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Trina Lavery

Bus 1010

4 December 2017

Geophysicist Term Project

For my E-Portfolio Term Project, I decided to research the career of geophysics,

and what it means to be a geophysicist. To start, I researched the general Job

Description for a geophysicist. A very important factor of being able to do the daily

work for this career is a knowledge of physics, chemistry, geology, and some math. This

is used to study the earth and its composition, including the atmosphere, internal make-

up, oceans and electrical, and other fields (2017, Study.com). There are several different

areas a geophysicist may focus on, and the daily tasks will depend on that decision. For

example, one geophysicist may help locate natural resources, like petroleum. Another

may specialize in seismic activity, and develop methods and techniques to prepare for

an earthquake. The most commonly used methods for studying the earth include

gravitational, magnetic, electrical, and seismic (2017, Payscale.com). The most

commonly incorporated duty of the job consists of collecting and interpreting data. One

geophysicist may spend a majority of their time doing fieldwork to collect data, while

others may have a typical office style job where they analyze data.

The next thing I researched was the career path for a geophysicist. To gain
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an entry level position as a geophysicist, at least a bachelors degree is necessary. It is

typical to start out as a Research Assistant. This is only for some basic entry level

positions however, and it is recommended to get a Masters or Ph.D. for many more

selections and opportunities. For example, to become a consultant or researcher, a

Masters degree may be required (2017, Academicinvest.com).

As previously mentioned, the level of education is extremely important. To

become a geophysicist, one must have a strong background in geology, physics, and

mathematics. It is also important to have research skills, data collection and analysis,

and skills working with various computer programs. To get those skills, it is typical to

pursue an undergraduate degree in science, with a major in geophysics, geoscience, or a

selection of the courses required for both (2017, Academicinvest.com).

According to payscale.com, the salary of a Geophysicist depends very much on

experience. A newer entry-level employee (5 years or less) can expect to make around

$78,000 a year. A mid-career employee with 5-10 years of experience can expect to earn

around $99,000. Someone experienced (10-20 years) can expect up to $116,000. Lastly, a

late-career employee with 20+ years of experience can expect to make around $168,000.

This did vary slightly among different websites I visited for information. The U.S

Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the median pay in 2016 to be $89,780 per year. In

general, the pay will depend on job experience, and on location. Another important

factor is the section of geophysics chosen.

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The future for geophysics seems to be a bright one. Careertrend.com states that

the growing international demand for resource assessment and management means

geoscientists of all types, including geophysicists, are in great demand (2017,

careertrend.com). According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs are expected to

increase 14% between 2016 and 2026. This is due to a need for energy, environmental,

protection, and responsible land and resource management. This is good news for

students of this field, because finding a job wont be as difficult as it would be if the

demand was lower.

For the interview section of this assignment, I read about geophysicist Peter

Molnar. Peter Molnar was a graduate student of geophysics in Columbia University in

the 1960s. He has received several awards in his life, one being the Crafoord Prize in

Geosciences. This is said to be one of the most prestigious scientific honors, and is

awarded once every 4 years. Molnar has switched between several different studies in

his life, to keep his brain fresh and keep learning new things. He has studied Plate

Tectonics, Continents, Climates, and more recently, Biology.

Molnars research also includes earthquake prediction and risks, dynamic

topography, and the opening and closing of seaways between continents, which has

added to our understanding of ocean circulation and its influence on climate on

geologic timescales (Terri Cook, earthmagazine). Molnar also wrote a book called Plate

Tectonics: A Very Short Introduction. When looking at his work profile for Colorado
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Boulder, it shows that his newest research addresses how mountain ranges are built,

and how they and other large-scale crustal movements affect climate on geological time

scales (2017, Molnar).

As with any profession, there are pros and cons of being a geophysicist. One pro

with this profession is the salary. Although it does depend on location and experience,

the median salary is still relatively high. Another pro is that there is faster than average

job growth with this profession. This means there will continue to be job opportunities

into the future, and likely job stability. Something great about geophysics is that there

are multiple specialization areas to choose from, such as environment geoscience,

oceanography, geochemistry, etc. If people choose to, they can learn several different

areas, quite like how Peter Molnar has. This will keep them learning and appreciating

new areas of knowledge (2017, Learningpath.com). It also appears this career field has a

relatively high job satisfaction percentage.

One con, depending on the chosen field, may involve fieldwork. There is a

possibility that fieldwork could involve extreme weather, rugged conditions, physical

demands, and remote locations. The fieldwork could also include unconventional hours

and overtime. Another thing that could be considered a con is the education

requirements, as most positions require at least a Masters degree. This means going to

school for a while.

Now that I have taken the time to research this career and what it means to be a
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Geophysicist, I need to decide if it is a good fit for me. There are a lot of aspects about

this career that I think I would really enjoy, and some that I may struggle with. For

example, I havent taken any of my required math courses yet, so I am unsure as to how

I would feel with a career that relies heavily on math. Basing it off my attitude when I

was in high school it seems the answer should be no, but I have a lot of different

educational interests than I did then. It is something I would need to try before I could

decide. Something I know I would enjoy about this career is Geology. Again, it has been

quite a white since I took that sort of course but when I did, I enjoyed it very much.

To be truthful, I can absolutely see myself enjoying Geophysics as a career

choice. I enjoy, and even prefer, learning about and studying the scientific aspect of this

world. Whether I would be great at it/a good fit or not is something that I would decide

with a little bit more experience. Its hard to know what I would be good at without

trying, but considering my personality and what I enjoy I do feel it would be a good fit.

Of the main areas of study that I would need for this degree, I have already taken one

class of physics and I really enjoyed it. I can also see myself being similar to Peter

Molnar, in the way that I wouldnt want to get bored with one subject and may jump

around a bit to different areas. Overall, researching geophysics was rewarding, and

absolutely something I will consider for my future.

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Sources

Writers, P. (n.d.). Geophysicist Salary. Retrieved December 05, 2017, from

https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Geophysicist/Salary

Invest, A. (n.d.). How to Become a Geophysicist. Retrieved December 05, 2017, from
https://www.academicinvest.com/science-careers/geology-careers/how-to-become-a-
geophysicist

What Can I Do With a Major in Geophysics. (n.d.). Retrieved December 4, 2017, from
http://www.jsg.utexas.edu/careers/files/What-can-I-do-with-a-major-in-Geophysics.pdf

How Hard Is It to Find a Job in Geophysics? (n.d.). Retrieved December 04, 2017, from
https://careertrend.com/hard-job-geophysics-35702.html

Geoscientist Summary. (2017, October 24). Retrieved December 06, 2017, from
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/geoscientists.htm

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Cook, T. (2015, June 16). Down to Earth With: Geophysicist Peter Molnar. Retrieved
December 06, 2017, from https://www.earthmagazine.org/article/down-earth-
geophysicist-peter-molnar

Peter Molnar. (2017, November 28). Retrieved December 06, 2017, from
https://www.colorado.edu/geologicalsciences/peter-molnar

Becoming a Geoscientist: Careers, Salary Info & Job Description. (n.d.). Retrieved
December 04, 2017, from http://learningpath.org/articles/Geoscientist_Career_Info.html