What Do Physics Professors Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

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Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life

Physics Professors

Physics Professors teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Salary
$101290
Becoming One
Very Hard
Education
Doctoral degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match



Job Description

Job Description

Physics Professors teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research. They also evaluate and grade students’ class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.

Other tasks include:

  • Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  • Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.
  • Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as quantum mechanics, particle physics, and optics.
  • Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
  • Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.
  • Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.

We asked Physics Professors how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

Job satisfaction

83%

How meaningful is this job

83%


83% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 83% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.



Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Physics Professors initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions. They evaluate and grade students’ class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.

A typical day for a Postsecondary Physics Teacher will also include:

  • Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students.
  • Prepare and deliver lectures to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as quantum mechanics, particle physics, and optics.
  • Maintain student attendance records, grades, and other required records.
  • Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  • Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.

We asked some Physics Professors a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? 14% said yes
How important is it to work in a team in this job? 1% said very important
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? 65% said yes
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? 22% said yes
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? 3% said yes
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? 10% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Physics Professors also serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues. They may also supervise students’ laboratory work.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Physics Professors Maintain regularly scheduled office hours to advise and assist students. They might also Compile, administer, and grade examinations, or assign this work to others.

In addition, they Participate in campus and community events.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching, internship, and research work.

To some Physics Professors, it is also their responsibility to Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.


Working life

Working hours

More than 40 hours per week

Working schedule

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Postsecondary Physics Teacher, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Do Physics Professors work in an office-style work environment?

Every day
81%


Never
8%


Do Physics Professors work outdoors?

Never
75%


Once a year
17%



Is this right for me

Best personality for this career

The Helpers and The Thinkers

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with, communicating with, and teaching people. They like helping or providing service to others..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

You can read more about these career personality types here.



Learn more about Physics Professors

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Related to Postsecondary Physics Teachers Job Description

Postsecondary Physics Teachers job description, what do Postsecondary Physics Teachers do, typical day for Postsecondary Physics Teachers, what is it like to work as a Postsecondary Physics Teacher, how many hours do Postsecondary Physics Teachers work, day to day work of a Postsecondary Physics Teacher

Additional resources

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/education-training-and-library/postsecondary-teachers.htm
http://www.cgsnet.org/
https://www.acteonline.org/
http://www.teach.org/


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