What Jobs Can I Get With a Physics Degree?

If you’re wondering what kind of jobs you can get with a physics degree, don’t worry. There are many possibilities! Lynchburg physics graduates have found careers in nuclear engineering (often a physics degree is treated as an engineering degree equivalent), medicine, teaching, mobile radio design, and computer consulting.Physics graduates have many options!

Physics Degree Careers

People who graduate with a physics degree are in high demand. They can solve problems and think logically. There are many different jobs that they can have depending on their skills. They might work in research or go into academia, but there are also many good jobs in industry and government. The salaries vary depending on what the person does, but getting a physics degree is worth it.

Architect
Astronomer
Computer game designer
Energy technician
Journalist for a science publication
Laboratory technician
Machine learning engineer
Mechanical engineer

Medical physicist
Optical engineer
Physicist
Satellite technician
Sound technician
Sports scientist in industry
Systems analyst

What are some of our graduates doing?

Think beyond what you could do with a physics degree, and see what some of our graduates are doing now!

2020+2010-20192000 20091990-19991980-19891960-1979

2020+

Graduate	Degree	Currently…
Noah Baumgartner ’22	BS, Mathematics and Physics	Works for Framatome in Lynchburg, Va.
Ian Grow ’22	BS, Physics	Works as an applications engineer at American Hofmann Corporation in Lynchburg, Va.
Abigail Keenan ’22	BS, Physics	Pursuing a PhD in physics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Matthew Dempsey ’21	BS, Physics	Works as a scientist for the U.S. Navy in Dahlgren, Va.
Carl Pilat ’21	BS, Mathematics and Physics Minor, German
Haden Bragg ’20	BS, Mathematics and Physics	Currently pursuing a PhD in engineering mechanics from Virginia Tech.
Michael Cornette ’20	BS, Mathematics and Physics	Works as a material handler at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va.
Mitch Jancse ’20	BS, Mathematics and Physics	Works as a scientist at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division in Dahlgren, Va.
Carter Old ’20	MS, Civil Engineering — Old Dominion University, 2021 BS, Mathematics and Physics — University of Lynchburg, 2020	Works as a geotechnical engineer at Froehling & Robertson in Chesapeake, Va.
Blake Scicli ’20	BS, Physics Minors, History and Mathematics	Works as a lab specialist at Framatome in Lynchburg, Va.

2010-2019

Graduate	Degree	Currently…
Nick Savino ’19	BS, Physics Minors, Business, History, and Mathematics	Pursuing a PhD in physics from Tulane University.
Courtland Winfield ’19	BS, Physics Minor, Mathematics	Works as a patent classifier at Serco in Harrisonburg, Va.
Zach Betterton ’17	BS, Mathematics and Physics	Teaches physics and mathematics at The Carmel School in Ruther Glen, Va.
Chad Hobson ’17, PhD	PhD, Physics and Astronomy — University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2021 MS, Physics and Astronomy — University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2019 BS, Mathematics and Physics — University of Lynchburg, 2017	Works as an advanced imaging fellow at Howard Hughes Medical Institute in Ashburn, Va.
Ryan Katona ’17, PhD	PhD, Materials Science and Engineering — University of Virginia, 2021 BS, Mathematics and Physics — University of Lynchburg, 2017	Works as a postdoctoral researcher at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, N.M.
Mark Kozy ’17	MS, Electrical and Electronics Engineering — Virginia Tech, 2019 BS, Mathematics and Physics — University of Lynchburg, 2017	Works as a test engineer at Boeing in SmithField, Penn.
Alex Vaughan ’17	BS, Mathematics and Physics	Works as a degreed designer at Wiley\|Wilson in Lynchburg, Va.
Erik Johnson ’15	BS, Physics
Brian Ramsey ’15	BS, Mathematics and Physics	Works as a patent application classifier in Harrisonburg, Va.
Kiley Trennepohl ’13	BS, Mathematics and Physics
Korosh Yazdanpanah ’13	BS, Mathematics and Physics	Works as an analytics and program manager at Serco in Reston, Va.
Thomas Landesman ’12	BS, Mathematics and Physics	Works a security researcher with a messaging security company in San Francisco, Calif.
Ned Parker ’12	BS, Mathematics and Physics	Works as a technical analyst at Leidos in Washington, D.C.
Michael Blatnik ’11	BS, Mathematics and Physics	Works as a thermal-hydraulics engineer at TerraPower in Bellevue, Wash.
Ethan Farrell ’11	BS, Physics Minor, Mathematics	Played lacrosse for several teams at the professional level.
Hunter Smith ’11	BS, Mathematics and Physics	Works as a full-stack software engineer at MetLife in Raleigh-Durham, N.C

