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
- High School Social Studies Teacher at Montague Area Public Schools
- Teacher-Science at Boulder Valley School District
- Teacher-Social Science at Boulder Valley School District
- Teacher-Family & Consumer Science at Boulder Valley School District
- Teacher-Primary at Boulder Valley School District
- Entry Level Outside Sales Trainee - Central at Reynolds and Reynolds
- Secondary Business Teacher- Papillion La Vista South High School at Papillion La Vista Community Schools
- Elementary Instrumental Music Teacher at Papillion La Vista Community Schools
- 2025-26 Paraprofessional I Special Education - Poudre Global Academy (multiple positions available) at Poudre School District
- Elementary Teacher 3rd Grade- Walnut Creek Elementary at Papillion La Vista Community Schools
Current Internships
CNS – Physics – Internships
- Summer 2025 Infrastructure/SRE Intern at Checkr
- Full-Stack Developer Intern at BetSmart
- Mandarin-Speaking Resident Counselor at Summer Discovery & Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG)
- Investment Banking M&A Internship at EntelMed
- Summer History Internship at Gallopade International
- Summer Resident Counselor- Travel, Housing and Meals Included at Summer Discovery & Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG)
- IT Communications Intern at Tirerack.com
- Psychologist Intern (temporary), Venture Academy Family of Schools, County Operated Schools and Programs (COSP) at San Joaquin County Office of Education - HR
- Engineering Intern at Freudenberg Medical
- Digital Marketing Intern at Advance2000
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
