Aerospace Engineering Research

Aerospace engineering deals with performing a variety of engineering work in designing, constructing, and testing aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft. Conducting basic and applied research to evaluate materials in terms of aircraft design and manufacture also factors into the job. Lastly, testing equipment and machinery for improvement may be associated with this career choice. Aerospace engineering requires a significant amount of education, and is recommended to very bright and innovative individuals. The minimum degree required for this job is a bachelor’s degree. Specifically, a bachelor of applied science, or bachelor of engineering is needed. Courses that are needed, and are advised to be taken in high-school for this career are Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Calculus. Also, courses related to applied technology or computer sciences, along with designing are recommended. The University of British Columbia is a respected post-secondary school that provides the degrees necessary to pursue this career choice realistically.

Although the path leading to this profession is difficult, there are high rewards: The average income of a company-employed engineer is $73,000, although there are significant variations depending on degrees, and employers. For example, Engineers with a Ph.D. average $68,000 in contrast to a $48,000 income provided for those with only a bachelor’s. Furthermore, the highest 10% were reported to earn more than $105,000 annually, and are normally under federal employment. The workplace also differs, as there are many different projects that an Aerospace engineer could partake in, causing they’re environment to vary drastically. Case in point, those involved in research and design spend a majority of their time working in a classical office setting, working with computers and drawing boards, while engineers involved with the testing of components and structures find themselves outdoors on test sites and in laboratories. Also, engineers are frequently required to travel to other locations in order to consult with companies providing supplies and materials.

This can be source of stress, as if the employee is especially prestigious in their company, may be required to spend time away from their families and friends. Moreover, nearly all projects will have deadlines and budgets which must be met, which could cause undue stress. However, compared to many other carer choices, the levels are low enough to not be a major factor affecting job decisions. Lastly, during the early days of the career, when NASA was developing their first space and aircraft, engineers averaged to be within their 20s. As expectations for the trade are increasing though, the average has risen to approximately 55 years. As someone who has already decided to be an engineer, but still unsure about their specification, Aerospace engineering seems to be promising in terms of a career, and also something that I would find myself enjoying very much doing. Physicist

A physicist has one large, central goal in mind: to observe, understand, and explain the natural events of the universe. To achieve this goal, they carry out experiments to measure quantifiable phenomena and develop theories, using mathematics to explain these occurrences. Hopefully, they are able to take these models, and apply them to daily lives and new technologies to improve the lives of the public. Unless physicists obtain a high amount of education (Ph.D.) they will not be able to completely take on the responsibilities of the career. Although a minimum degree of a bachelor’s is required, on entry level, a physicist would only be assisting others. Usually though, those with further education are hired in advance. To receive the highest income annually it is favourable to find employment under the government, and to have a Ph.D. in Physics from a university. It is fairly intuitive to select the required courses in high-school, allowing pursuit of the job: Physics, chemistry, mathematics, calculus, computer sciences, and if possible statistics.

The high income and working conditions are enough to pay off the hard work required to become a physicist. Further perks include little stress and flexible hours, although working overtime may be required sometime. In a survey conducted in 2006, the average salary as found to be $94,000 though this number is susceptible to variation according to education, location, and specialty in industry. Although the lowest 10% of physicists earned less than $52,000, the highest 10% had an equally significant deviation, earning upwards to $143,000. Furthermore, those under federal employment were found to average $111,000 in the same year as the above survey. Other than government facilities, physicists often find employment mainly in universities, research centres and hospitals. It is also not uncommon to find them teaching as well. The majority of physicists spend most of their working hours in well maintained laboratories or classrooms, though depending on the field of specialization, they also work outdoors.

As the career is highly research based, there are little to no deadlines, and the working hours can be flexible, and strange. This also leads to physicists working overtime, or for exceedingly long periods at a time, in search of an answer or solution to problems that arise. In addition, theorizing, which contributes to a significant amount of the profession, can be done from any location, whether it be home or at research facilities, alleviating some of the negligible stresses of the trade. As society is stepping further into the world of electronics and high technology equipment, the demand for physicists is increasing. There is 14-20% job growth, which is above average and suggests that finding employment is easier than for some other similar careers. The flexible hours and freedom to work are appealing to me. Also, as curiosity with the world around me is an attribute I’ve carried for all of my life, investigating the universe meanwhile helping society develop into a new age are driving motivations to pursue this career choice.