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Physicists

SOC 19-2012.00Job Zone 5 · Extensive Preparation

Conduct research into the phases of physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories.

Context coveredAcademic research, national laboratories, industrial R&D, instrumentation development, peer review and grant funding, condensed-matter to high-energy contexts.

Sources:O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.SkillsCrosswalkSkillsCrosswalk — O*NET enrichment + adjacency index. Opens in new tab.
Emerging
Entry / Apprentice
  1. Standard experimental apparatus (optics tables, vacuum systems, cryostats) — set up under a postdoc's direction in a research lab.
  2. Data-acquisition software and oscilloscopes — operate per a defined SOP on assigned experiments.
  3. Numerical methods (Python, MATLAB, Mathematica) — implement standard routines for data reduction.
  4. Lab notebooks and instrument logs — maintain with timestamps and provenance for group review.
  5. Radiation- and laser-safety procedures — follow consistently in regulated lab environments.
  6. Component machining drawings — read and dimension correctly for shop submission.
  7. Routine error analysis and uncertainty propagation — carry through assigned datasets.
  8. Literature searches and reference managers — produce annotated bibliographies on graduate topics.
  9. Standard simulation tools (LTspice, Geant4, COMSOL) — run validation cases under supervision.
  10. Group-meeting presentations on weekly progress — deliver clearly to a research advisor.
Developing
Mid-level / Established
  1. Independent experimental setups — design and commission within a senior investigator's program.
  2. Custom electronics and FPGA timing — specify, build, and integrate into a measurement chain.
  3. Statistical modeling and Bayesian inference — apply to noisy datasets with reproducible code.
  4. Beamtime and facility proposals — prepare and execute at synchrotron or accelerator facilities.
  5. First-author publications in disciplinary journals — produce on focused projects.
  6. Cryogenic and high-vacuum systems — maintain and troubleshoot during a multi-month run.
  7. Project schedules across parallel measurements — manage in coordination with shared facilities.
  8. Junior students and undergraduates — train on instrumentation and analysis basics.
  9. Conference talks (APS, IEEE, optical societies) — present at regional and topical meetings.
  10. Standards (calibrations, traceability, metadata) — maintain across recurring experiments.
Proficient
Senior / Expert IC
  1. Independent research programs — lead from hypothesis through publication at an academic or national-lab group.
  2. Major instrumentation builds — design and commission with shop, vendor, and collaborator coordination.
  3. Theoretical and computational models — derive, simulate, and benchmark against experimental data.
  4. Federal grants and lab-directed funding — author and win as a principal investigator.
  5. Cross-institutional collaborations — lead working groups within experimental consortia.
  6. Doctoral students and postdocs — advise on dissertation work and independent research arcs.
  7. Top-tier journal manuscripts — lead through revision in PRL, Nature-family, and equivalent venues.
  8. Disciplinary norms (peer review, ethics, data sharing) — steward through service to societies.
  9. Industry partnerships and licensing discussions — contribute to technology-transfer outcomes.
  10. Scientific advisory and review panels — serve at agency, lab, and journal level.
Advanced
Lead / Principal / Executive
  1. Major research initiatives and facility builds — conceive and shepherd through agency review at multi-year scale.
  2. Departments or division-scale programs — lead with hiring, mentorship, and strategic-plan responsibility.
  3. Scientific roadmaps (decadal surveys, Snowmass-style) — contribute as a recognized field leader.
  4. Doctoral and postdoctoral career pipelines — build and sustain across cohorts.
  5. Disciplinary policy and funding strategy — advise government agencies and congressional staff.
  6. International collaborations and consortia — represent the program at governance level.
  7. Major awards and recognitions — receive in keeping with sustained, field-shaping contribution.
  8. Industry–academia bridges and translational platforms — architect with sustained outcomes.
  9. Scientific publishing and society leadership — hold editorial and presidential roles.
  10. Legacy of citizens and scholars in physics — develop through training programs and outreach.

AI-at-Work Competency Framework

Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Authoritative source data identified for 998 occupations

How a worker at each mastery level uses, directs, and evaluates AI tools in this occupation. Each statement cites its evidence inline; click a citation chip to verify the source.

