Michael Burns '80
The GVSC mainframe computer was kept fairly busy for a while with my test runs of a computational physics problem.
Physics Career Guide
Explore Options: A Menu of Major-Specific Experiences and Sampling of Related Career Paths
Explore our Physics academic resources, designed to support your academic aspirations.
Curriculum Guide
Feeling like you don't know what to do with all of this great information? We highly encourage to make an appointment with your academic advisor and career advisor. Another great starting point is the Self-Guided Career Exploration Tool.
Unlock career potential in Physics! Discover resources to maximize your professional trajectory.
Menu of Experiences
Sample Physics Internship Sites
Internships provide a way for you to get hands-on, supervised experience in the world of work. You are able to apply the concepts you are learning in the classroom to a work environment.
- NASA Internships and Scholarships (NIFS) programming
- SPS Internships
- The American Astronomical Society
Join A Student Organization
Get involved with a student organization related to your major. Student orgs are a great way to get connected and explore career options!
Relevant Courses and Certificates for Building Skills
Developing the relevant skills that employers seek is an essential component of a student's education. GVSU students should consider strategic elective courses and certificates to pair with their major in order to gain additional skills.
Community Service Opportunities
Seek volunteer opportunities related to the field you're exploring as a way of testing out future careers.
The Civic Engagement Center keeps a list of current volunteer opportunities updated on their website. There are ongoing opportunities on a continuous basis, as well as on-campus and off-campus opportunities posted as they become available.
Physics Abroad Options
Through study abroad you’ll also set yourself apart from other job-seekers and graduate-school applicants in an increasingly competitive market.
Imagine yourself waking up in the morning to explore the same halls walked by the greatest physicists of the past, tracing their work through historical and scientific perspectives. Or maybe you would rather shoot for an internship at CERN, the world’s largest particle accelerator where the earth-shattering discovery of the Higgs Boson just transpired.
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Pursuing academic, creative, and research experiences and projects outside the classroom is an excellent way to learn new skills and build a body of work in your field.
Fellowship Opportunities
Fellowships are high-impact, potentially life-changing opportunities for students and alumni, opening doors to careers in public service, advanced academic study, foreign service, international teaching, and other career and service pathways into meaningful and fulfilling lives.
Physics Career Spotlights
Physics
DaiLynn Dietz '17
I miss the physics club area all the time! We had a space within Padnos where physics students could congregate, collab on projects, and work through tough problems on whiteboards.
Where Alumni Have Landed
- Senior Associate Medical Physicist – Henry Ford Health System
- Site Lead for the DoD High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP) - Dynamics Research Corporation
- Development Engineer - Aculight Corporation
- Senior Project Manager – Amway
- Engineer – Intertek Test Labs
- Project Engineer – Consumers Energy
- Orthoptist – Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital
- Applications Engineer – Steelcase
- Software Developer – Metal Components LLC
- Physics Teacher - Bloomfield Hills International Academy
Attend Events
Career Community - Science and Research
GVSU Winter 2026 Career and Internship Fair
February 19, 2026 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
The Winter Career & Internship Fair is an excellent place to kick off your job or internship search, or to begin networking with organizations looking to hire Grand Valley students and alumni...
Consider joining the Science and Research Career Community or any other Career Community you are interested in!
Graduate & Professional Programs
You have built a solid foundation in theoretical and experimental physics during your undergraduate studies. Graduate school offers the opportunity to deepen your expertise and contribute to cutting-edge scientific research:
- Master of Science (MS) in Physics: This degree strengthens your knowledge in classical mechanics, quantum theory, and advanced mathematics. It’s ideal for careers in research, industry, education, or as preparation for doctoral study.
- PhD in Physics: This research-intensive degree prepares you for roles in academia, national laboratories, or advanced industry. Programs focus on original research in areas like astrophysics, condensed matter, or particle physics, often alongside teaching experience.
- Interdisciplinary Programs: Many graduate programs combine physics with fields such as engineering, computational science, materials science, or biophysics—ideal for students interested in applying physics across innovative, cross-disciplinary fields.
Discover More
Join a Career Community
Watch Videos to Hear from Alumni Working in the Field
Check out our podcast!
Career Center Resources
Looking for other career resources? The Career Center Resources page contains resources related to careers, resumes, internships, job search, interviewing, networking, and more.