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Plasma Physicists

Experience, Skills, and Personality Traits

Plasma physicists must complete graduate-level research and, ideally, participate in a postdoctoral fellowship. Any other plasma physics–related research experience they can obtain through internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer opportunities will be beneficial.

Successful plasma physicists must have an analytical personality, enjoy problem-solving and working with mathematics and computer modeling software, and view lifelong learning as a privilege, not a burden. They also must be strong communicators because they often collaborate with colleagues, give scientific presentations, and write reports and academic papers. In addition to working as a member of a team, physicists must be able to work alone and have patience and perseverance to stay focused on their research. Other important traits include curiosity, imagination, inventiveness, and strong ethics.