As the basis of many other sciences including chemistry, oceanography, seismology, and astronomy, Physics majors have a variety of career choices available to them, ranging from continuing their studies into graduate school, or entering the workforce in industries as varied as engineering, computer sciences, teaching, and more.
Websites for Finding Job Opportunities and Internships
Careers and Employment
- CSU Career Center
- Careers Toolbox – Know the Skills that you have!
- What can I do with a Physics Major? (includes preparation strategies for careers)
- American Physical Society career site
- American Institute of Physics jobs site
- AIP-Careers-Fact-Sheet.pdf
- Who’s Hiring Physics Bachelors?
- Careers in Physics.pdf
REU and Internships
- CSU Career Center
- REU Opportunities (site list)
- APS Internship List
- Physics Today Internship List
- Pathways to Science (STEM opportunities list)
- SACNAS (link to opportunities for students in underrepresented populations)
- AFRL Scholars Program
- Ames Lab Internships (year-round)
- Argonne National Lab opportunities (some year-round)
- Brookhaven National Lab Internships (year-round)
- DAAD Rise (Research Internships in Science and Engineering in Germany for international students from countries including the US)
- Department of Defense STEM Internships
- Department of Energy Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship program (opens in a new window) Note 10/7/2020 deadline for Spring 2021
- Department of Energy Scholars Program
- Fermilab Internships (some year-round)
- Idaho National Lab internships (some year-round)
- Homeland security (various divisions, inculding health and science — maybe check out the nuclear forensic sciences summer school that has a stipend)
- Lawrence-Livermore National Lab (mostly summer)
- Lawrence Berkeley Lab opportunities
- Los Alamos National Labs (need to use jobs site… look for undergraduate search, summer internships)
- National Renewble Energy Lab Internships (some year-round)
- National Energy Tech Labs (may accept J-1 student visa for some opportunities; managed through ORNL, but sites in Oregon, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania)
- NIH summer internships (if you are on a biophysics track)
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (Boulder and Gaitherburg; summer only, must be citizen or permanent resident)
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (maybe if you are on a geosciences or environmental track?)
- Oak Ridge National Lab (several, one does not require citizenship)
- Pacific Northwest National Lab
- Princeton Plasma Physics internships (non-summer must find housing)
- Sandia National Labs (check out summer and academic internships)
- Savannah River National Labs (mostly partners with select universities… but there are some open opportunities; see the link to the bottom)
- SLAC Accelerator Lab (includes an unskilled opportunity, possibly an “inside” for early students)
- Stanford’s Summer Undergraduate Research in Geoscience and Engineering Program (Physics majors welcome to apply)
- Los Alamos.pptx
Opportunities Listed in Handshake
Current Job Listings
CNS-Physics
- Forestry Technician - Research at USFS Pacific Northwest Research Station
- Sexual Assault Program Coordinator at Department of the Navy, Office of Force Resiliency
- Integrated Prevention Coordinator at Department of the Navy, Office of Force Resiliency
- Health Promotion Specialist at Department of the Navy, Office of Force Resiliency
- Agricultural Economist at Colorado State University - Office of Engagement & Extension
- Speech Language Pathologist at Littleton Public Schools
- Executive Director at Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
- Legal Admin at California Air Resources Board
- Air Pollution Specialist at California Air Resources Board
- GMS Special Education Classroom Teacher at Crawford AuSable School District
Current Internships
CNS – Physics – Internships
- Vetcove Sales Internship (Fall, Fully Remote) at Vetcove
- Historic House Museum Intern at History Colorado
- Intern-Teacher at Vickery Meadow Youth Development
- EAGLE Scholars AmeriCorps Member-Intern at Vickery Meadow Youth Development
- Front-End Developer Intern at ObjectSecurity LLC
- Reverse Engineering Intern at ObjectSecurity LLC
- Engineering Intern Medical Devices Columbus, OH at Avation Medical
- R&D Software Engineering Intern at Avation Medical
- USDA-FS Fellowship on Federal-Tribal Public Land Management at Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
- USDA-ARS Biosafety Program Fellowship at Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
Part-Time and On-Campus Jobs
Please visit https://colostate.joinhandshake.com for more information about Part-Time and On-Campus Jobs.
Research Opportunities
For Undergraduate Students
- Handshake
- CSU College of Natural Sciences Research
- CSU College of Agriculture Undergraduate Research Fellowship
- CSU Warner College of Research and Outreach
- CSU College of Vet Med and Biomedical Sciences Research
- US Government Research Positions for Undergraduates
- National Association for the Practice of Anthropology Job Board
- National Science Foundation – Research Experiences for Undergraduates
The PDF guide, How to Find a Research Experience in Science, can help you navigate this process. So can talking to your advisor about more research opportunities!
Career Resources
CSU Career Center
career.colostate.edu
970-491-5707
career_info@mail.colostate.edu
Fall Hours
- M & F 10a – 12p
- Tu, W, & Th 10a – 2p
- & Virtual
Amy Cailene
Career Education Manager
College of Natural Sciences
amy.cailene@colostate.edu
Schedule an Appointment Online
College of Natural Sciences
Guides for Majors
