Astrophysicist

A passion for astrology, interest in the study of stars and dreaming about the physical things beyond Earth are the key draws to an astrophysicist. A study of the unknown, it’s a career combining the knowledge of physics, astrology and science to discover new information and help us understand the universe better.

What is an astrophysicist?

An astrophysicist is a scientist, who studies the physical properties, processes and physics of things beyond the Earth. This includes the moon, the sun, the planets in our solar system and the galaxies which aren’t obvious to the human eye.

Working as an astrophysicist, you’ll use the expert knowledge of physics, astronomy and mathematics and apply it to explore the wonders of space such as black holes, superclusters and dark matter for example. The main purpose of the role is to figure out the origins of the universe, how it all works, what our place is within it, search for life on other planets around other stars and some, even look to predict the universe's ending.

It’s a highly skilled role where astrophysicists are educated across many disciplines.

Two types of astrophysicists complement each other's roles and they include the theoretical astrophysicist and the observational astrophysicist. Theoretical astrophysicists seek to explain observational results and observational astrophysicists help to confirm theories.

• Theoretical astrophysicists: These are the theoretical side of astrophysics, hence the name. They develop analytical or computer models to describe astronomical objects, and then use the models to pose theories about them. As what they’re analysing is too far away from reach, they’ll use properties of maths and physics to test the theories.
• Observational astrophysicists: These are the more practical side of astrophysics. Their focus is on acquiring data from celestial object observation and then analysing it, using physical. The work is similar to an astronomer, the role of observing the objects in outer space.

Responsibilities

As an astrophysicist, the responsibilities can vary, but generally, they include:

• Collaborating with other astrophysicists and working on research projects.
• Observing and analysing celestial bodies.
• Creating theories based on observations and the laws of physics.
• Testing your theories to find answers in a better understanding of the universe.
• Writing up research and essays on discoveries.
• Attending various lectures and conferences about research discoveries.
• The ability to use ground-based equipment and telescopes to explore space.
• Analysing research data and determining its purpose and significance.
• Performing presentations of your discoveries and research.
• Reviewing research from other scientists.
• Helping raise funds for scientific research and writing grant proposals.
• Teaching and training PhD candidates.
• The ability to measure emissions included infrared, gamma and x-ray from extraterrestrial sources.
• Assisting with calculating orbits and figuring out shapes, brightness, sizes and more.

Salary

The astrophysicist's salary on average is around the £39,000 mark. The astrophysics salary can range depending on years of experience, certifications and the level of your role. Entry-level astrophysicists can expect around £31,000, and the senior scientist’s salary can increase to the £46,000+ mark^[1].

Qualifications

An astrophysicist job is a master’s graduate career. Most employers at least require master’s astrophysics degrees, whilst many also require a doctoral PhD degree.

There are many relevant degrees you can study to aid your career as an astrophysicist. Before applying for your master’s you’ll need to acquire a bachelor’s (BA) degree. Any BA degree in a scientific field is useful such as astronomy degrees, physics degrees, maths degrees or a similar subject.

The next step is applying for your master’s degree to continue your scientific studies. The master’s degree will need to be in a specific subject such as astrophysics or astronomy degrees and will take around a year to complete. The last step in qualifying is gaining your PhD in astrophysics, which can take around three to four years to complete. As part of your PhD, you will need to create a dissertation which showcases all the research and findings you’ve made when studying.

Training and development

As astrophysicists, training is usually provided when studying and on the job. Entry-level astrophysicists can expect to work closely with their supervisors and professional astrophysicists to gain industry experience and see what the day-to-day role entails.

It’s also essential for astrophysicists to take responsibility into their own hands and keep up to date with the latest industry findings, and how you can apply them to new projects. You can do this by reading relevant journals, and scientific papers, watching documentaries and staying in the know with industry news.

It’s worth becoming a member of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS). You can apply with acceptable qualifications or interest in either geophysics or astronomy. Members include professional scientists and many are amateurs, allowing you the opportunity to learn from the people you connect with.

Skills

As an astrophysicist, skills can vary from theory-based to practical skills. These are the skills required to become an astrophysicist:

• Strong analytical skills when conducting research projects, acquiring data and writing up reports of findings.
• The ability of a good researcher, to test your theories and report back to all other professionals in your team.
• Excellent mathematics skills to help test theories and report on data.
• Good at problem-solving, relating to your research and being able to identify problems in the first place.
• Create a hypothesis and take the steps to either prove or disprove a theory.
• Confident with using computers and various programmes.
• Strong written skills and verbal communication skills.
• Great knowledge of using astrophysics equipment and tools.
• In-depth understanding of the process of raising funds for scientific research.

Work experience

Any work experience you can gain whilst studying is a great benefit when it comes to applying for jobs in astrophysics.

There are many opportunities to take advantage of regarding experience including internships and fieldwork. Most vacancies will be advertised from the autumn term for the summer holidays, however, some employees can list them later on. This means it’s always important to keep researching to help you find an internship or placement which is right for you.

Many internships are targeted at undergraduate students in their penultimate year of study, however, it’s important to look for opportunities as soon as you gain your BA degree.

Internships can vary from summer-long placements to 12-month placements, it’s dependant on the organisation and what they are looking for in an individual. Contact your tutors or staff from other universities to help you with finding an opportunity. Alternatively, as many opportunities aren’t advertised, consider contacting organisations you’d like to work for and see if they have anything available.

Additionally, networking can benefit you for astrophysics jobs. When working at your internship or studying, ensure to keep note of relevant contacts who can help you later in life. Attend relevant conferences and talks, volunteer, when possible and stay in contact with the right people.

Career prospects

As a qualified astrophysicist, you will initially work either within a university or research institution. Through years of experience, your position may become permanent and you will move up the ranks into a more senior role, in that university, research institution or observatory.

You could also go into teaching either public or privately in schools, colleges or universities as a lecturer. There’s the option to move into journalism to share your astrophysics expertise. Alternatively, you could head down the scientific research job route in a private company, or travel around to present your research and theories worldwide.

Based on your qualifications, there’s also the option to go into other fields including private/public research and development, healthcare technology and energy production, plus many more.