Expert: Daniel Mazur - 7/28/2006

Question
Hi I'm from England and I am going to uni this year to do an mphys in physics and astronomy. I'm not sure yet of course but I am thinking about a career in NASA or ESA. Do you know how easy it is to work for these places when you would need to move there from another country, and what sort of jobs would they offer that is not to do with engineering and would require my qualifications? (If any). I enjoy atrophysics and the theoretical side of physics.

Answer
Hello Stacey,

having never worked for either of the Space Agencies, I don't know, how easy or difficult to work for them. I can tell it is rather challenging to pass through the application process at NASA - I mean the competition, plenty of people have the ambition to work there. Several people asked me about carreer at NASA here at AllExperts.com, you may have read the Q&A's. I know close to nothing about the ESA or the careers there, but...

Just a quick glance at their web site www.esa.int told me that astrophysicists are NOT really useful specialists for ESA and I know my impression from NASA web site had been the same. However sad it might feel, the fact is we are not quite there yet. Mankind is not quite at the stage, when Astrophysics would be terribly useful in space navigation, propulsion, materials development or life sustaining... not to mention theoretical physics. Instead, you'll find enough vacancies for 'applied physicists' and plenty of engineers for power, navigation and communication systems. Mundane problems, so to say, which is not surprising, considering that man-made space probes have barely reached beyond the boundaries of our Solar system. The Space Agencies are funding all sorts of research outside their own facilities, including space observation and theoretical astrophysics, but that is not the same as having a job directly at NASA or ESA.

Well, not good news I am afraid, for you. But nothing I wrote here is absolute, it's just the situation here and now. When you graduate your university, situation may be different.

To answer the part of your question about workforce mobility I have to assure you (good news coming for change) that this is not a problem at either of the Agencies, nor for most Universities, National Laboratories, Research Institutes and Centers on the Northern-and-West hemisphere. I am, incidentally, looking around for my first post-doctorate job just now and the only limiting thing is to catch the eye of a potential employer overseas enough, so that they are willing to pay your travel expenses for a proper job interview. But believe me, you will get to travel around the world during your studies already, you'll meet people and later you'll have a much better chance to find a job in your preferred field.

I wish you health of mind for your studies and all good luck in future.
Daniel

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