Careers in Science and Engineering

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Careers in Science and Engineering
Regina High School Career DayThursday March 22,
2007

• Dr. Robert Merlino
• Department of Physics and Astronomy
• The University of Iowa

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Science vs. Engineering, whats the difference?

• goal of science is to discover the composition
  and behavior of the physical world the laws of
  nature
• the basic objective of engineering is to design
  (INVENT) useful things
• scientists discover new science engineers apply
  science to design useful things
• the training of scientists and engineers is
  similar, both learn basic science, but scientists
  training goes beyond the basics to the frontiers
  of knowledge

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physics and engineering (examples)

• John Bardeen discovered how semiconductors work,
  electrical engineers used this to make radios,
  TVs, . . . computers . . .
• Hertz discovered radio waves, Marconi invented
  wireless communication
• Roentgen discovered x-rays, engineers make x-ray
  machines used in hosptials
• Physicists discovered nuclear magnetic resonance
  engineers design MRI systems
• Sometimes there are many years between discovery
  of the science and the application
• some discoveries may have no practical application

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Science vs. Engineering

• engineering is neither better or worse than
  science, it is different
• scientists try to advance knowledge beyond what
  is already known
• engineers study applied subject areas that are
  specifically useful in designing things. e.g.,
  strength of beams and the performance of engines
• most engineers are qualified for useful work
  without reaching the Ph. D., but most scientists
  attain a Ph. D.
• there is a direct path from undergraduate
  engineering degree to a career in engineering
• engineers usually pursue their professional
  license
• in science the Ph.D. is a sort of license to do
  research

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Scientists in industry

• there is no definite line between science and
  engineering you will find many physicists
  working in industry
• biophysics
• plasma TV systems
• fiber optics and lasers
• high-tech management
• finance and marketing
• MRI physicists (health physics)
• quality engineers

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Branches of engineering

• manufacturing engineering
• materials engineering
• nuclear engineering
• environmental engineering
• mechanical engineering
• computer engineering
• industrial engineering

• aerospace engineering
• agricultural engineering
• biomedical engineering
• chemical engineering
• civil engineering
• construction engineering
• electrical engineering

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Positions held by physics alumni
Engineering Health Physics Business/management U
niversity Faculty

• Consultant, Lockheed Martin
• Physicist, U.S. Army
• Consultant, Rail Co.
• Advisory Engineer, Westinghouse Electronic
• Systems Group
• Senior Engineer, Marine Corps
• Test Pilot, U.S. Navy
• Physicist, Naval Air Warfare Center
• Senior Scientist, University of Virginia
• Radiation Oncologist, Suburban Hospital,
  Bethesda, MD
• Financial Analyst, American Hospital Supply,
  Corp.

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• CFO, Dennys, Inc..
• Professor of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh
• Professor of Pediatrics, Temple University
• Radiology, Duke University Medical Center
• Assistant Professor, Physics, Villanova
  University
• Radiologist, Richmond Medical Imaging Associates
• Pilot, U.S. Navy
• Technical Director, E.G.G.
• Program Manager, U.S. Army
• Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology,
  University of Pittsburgh
• Manager, Interet Inc.
• Physicist, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
• Program Manager, Vitro Corp.

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• Staff Engineer, Hawaiian Electric Co.
• President, Maui Electronic Co., Ltd.
• Heath Physicist, Radiochemist, U.S. Navy
• Nuclear Engineer, Bechtel Power
• Consulting Physicist
• Health Physicist, Digital Systems Research
• Territorial Manager, Ross Laboratories
• Accounts Underwriter, Kemper Insurance
• Vice President, Cigna International
• Scientist, SES
• Research Associate, DuPont Imaging Systems
• Case Manager, New Jersey Department of
  Environmental Protection and Energy
• Senior Physicst/Systems Analyst, The John Hopkins
  University
• Functional Manger, Hewlett Packard
• Civil Engineer, Sinclair Oil Corp.
• Vice President, Licensing , Wyeth-Ayert
  Laboratories
• Engineer, GTE Fiber Optics Communication

10

• Manager, Network Equipment Technologies
• LCDR, U.S. Navy
• Director if Research, IatroMed, Inc.
• Director of RD, LaJolla Technology, Inc.
• Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery,
  University of Kentucky
• Development Engineer, Reed Research, Inc.
• Test Engineering Manager, Du Pont
• Dean, Sangamon State University, Springfield Il
• Technical Manager, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Physicist, Cornell Aero. Labs
• U.S. Sales Manager, ATT Paradyne
• Consultant, Arthur Anderson Co.

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• Director, Bell Atlantic
• Professor of Astronomy, Villanova University
• Sr. Principal Engineer, Computer Sciences Corp.
• Asst. Professor of Physics, Temple University
• Electronics Engineer Honeywell Electro
  OpticsPresident, California University of PA
• Project Engineer, New Jersey Dept. of
  Transportation
• Field Engineer, Ultratech Stepper
• Engineer, Lockheed Martin
• Electronics Engineer, USAF
• Professor of Computer Science and Engineering,
  Wright State University
• Assistant Scientist, Leeds and Northrup

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What to do now to prepare for careers in science
and engineering

• take re-algebra, algebra, advanced algebra and
  pre-calculus courses
• take every available science course- physical
  science, biology, chemistry and physics
• for physics careers read The Elegant
  Universe, by Brian Greene
• A Brief History of Time, by Stephen Hawking
• Flying Circus of Physics, by Jearl Walker
• get involved in science fairs, extracurricular
  science clubs
• find a mentor someone (teacher or professor)
  who can help you and answer questions about
  things that intrigue you about science

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What do University professors do?

• TEACHING
• I teach a large lecture class (300) for mostly
  freshman The Physics of Everyday Experience- How
  things work Mon Wed Fri 1130 12-30
• I spend at least an hour before each class
  preparing demonstrations to illustrate the
  principles found in our common experiences
• On Tues and Thus mornings I meet individual
  students to answer questions, provide help, etc
• I advise graduate students who are working toward
  their MS and PhD degrees

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Research

• I conduct experiments in plasma (ionized gases)
  physics in my lab
• Both undergraduates and graduate students work
  with my as part of a team
• I write research proposals to federal agencies to
  get the money to do the research
• I spend lots of time writing reports on the
  experiments that we perform these reports get
  published as articles in journals read by other
  scientists
• I attend research conferences where I present our
  results to groups of scientists who can offer
  feed back and criticism
• I am usually in my office M-F, 830 530, but I
  spend a good deal of time in the evenings and
  weekends reading articles about the work of other
  scientists.

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ASTRONOMY
Rosette Nebula
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Comet Hale-Bopp
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Naturally Occurring Plasmas
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High Voltage Outdoor Plasma
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Neon lights are a plasma !
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Aurora Over Chippewa Falls, WI
Brett Walker, Nov. 5, 2001
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I T E R
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A plasma lurks inside every fluorescent lamp !
The fluorescent lamp shown has part of
the phosphor removed to reveal the blue glow of
the plasma inside.