Emerging
  1. AI-assisted literature review — queries an LLM to summarize recent journal articles and identify relevant theoretical frameworks, while independently verifying source accuracy against primary publications Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
  2. Routine equation formatting — delegates LaTeX typesetting and symbolic expression cleanup to an AI assistant, retaining full responsibility for the mathematical content Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
Developing
  1. Computational data analysis — uses AI tools to accelerate exploratory analysis of experimental datasets, applying the outputs as a starting point for deeper physicist-led interpretation Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  2. Research proposal drafting — directs an AI assistant to generate initial prose sections for grant proposals, then substantially revises structure, scientific claims, and methodology to meet funding-body standards Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
  3. Mathematical derivation checking — hands off intermediate algebraic steps to an AI assistant for verification, cross-checking results against known physical constraints before accepting them Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
Proficient
  1. Simulation design collaboration — orchestrates an AI tool to scaffold numerical simulation code for modeling physical phenomena, while personally specifying boundary conditions, physical assumptions, and validation benchmarks Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
  2. Data-pipeline acceleration — delegates repetitive data-cleaning and preprocessing tasks to AI-assisted scripts, redirecting saved time toward hypothesis formation and experimental design Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
  3. Scientific writing augmentation — uses AI to refine technical manuscripts for clarity and consistency, overriding suggestions that misrepresent physical concepts or obscure precision Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  4. Cross-disciplinary synthesis — directs an AI assistant to map connections across subfields of physics, evaluating the relevance and accuracy of suggested analogies through expert judgment before incorporating them into research narratives Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
Advanced
  1. End-to-end research workflow direction — coordinates AI assistance across the full research cycle—from literature synthesis and hypothesis generation through simulation, statistical analysis, and manuscript production—while maintaining scientific authorship of every conceptual decision Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab. Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab..
  2. AI autonomy calibration — sets explicit scope boundaries for AI-delegated tasks, recognizing that a mean AI autonomy of 0.34 in physics workflows demands continuous physicist oversight of delegated sub-tasks to prevent propagation of physically inconsistent outputs Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
  3. Novel methodology design — evaluates when AI-generated computational approaches are genuinely novel versus recombinant, and integrates only those methods that withstand rigorous physical and statistical scrutiny, contributing the validation framework as an intellectual product Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab. WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab..
  4. Mentorship in AI-assisted science — trains early-career researchers on the boundaries of AI reliability in quantitative physical modeling, establishing lab-level norms for when to augment versus delegate versus reject AI outputs Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab..
Evidence pack
AEI usage
Task observations: 14
Augment share: 71.3%
Time saved: 52.7%
AI autonomy: 0.34
SAFI positioning
Top skill: Science
Score: 53.1 / 100
precision: category_estimate
WEF cluster
Data Science and Analysis
data_science_and_analysis
Sources:Anthropic Economic IndexAnthropic Economic Index — release_2026_03_24. Opens in new tab.WEF Skills TaxonomyWEF Skills Taxonomy 2021 — Building a Common Language for Skills at Work. Opens in new tab.Jadhav & Danve, 2026Skill Automation Feasibility Index — Jadhav & Danve, 2026 (arXiv:2604.06906). Opens in new tab.

Pathsmith Durable Skills Framework

Sources:Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Subscriber feature

Ten durable-skill domains mapped to four proficiency/role levels for each occupation. Each statement is aligned to the Pathsmith taxonomy, derived from trusted grounding data and mapped to occupation-specific O*NET tasks and skills.

