Dr. Crystal Bailey from APS Opens Fall 2016 Physics Careers Seminar Series

The Fall 2016 Physics Careers seminar series opens on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016 with  Dr. Crystal Bailey,  Education and Careers Program Manager, American Physical Society:

Time: 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 8, 2016 (refreshments served at 10:30 a.m.)

Location: 204 Loomis Laboratory (Interaction Room)

Title:  Breaking the Myth of the 'Non-Traditional' Physicist: The Real Story About Employment for Physics Graduates

Speaker: Dr. Crystal Bailey, American Physical Society

Abstract:   Physics degree holders are among the most employable in the world, often doing everything from managing a research lab at a multi-million dollar corporation, to developing solutions to global problems in their own small startups. Science and Technology employers know that with a physics training, a potential hire has acquired a broad problem-solving skill set that translates to almost any environment, as well as an ability to be self-guided and -motivated so that they can teach themselves whatever is needed to be successful at achieving their goals. Therefore it's no surprise that the majority of physics graduates find employment in private--sector, industrial settings. At the same time, only about 25% of graduating PhDs will take a permanent faculty position--yet academic careers are usually the only track to which students are exposed while earning their degrees.

In this talk, I will explore less-familiar (but more common!) career paths for physics graduates, and will provide information on resources to boost your career planning and job hunting skills.

Bio: Dr. Crystal Bailey is the Careers Program Manager at the American Physical Society (APS) in College Park, MD. Crystal works on several projects which are geared towards marketing physics and physics career information to high school students, undergraduates, graduate students and physics professionals. Some of her principle projects include the Physics InSight slideshow, Future of Physics Days Events for undergraduates at the APS annual meetings, the APS Job Board and Job Fair, APS Webinars, and maintaining resources on the APS Careers Website. She also devotes significant amounts of time to planning career workshops and other professional development related activities to support early-career physicists and helps manage the activities of the APS Committee on Careers and Professional Development.

Before coming to the APS, Dr. Bailey did research in nuclear physics at Indiana University, Bloomington in the area of few-body systems. In 2008 she received the Konopinski Award for Outstanding Graduate Teaching from the IU Physics Department. She graduated with her PhD from IU in 2009.

Note: While she's in Urbana, Dr. Bailey may be available to discuss career opportunities in physics. If you would like to meet with her on Thursday, Sept. 8, please send me an e-mail, slcooper@illinois.edu, and I'll try to arrange a meeting.

You can see the rest of the Fall 2016 Physics Careers Seminar series here: http://physics.illinois.edu/calendar/careers/