2000-2009

Graduate	Degree	Currently…
Robbie Ferguson ’09	BS, Physics Minor, Mathematics	Works in the city of Lynchburg, Va.
Jermal Hill ’09	BS, Physics	Works as a process engineer at kdc/one in Lynchburg, Va.
Crystal Moorman ’09, PhD	PhD, Physics — Drexel University, 2015 MS, Physics — Drexel University, 2011 BS, Mathematics and Physics — University of Lynchburg, 2009	An assistant professor of physics and director of the Belk Astronomical Observatory at the University of Lynchburg.
Eric Compher ’08	MS, Electrical Engineering — University of Virginia, 2010 BS, Physics — University of Lynchburg, 2008	Compher participated in our 3/2 engineering program and transferred to the University of Virginia after three years at Lynchburg. He completed his MS in electrical engineering in 2010, doing some of his graduate work at the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Eric works as a reactor safety engineer at Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory in Pittsburg, Penn.
Brandon Cook ’07, PhD	PhD, Physics — Vanderbilt University, 2012 BS, Mathematics and Physics — University of Lynchburg, 2007	Began a National Science Foundation postdoctoral at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in September 2012.
Brent Shrader ’06	BS, Mathematics and Physics	Works in the U.S. Navy’s nuclear submarine program.
Stuart Farrell ’05, PhD	PhD, Physics — George Mason University, 2011 MS, Physics — George Mason University BS, Mathematics, Philosophy, and Physics — University of Lynchburg, 2005	At National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., working on CdTe solar cell research.
Dan Hartlaub ’04	MA, Mechanical Engineering — University of Virginia, 2006 BS, Applied Physical Science — University of Lynchburg, 2004 Minors, Chemistry and Mathematics	Works as a mechanical engineering consultant in Towson, Md.
Kevin Shay ’04	MS, Medical Physics — University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 2009 MS, Physics — University of Louisville, 2006 BS, Mathematics and Physics — University of Lynchburg, 2004	Works at the Hembree Cancer Center in Fort Smith, Ark.
Benjamin Hannas ’03	MS, Applied Mathematics — North Carolina State University, 2006 BS, Mathematics and Physics — University of Lynchburg, 2003	Works at Advanced Energy in Raleigh, N.C.
Jennifer Jack ’03	BS, Physics	Began working toward a doctor of optometry degree at the University of Alabama Birmingham School of Optometry in Fall 2004.
Allen Dalton ’02, PhD	PhD, Plasma Physics — University of Texas at Austin BS, Chemistry and Physics — University of Lynchburg, 2002	Works for the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, D.C.

1990-1999

Graduate	Degree	Currently…
Tom Schamp ’98, PhD	PhD, Materials Science and Engineering — University of Virginia, 2006 MS, Materials Science and Engineering — University of Virginia, 2001 BS, Mathematics and Physics — University of Lynchburg, 1998	Works as a senior product specialist at Hitachi High-Tech in America.
Adam Ballard ’96, PhD	PhD, Atomic Physics — Wake Forest University, 2002 BS, Mathematics and Physics — University of Lynchburg, 1996	Works as as a medical physicist.
John Coleman ’96	BS, Mathematics and Physics	Works as the director of software development at Trax Inc.
Casey Russell ’96	MS, Instrumental Engineering Applied Science — University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 1998 BS, Physics — University of Lynchburg, 1996 Minor, Mathematics	Works as an engineer.
Chris Lillicotch ’95	BS, Physics	Works as a medical dosimetrist at the Oconee Regional Cancer Center in Georgia

1980-1989

Graduate	Degree	Currently…
Jeff Bulischek ’84	BS, Physics	Works as a district manager at Nalco Chemical.
Dorsey Bumbry ’83	BS, Physics	Works as a senior systems analyst at Raytheon.
Brian Kidd ’80	MS, Physics — University of Lynchburg, 1986 BS, Mathematics and Physics — University of Lynchburg, 1980	Works as a human performance improvement coordinator at B&W.
Ron Rudder ’80, PhD, JD	JD — George Washington University School of Law PhD, Semiconductor Physics — North Carolina State BS, Physics — University of Lynchburg, 1980	Works as a patent attorney and partner at Oblon Spivak.

