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Faculty of Arts and Science

Department of Physics

Career development & opportunities

As physicists, you have the opportunity to work both in both industry and academia. The expectations of each career path can differ a lot.

Explore the resources below to discover your career options as a physicist, build professional skills, find jobs and more. Also, always feel free to connect with department staff and all faculty members to discuss your career, CV development and next steps.

Co-op program

The Physics Co-op program lets you gain hands-on experience while completing your degree. By alternating academic terms with work terms, you can apply your physics training in the industry and broaden your career opportunities upon graduation.

The program is offered to students who are enrolled in the BSc Major, Specialization and Honours programs.

Learn more about Co-op

Career planning

Concordia’s career planning services provide students with individualized assistance in career counselling and advising, interview preparation, networking strategies and job searching. They also host career-building workshops, industry job fairs and more.

Explore career planning services

Professional development and training

Beyond technical and research skills, employers value transferable soft skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership and adaptability. Take advantage of a range of workshops, specialized training and resources to deepen your skills throughout your studies.

Student Success Centre (undergraduate students)
GradProSkills (graduate students)

Extracurricular activities

Connect with peers, get involved on campus and explore interests beyond coursework. These organizations put together academic activities and social events, as well as represent and advocate for certain student groups within Concordia.

Undergraduate groups and associations

Graduate groups and associations

Concordia offers institution-led initiatives that support innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration and experiential learning.

Throughout the year, the university and external organizations host events related to physics. Graduate students presenting posters or papers at academic conferences can receive financial support through the Conference and Exposition Allowance offered by the School of Graduate Studies.

Consult the links below for current event dates.

Career resources and job postings

Professional organizations and physics-focused publications often offer career guides, job boards and industry insights that can help you explore career paths and find physics-related opportunities.

As a physics graduate, in addition to the academia, you can also work in the industry on a great variety of fields. Below is a small selection of fields and related local companies that hire physicists.

  • Agilent
    Chemical analysis: food, environmental and forensics, pharmaceutical, medical diagnostics, energy
  • CAE 
    Civil aviation, defence and security, healthcare
  • Environment and Climate Change Canada
    Biology, chemistry, climatology, engineering, environmental sciences, hydrology, informatics, library science, meteorology
  • GE Canada
    Aviation, financial services, energy, renewable energy, information technology, healthcare, lighting, oil and gas, transportation
  • National Research Council Canada
  • Teledyne DALSA
    Digital imaging, electronic imaging components, semiconductor fabrication
  • Thales Group
    Aerospace, space, transportation, defence, security
  • The Washington Center
    Academia related
  • University Incubators
    (e.g., District 3 at Concordia)

Here are some resources that could help you as a physicist in the workforce:

 
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