Astrophysicist
Astrophysicists study the physics of astronomy - the physics of the Sun, stars, planets, galaxies, and everything else in the universe. Most will have a PhD in astronomy, astrophysics, or physics, since there's not much you can do without one. They work for colleges and universities, national labs, and NASA. Some do observational work with telescopes and satellites, some do computer models, some do theoretical work, and many do some combination of the three. They spend their days gathering data, analysing data, writing papers, working on collaborations, reading papers, and writing grant/funding proposals. And often teaching and/or advising students.
What is the pay scale?
The median pay for an astrophysicist is $95,000 annually. However the highest paid astrophysicists earn $156,720 and the lowest paid earn $45,330. The higher paid scientists tend to work for the government and NASA, though you have to be at the top of your game to earn the right to work alongside the worlds leading astrophysicists.
What is the job forecast?
The job forecast for an astrophysicist is fair. Many people want the job, though you get it purely based on intelligence and intellect.
Is it a hard job?
You don't need to be a genius to become an astrophysicist. Instead it requires hard work and dedication, just like another job you may undertake. You must have rigorous math and science skills, and have the ability to think on your feet. It would be helpful if you could deal with stress, especially during university. Other factors like discipline and determination are key.
What qualities are deemed suitable for this job and what are the skills required?
You would have to be passionate by what the universe has to offer and have the determination to unlock its deepest secrets. Other qualities include an eye for detail, critical thinking, problem solving skills and an absolute fascination with the 'unknown'. Remember you don't need to posses all of these qualities to become an astrophysicist though the passion must be there, even the slightest ember could start a firestorm of zeal with the slightest bit of knowledge.
What is the uniform?
The dress code of an astrophysicist is causal clothes, though the attire must be suitable for the working environment.
What are the working hours?
Up to 40 hours a week is spent in the lab for astrophysicist strictly situated in laboratory work. However huge periods of time can be spent working by researchers.
What are the duties?
The responsibility of astrophysicists includes analysis of data and statistics, archiving, plotting, logging, evaluating, and reporting the results of the research. They may have to coordinate data received from various satellites and telescopes, and use theoretical models to compare this data and align images. Observational astrophysicists work to maximise viewing time of different stellar events.
How to achieve your goal?
Becoming an astrophysicist is rather complex and requires many years of dedication, though it will be all worth while if you have the ability to pull it off. Firstly, take the highest science and physics courses offered in VCE to prepare yourself for university science courses. Attend a university with an astronomy or physics department. Take as many physics and higher math courses as are offered. Always take any astronomy if available, along as you can handle the pressure. Think about what specialty you might be interested in after school is finished and seek out courses and research projects in that specialty. Then find a teacher who is conducting research in physics and partner with the professor to get some practical experience. Get a letter of recommendation in order to get into a graduate astronomy or physics program. Complete a thesis if required by your undergraduate program and take the GRE. Get into a graduate school offering the astrophysics specialty of your choice, such as radio astronomy. Choose your graduate school carefully both by the types of specialties available and the prestige and accreditation of the school. Get into a Ph.D. program in order to be qualified to conduct the type of high level research science that astrophysicists crave. Finish your PhD and begin your post-doctoral research job.
Are there many complex elements to astrophysics?
Astrophysics is a vary complex science, and is quite difficult to study for in university. Not so much the mathematics, but getting your head round often unbelievable concepts.
What subjects do you need to undertake in high school?
If you wanted to become an astrophysicist you must take either method or specialist maths, english, physics and chemistry which is optional. If you don't do any of the following VCE courses in high school then you won't be allowed to enter the university course.
What university studies must you undertake?
It is required that you enter the Bachelor of Science, then after three years enter, if you are good enough, a Major in Physics. The Major is very hard, though if you have the commitment and skills required you should make it out alive.
Which Australian universities offer courses in your field of choice?
Almost all universities in Australia offer courses in Physics and Astrophysics, with the exemption of specialist school. If you were going to undertake astrophysics as a career it may be helpful to get a scholarship into a school that specialises in Astronomy or Astrophysics, giving you a head start.
Is the job fulfilling?
Yes, being an astrophysicist would be a fulfilling career as it constantly exercises the brain. You are discovering, everything from future hospitable planets, to new substances found on Mars. In other words you are the future, and will help us to explore the unknown, and find the answers that lie, somewhere out there.
What is the drop out rate at university?
Unfortunately the Bachelor of Physics and Major in Physic or Astrophysics are very stressful courses. The drop out rate is quite high compared to other courses such as the Bachelor of Fine Arts. If you don't have the passion don't undertake this course as you may have possibly of wasted time that could of been used elsewhere. Don't become pressured into doing something your heart disagrees with as you may have wasted precious time and resources.
What fields of astrophysics are available?
Working as an astrophysicist you will journey through a number of tasks more so than jobs. In other words you might be a researcher one day, then a lab assistant the other.
Bibliography
http://universe-beauty.com/Space-photos/Other/amazing-space-photo-img361-JPG-15198p.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLSW_8Vlh_Y
http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/astro/
http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/
http://astro.physics.unimelb.edu.au/
http://universe-beauty.com/Space-photos/Other/amazing-space-photo-img361-JPG-15198p.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLSW_8Vlh_Y
http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/astro/
http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/
http://astro.physics.unimelb.edu.au/