1Communication10 statements
Emerging
  1. Scientific terminology usage — applies basic physics vocabulary when describing experimental observations to lab peers and supervisors Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Research summary drafting — writes preliminary descriptions of experimental procedures and results in structured lab report format O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Equation narration — translates simple mathematical expressions into plain-language descriptions for introductory audiences Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Conference abstract writing — composes structured summaries of research findings that convey methodology and significance to a physics audience O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Data explanation — communicates trends and anomalies in experimental datasets to colleagues using both visual aids and verbal description Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Classroom physics instruction — delivers prepared lectures on foundational physics concepts to undergraduate students with appropriate pacing and clarity O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Journal manuscript preparation — writes complete research papers for peer-reviewed physics journals, structuring argument from hypothesis through conclusion with precise mathematical language Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Science communication leadership — develops and delivers public-facing content—such as keynote addresses, review articles, or media interviews—that frames advanced physics research for broad audiences Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Mentored writing program — coaches early-career physicists through the full cycle of journal submission, peer review response, and revision to build independent scientific communication skills Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Interdisciplinary narrative building — constructs research narratives that bridge physics with engineering, medicine, or policy domains, enabling cross-sector collaboration and funding Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
2Leadership11 statements
Emerging
  1. Lab task ownership — takes initiative to complete assigned experimental procedures independently and reports progress to the principal investigator without prompting Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Peer support contribution — assists fellow graduate researchers in troubleshooting equipment or calculation errors during shared experimental sessions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Research project coordination — manages timelines and task assignments for a small sub-project within a larger physics research group Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Undergraduate supervision — guides undergraduate research assistants through data collection protocols and safety procedures in an experimental physics environment O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Lab meeting facilitation — leads regular team check-ins to align research progress, surface blockers, and maintain momentum toward experimental milestones Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Principal investigator responsibility — directs a research group, setting scientific priorities, allocating resources, and holding team members accountable for deliverables Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Grant leadership — leads the writing and submission of multi-investigator research proposals, coordinating contributions from collaborators across institutions O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Doctoral student mentorship — guides PhD candidates through the full arc of dissertation research, from hypothesis formulation through defense, fostering scientific independence Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Field-defining initiative — launches a new research program or interdisciplinary center that attracts national funding, talent, and establishes a novel direction in physics Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Scientific community leadership — chairs program committees, editorial boards, or professional society divisions, shaping the direction of the broader physics discipline Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Institutional research strategy — advises university or national laboratory leadership on long-range scientific priorities, workforce development, and infrastructure investment Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
3Metacognition11 statements
Emerging
  1. Learning gap identification — recognizes which mathematical or theoretical concepts require deeper study after encountering them in coursework or early research Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Calculation error reflection — reviews own computational work to identify systematic mistakes and adjusts problem-solving approach accordingly Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Research approach evaluation — periodically assesses whether the chosen experimental or theoretical methodology is yielding productive results and considers alternative strategies Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Literature reading strategy — selects and prioritizes physics papers based on relevance to current research questions, adjusting reading depth according to need Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Feedback integration — incorporates reviewer and supervisor critiques of research work to revise both the immediate product and future research habits Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Independent research planning — designs a self-directed study or experimental schedule that allocates cognitive effort across conceptual learning, simulation work, and data analysis phases Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Model assumption auditing — systematically examines the assumptions underlying a chosen physical model and evaluates their validity against observed data before drawing conclusions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Skill portfolio assessment — maps own competencies across theory, computation, and experiment to identify development priorities for career advancement Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Epistemological reflection — critically examines the foundational assumptions of an entire research program, identifying where theoretical frameworks may be limiting scientific progress Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Mentored metacognition — teaches junior physicists explicit strategies for self-monitoring their reasoning and identifying conceptual blind spots during research Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Adaptive expertise modeling — demonstrates to research teams how to shift cognitive strategies when facing novel or ill-defined physical problems without established solution paths Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
4Critical Thinking11 statements
Emerging
