineers that want to stay in the technical arena to advance to positions of more responsibility. Unlike academia there is not as much of a caste system, not having a PhD will not lock you out of reaching higher level research and development positions.
Posted on 11/13/13 at 9:54 pm to greenwave
quote:
PhD in High Energy Experimental Physics
At UT?
Posted on 11/13/13 at 10:10 pm to foshizzle
TAMU
Posted on 11/13/13 at 10:43 pm to greenwave
Just curious, I graduated in Physics from UT. Great experience.
Posted on 11/14/13 at 1:51 am to foshizzle
Raytheon just announced expansion of Forest MS facility. Adding 150 jobs; will soon have 850 employed (Formerly Hughes, as in Howard).
Builds radars for South Korea.
I heard Huntsville has 16 major defense contractors, all in one area.
Builds radars for South Korea.
I heard Huntsville has 16 major defense contractors, all in one area.
Posted on 11/14/13 at 8:20 am to greenwave
quote:
Is a PhD necessary to move up in these type companies?
some companies like 3M won't really look at a master's; they want PhDs only
Others are more than happy to hire on people with master's degrees. Anecdotal, but my wife has a master's in Chemistry and has done very well while I actually had some trouble at first finding a job with a PhD because I had become so specialized. Similar things are happening with other friends who are finishing school now and find most job postings are for BS or MS (probably because they're cheaper)
Posted on 11/14/13 at 11:38 am to matthew25
quote:
I heard Huntsville has 16 major defense contractors, all in one area.
Yeah Huntsville has tons of companies in that sector.
After talking to several people sounds like the masters route is the best. Especially if my PhD doesn't relate to the field I want to be in. I appreciate all of the info
Posted on 11/14/13 at 11:40 am to foshizzle
quote:
Just curious, I graduated in Physics from UT. Great experience.
What do you do now if you don't mind my asking.
Posted on 11/14/13 at 11:45 am to greenwave
A PhD shouldn't hurt unless you expect to be paid more for it.
Posted on 11/14/13 at 11:54 am to greenwave
quote:
Yeah Huntsville has tons of companies in that sector.
After talking to several people sounds like the masters route is the best. Especially if my PhD doesn't relate to the field I want to be in. I appreciate all of the info
I have experience in defense contractors and O&G and from what I've seen both are beginning to look more towards people with Masters. In fact, a lot of them are considering a Masters the same as 2 years of experience so it helps to make the position more attractive to those who have graduate degrees.
Posted on 11/14/13 at 9:47 pm to greenwave
quote:
What do you do now if you don't mind my asking.
ERP consulting. The market for physicists was pretty poor when I finished so I went to grad school for business and studied for a finance Ph.D. It turns out that the math is similar and I got into mortgage securitization for a bit, but the opportunities for advancement weren't great for that in BR to say the least.
So with my IT background (you can't get a Physics undergrad and Finance graduate degree without it) I was able to transition into ERP, which pays pretty damn decently. Probably much better than if I'd stayed in physics.
This post was edited on 11/14/13 at 9:48 pm
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