1960-1979

Graduate	Degree	Currently…
Greg Allen ’79, PhD	PhD, Materials Science — University of Virginia BS, Physics — University of Lynchburg, 1979	Retired from Merric Electronic Materials where he was a materials engineer.
Eric Barringer ’79, ’96 MBA, PhD	PhD, Materials Science — MIT MBA, Business Administration — University of Lynchburg, 1996 BS, Mathematics and Physics — University of Lynchburg, 1979	Works as an engineer at Novatech Corp.
Roy Fauber ’79, PhD	PhD, Physics — University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill BS, Physics — University of Lynchburg, 1979	Works as a consultant at Fuertek LLC.
Steve Woods ’79	BS, Physics	Retired after spending more than 40 years in the supercomputing field.
Barry Burks ’77, PhD	PhD, Nuclear — University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill MS, Nuclear Physics — University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill BS, Physics — University of Lynchburg, 1977	Is president of TPG Applied Technology. In 2012, he was appointed vice chancellor for research and economic development at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.
Charles Cox ’76, ’85 MS	MS, Physics — University of Lynchburg, 1985 BS, Physics — University of Lynchburg, 1976	Works as product design manager at C.B. Fleet Corp.
Margaret Szabo Sleevi ’76	MS, Chemistry — Virginia Tech, 1978 BS, Physics — University of Lynchburg, 1976	Works as a quality assurance specialist at TestAmerica Laboratories.
Tom Foster ’75	BS, Physics	Works as a staff specialist at Virginia Power Corp.
Tom Magner ’75	MS, Engineering/Industrial Management — The George Washington University, 1988 BS, Physics — University of Lynchburg, 1975	Works as a deputy director of engineering at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. He designed optical systems for the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) mission.
Stuart Moran ’74	BS, Physics	Retired from working as a physicist and manager at the Physics Laboratory, Naval Surface Weapons Laboratory.
Leif Aagaard ’73, ’82 MBA	MBA, Management Control — University of Lynchburg, 1982 MS, Computer Science — University of Virginia BS, Physics — University of Lynchburg, 1973	The owner of Best Mailing Services.
Jeff Mason ’73	BS, Mathematics and Physics	Works as a physicist at the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University.
Harold Massie ’73, PhD	PhD, Atmospheric Science — University of Virginia BS, Physics — University of Lynchburg, 1973	Is a lieutenant colonel (ret.) in the United States Air Force Weather Service and was an analyst at Areva Corp before his retirement.
Ann King ’72	BS, Physics	Works as the tech writer for a small manufacturer in Oakland, Calif.
Len Newman ’71, ’75 MS	MS, Physics — University of Lynchburg, 1975 BS, Physics — University of Lynchburg, 1971	Works as a project manager at Areva Corp.
Courtenay B. Clifford ’70	MS, Computer Science — Fairleigh Dickinson University, 1976 BS, Physics — University of Lynchburg, 1970	Retired from Lucent Technologies in 2001 where he was a senior manager in charge of systems engineering and operations planning for long distance operations. He currently works for SoHaR.
Roger Trent ’70	MS, Materials Science — University of Virginia BS, Physics — University of Lynchburg, 1970	Is chief operating officer of Medical Automation Systems.
Julius Sigler ’62, PhD	PhD — University of Virginia MS — University of Virginia BS, Physics — University of Lynchburg, 1962	Retired from the physics department as a faculty member. During his tenure, he served in various administrative roles including dean of the School of Sciences and dean of academic affairs. He continues to teach Westover Honors Colloquia and Senior Symposium courses.

Please update us on what you’re doing, and we’ll feature you on this page. If you’re looking for a classmate or other alum, ask us and we’ll try to provide contact information.

John Eric Goff, PhD
Professor of Physics

goff@lynchburg.edu