  1. Experimental result questioning — identifies whether collected data points are physically plausible before accepting them at face value in a lab notebook Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Assumption spotting — recognizes the simplifying assumptions embedded in introductory physics models when applying them to real-world problems Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Data anomaly investigation — distinguishes between measurement error, systematic bias, and genuine physical signal when unexpected results appear in experimental datasets Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Literature claim evaluation — assesses the validity of findings in published physics papers by examining methodology, statistical treatment, and reproducibility Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Alternative hypothesis testing — formulates competing theoretical explanations for observed phenomena and designs discriminating experiments to distinguish between them O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Physical model validation — evaluates the predictive accuracy of a theoretical or computational model against empirical data, identifying conditions under which the model fails Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Experimental design critique — analyzes proposed research protocols to identify confounding variables, measurement limitations, and logical gaps before execution Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Cross-domain inference — draws reasoned conclusions from physics data that have implications for engineering, materials science, or medical applications, explicitly tracing the evidentiary chain Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Paradigm challenge — constructs a rigorous argument that existing theoretical frameworks are insufficient to explain a class of phenomena, proposing a more predictive alternative Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Peer review leadership — provides authoritative critical assessments of submitted manuscripts and grant proposals, identifying fundamental flaws in logic, methodology, or physical reasoning Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Field-level synthesis — integrates contradictory findings across multiple research groups to identify the most parsimonious explanation consistent with all available evidence Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
5Collaboration11 statements
Emerging
  1. Lab protocol adherence — follows established team procedures for equipment use, data recording, and safety in a shared experimental physics environment Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Research team participation — contributes assigned tasks to a collaborative physics project and communicates status updates to group members Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Interdisciplinary data sharing — coordinates with engineers or computer scientists to exchange datasets, simulation outputs, and analysis tools within a joint research project Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Co-authorship contribution — fulfills agreed responsibilities in a collaborative manuscript, delivering accurate sections on time and responding constructively to co-author edits O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Remote collaboration management — works effectively with physicists at partner institutions or national facilities, coordinating experimental access and data custody across sites Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Large-scale experiment participation — functions as an effective contributing member of a major physics collaboration (e.g., particle accelerator or telescope array), aligning individual work with collective scientific goals Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Conflict navigation in research teams — mediates scientific disagreements within a research group by anchoring discussion in evidence and shared methodological standards Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Multi-institution project integration — coordinates contributions from diverse research groups toward a unified experimental objective, managing dependencies and shared timelines Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Collaboration architecture — designs governance structures, data-sharing agreements, and publication policies for large international physics consortia Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Cross-sector partnership building — establishes productive long-term collaborations between academic physics research and industrial or government partners, aligning scientific and applied objectives Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Team culture cultivation — builds a research group culture characterized by psychological safety, rigorous peer feedback, and collective ownership of scientific quality Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
6Character11 statements
Emerging
  1. Research integrity initiation — records experimental data accurately and completely in lab notebooks, including null results and instrument failures, without selective omission Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Authorship honesty — accurately represents own contributions to joint research work when credit and attribution are assigned Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Error disclosure — promptly reports discovered mistakes in calculations, data collection, or published results to supervisors and collaborators Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Intellectual property respect — properly cites prior work and avoids misappropriation of colleagues' unpublished ideas or data in own research outputs Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Professional accountability — meets commitments to collaborators, reviewers, and students without requiring external supervision or reminders Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Research ethics stewardship — ensures that all experimental procedures, human subject protocols, and data handling practices within the research group conform to institutional and disciplinary standards Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Transparent methodology reporting — documents experimental and computational methods in sufficient detail to enable independent replication, regardless of whether results support the original hypothesis Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Conflict of interest management — discloses funding sources, competing interests, and prior relationships when publishing, reviewing, or advising on research relevant to those interests Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Scientific misconduct prevention — establishes and enforces rigorous data management and reproducibility standards across a research program, modeling ethical practice for the next generation Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Disciplinary ethics leadership — contributes to the development of professional codes of conduct, publication standards, or research integrity training for the broader physics community Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Courageous dissent — publicly challenges flawed high-profile findings or questionable research practices within the field, accepting professional risk in service of scientific truth Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
7Creativity11 statements
Emerging
