Physicists in the Wild
It might surprise you, but most physics PhD students eventually end up in careers outside of academia. Some leave before graduating, some leave straight after, while others pursue an academic career for years before making the transition. Yet, despite the numbers, current PhD students often find it hard to envision any career beyond the academic horizon. Why? They're simply not exposed to the countless other exciting opportunities available to them.
"Physicists in the Wild" aims to change that.
Join Aggie Branczyk as she interviews physicists who have turned their PhD training into diverse and often unconventional careers. From the corporate world to government, from education to finance, discover the “other” paths traveled by those with graduate training in physics.
Tune in every two weeks to hear the stories of physicists in the wild.
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Aggie works at IBM as a Senior Research Scientist on the Quantum Computational Science team, and the opinions shared in this podcast are her own and are not in any way endorsed by IBM.
Physicists in the Wild
Brigette Oakes - Experimental Physics PhD to Director of Propulsion
Aggie Branczyk interviews Brigette Oakes, who did her PhD in Engineering Physics, and is now the Director of Propulsion in the aerospace industry. Brigette shares her typical, balancing design reviews, technical advice, and leadership responsibilities for a team of 65. She discusses her journey from an individual contributor to a leadership role, and how her background in theoretical physics shaped her approach in aerospace. Brigette also sheds light on the importance of networking, even as an introvert, and embracing one's authentic self in a professional setting. She ends with some great advice about casting a wide net when exploring your career options.
Aggie Branczyk on LinkedIn
Brigette Oakes on LinkedIn
Podcast video on YouTube
Opening music by Alexey Ivanov from Pixabay.
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Aggie works at IBM as a Technical Program Manager for the Quantum Working Groups, and the opinions shared in this podcast are her own and are not in any way endorsed by IBM.