Astronomy Employment

[Helix]

Ok, maybe not the correct section, and not quite beginners, but worth a try.

I'm trying to compile a list of employment tips, links and agencies for students wishing to find work in astronomy somewhere, mainly because I am a physics student, completing quite a few astronomy units in hopes of finding work in this area.

I've had very little luck in finding even voluntary work (paid would be nice!) so I am hoping my list will not only benefit me, but any others in the same situation.

I know its pretty rare to find this kind of work, but its worth a try.

I am considering even putting stuff in for students wishing to find part time work while they study.

If anyone has any information that would suite, I'd appreciate it. You can PM me or write to the thread.

Thanks

[jC_7]

Hi Helix,

I too am a physic student (actually as of 2 weeks ago when results came out I am officially a physicist, lol), while I'm not actively going down the physicist path (I'm studying engineering too) I believe your facualty might be able to help you. Speak to some members of your physics department, not sure which university you go to, but I know in my uni, the physics department academics are very helpful with this sort of thing.

Hope this helps,

Justin

[Helix]

Unfortunatly no...the faculty wasnt much help at all.
I'm completing my last few units, and am reasonably suprised that there is very little support for near-graduates.

[astrogeek]

I would also be very interested in this as I am starting a course next year at Melbourne Uni majoring in astronomy and astrophysics and would be interested in work both while doing the course and after

[jC_7]

Sorry I couldn't have been of help Helix, maybe try the local observatory or ask around at some astro clubs?

Astrogeek, I too am at Melbourne Uni, have you looked at the course structure, theres no real 'majoring in astronomy and astrophysics' as such (in physics at least). There is a 3rd year unit that does do astrophysics, but I think thats about it, the facualty focuses alot on quantum mech.

That said, there is alot of astro stuff going on, with lecturers from Electrodynamics and Relativity doing quite a lot of astro stuff. I'm not quite sure how you would go about it being a first year student, because there are alot of first year's doing physics (engineering students, general science students, medical students etc etc) and I feel the lecturers probably don't pay too much attention to them.

The best bet would be to put your hand up when they ask for someone to be on the staff-student-liason-committee (SSLC) and/or be an active member of the Melbourne Uni Physics Students Society. Those will get you 'in' I guess. The staff are however much much more helpful to 3rd and 2nd year students, I guess because those students are usually the ones that are definately doing a physics major.

Hope that helps!!

-Justin

[g__day]

I'd ponder that you'd have to be really good at mathematics, and look into what are the major fields of research going on at present and examine your value proposition of which endeavour you'd like to encompass and define how you add value to it.

Maybe write some e-mails to directors at several large observatories explaining your situation and asking their advice of how to get into the field. Stroke their egos and ask how they did it, what advice they can give you, what is most in demand now, what gets you in the front door (is it being on some famous astrophysict's coat tails as their research student) etc...

Just keep persevering is I suspect the secret!

[Robert_T]

Hi Helix, I unsure how this would work in the hard sciences such as Physics, but in softer sciences such as archaeology (my area), the path forward to employment is largely via further post-graduate study via Masters or Doctorate. This should get you the teaching staff interest you need because you attract research funds for your dept/faculty and you can become a useful resource to them as research assistant etc on their projects. It also offers you opportunity for joint publication which I'd imagine is just as important for finding employment in physics as any other branch of academia. No quick fix I'm afraid, and the only payment is if you can score yourself a australian post-grad research scholarship.

cheers,

[jC_7]

I agree with Robert, doing post grad studies gets you noticed alot more, eg Honours etc and since you'll need to find/choose a supervisor you'll get to know and be known by the faculty more. If you can find a supervisor that is intersted in astronomy then that would be the way to go. If your uni doesn't have any, then maybe try to apply to other universities for honours?

[[1ponders]]

If your looking for post-grad/masters courses in Astronomy check out Swinburne http://astronomy.swin.edu.au/sao/ or JCU http://www.jcu.edu.au/school/mathphys/astronomy/

[astrogeek]

jC_7,
Yeah, there is no real astro stuff until 3rd year. I have been in and spoken to faculty members about the course and as you said it is mainly plain physics and maths until third year, and then it is still mostly maths and physics still. You really get the chance to focus on it if you go on to do Honors where you do a research project on something "astronomy and astrophysics"y.