What is my future after studying Theoretical Physics?

AI Thread Summary
Studying theoretical physics can lead to various career paths, primarily in research roles such as university professor, think tank researcher, or laboratory scientist. Graduates often work in cosmology, astrophysics, or fundamental interactions, but interests may evolve over time. It's essential to focus on current studies and skills rather than fixating on distant career outcomes. Resources like roadmaps for aspiring physicists can provide guidance on educational and professional trajectories. Engaging with the physics community can also help clarify future opportunities.
Maurohata
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Hi everybody!
I'm an Italian high-schooler (but I'm living in California for an exchange year) and I love Physics. I decided kinda 6 years ago that I was going to study Physics at the University, and only now I started deciding the field of physics (but I'm still not sure if Cosmology, Astrophysics and Fundamental Interactions). My big question is: after my 5 years of university, studying what I love, and my PhD, what will I do? What does a physicist do after graduating? Where do you find a job? My ideal job would be in the field of research, but I would appreciate whatever job uses my physics skills to improve the human knowledge of the universe itself.
Yes, I'm a little bit ambitious, but that's my question!
 
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Look to our featured threads section, Zapperz has written up an excellent roadmap for becoming a physicist from high school onward. Job wise the most typical one would be a professor teaching your topic in a university or college. The next most likely job would be working at a think tank, observatory or lab doing theoretical research.

The thing to keep in mind though is that your interests may change and you may want to become something else altogether so I'd focus on what you need to do now rather than worry so far in advance.
 
Thanks a lot! I appreciate thins help. And I'll totally follow your advice. Can you post here the link of the thread roadmap thing, I can't find it? Thanks.
 
Hello Physics Forums Community, I'm hoping to draw upon the community's collective wisdom regarding a procedural challenge that I believe many independent researchers face. I'm working on a self-contained theoretical framework from a foundational starting point. The work touches upon concepts from general relativity, quantum foundations, and cosmology, attempting to connect them based on a single relational principle. It has now reached a point, where some parameter free values seemingly...

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