  1. Novel approach exploration — proposes an untested measurement technique or alternative derivation path when a standard method fails to yield interpretable results Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Analogy generation — draws connections between the current research problem and phenomena from a different subfield of physics to inspire new experimental ideas Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Simulation innovation — designs a non-standard computational model to represent a physical system in a way that existing software packages cannot adequately capture Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Experimental apparatus adaptation — modifies existing laboratory equipment to measure a physical quantity outside its originally intended operating range Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Cross-disciplinary concept import — applies mathematical or theoretical tools from an adjacent field (e.g., information theory, biology) to reframe an unresolved physics problem Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Research question origination — identifies a genuinely open scientific question at the frontier of the field and designs an original experimental or theoretical program to investigate it Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Novel theoretical framework construction — develops a new mathematical formalism that more accurately describes a class of physical phenomena than existing models O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Unexpected finding exploitation — recognizes when an anomalous experimental result represents a discovery opportunity rather than an error and redesigns the investigation accordingly Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Paradigm-shifting contribution — produces a theoretical or experimental breakthrough that fundamentally changes how a physical phenomenon is understood within the discipline Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Creative research program leadership — builds a laboratory culture that systematically encourages speculative hypotheses, tolerates productive failure, and converts unconventional ideas into rigorous science Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Interdisciplinary field creation — pioneers a new research domain by synthesizing physics with another discipline, establishing foundational methods, vocabulary, and research agenda Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
8Growth Mindset11 statements
Emerging
  1. Failed experiment reframing — treats an experiment that did not confirm a hypothesis as informative data rather than wasted effort, documenting lessons learned Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Critical feedback acceptance — receives supervisor or peer critique of research work without defensiveness and uses it to revise the approach Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Skill gap pursuit — independently studies an unfamiliar mathematical method or computational tool required for a new research direction rather than avoiding it Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Rejection resilience — responds to a rejected journal submission or grant proposal by revising the work based on reviewer feedback and resubmitting Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Iterative experimentation — runs successive rounds of refined experiments in response to partial or inconclusive results, treating each iteration as progress toward understanding Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. Long-term research persistence — sustains productive effort on a multi-year research program through periods of null results, equipment failures, and funding uncertainty Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Expertise boundary expansion — deliberately takes on research problems that require mastering new subfields of physics or adjacent disciplines, viewing the learning curve as essential to the work Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  3. Constructive peer review engagement — treats referee comments on submitted manuscripts as opportunities to strengthen the scientific argument rather than as obstacles Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Culture of continuous improvement — instills in a research group the expectation that every result, whether positive or null, generates knowledge and informs the next experimental cycle Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Career-long learning modeling — publicly pursues formal or self-directed learning in emerging areas of physics throughout a senior career, demonstrating that intellectual growth has no terminal point Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Failure-to-insight conversion — systematically harvests lessons from failed research programs and publishes negative results to prevent redundant effort across the field Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
9Mindfulness11 statements
Emerging
  1. Measurement attention — maintains focused observation during data collection procedures to detect subtle instrument fluctuations or environmental disturbances in real time Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Cognitive load awareness — recognizes when extended calculation or coding sessions are producing diminishing returns and takes deliberate breaks to restore concentration Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Experimental presence — applies sustained, undistracted attention during sensitive physical measurements where momentary inattention can corrupt the dataset Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Stress regulation during peer review — manages the emotional response to critical peer feedback by pausing before reacting, enabling a considered and constructive reply Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Meeting intentionality — enters research group discussions with a clear agenda and actively monitors whether conversation is drifting from productive scientific inquiry Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. High-stakes focus management — maintains precise cognitive control during complex multi-step experiments or simulations where errors compound and are difficult to trace retrospectively Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Emotionally regulated scientific discourse — engages in contested scientific debates—at conferences or in peer review—with intellectual curiosity rather than ego-driven defensiveness Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Workload pacing — monitors own cognitive and emotional state across an extended research project and adjusts intensity and rest cycles to sustain output quality over time Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Research environment design — structures the physical and temporal conditions of a laboratory to support deep, focused work for all team members, minimizing unnecessary interruptions Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Contemplative problem-solving — models for junior researchers how deliberate, unhurried reflection on a physical problem often yields insight that rapid computational iteration does not Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Equanimity under scientific uncertainty — maintains steady, productive engagement with a research program whose fundamental questions may remain unresolved for years or decades Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
10Fortitude11 statements
Emerging
  1. Experimental setback continuation — resumes a research procedure after equipment failure or data loss without abandoning the investigative direction Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Ambiguity tolerance — continues working productively on a physics problem when the correct theoretical approach is not yet clear Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Developing
  1. Funding rejection recovery — sustains research momentum after an unsuccessful grant application by pursuing alternative funding sources or scoping the project to available resources Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Multi-year project commitment — maintains consistent experimental effort across a longitudinal research program despite slow or incremental observable progress Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Public criticism endurance — responds to sharp criticism of published results at a conference or in a response paper with scientific rigor rather than withdrawal Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Applying
  1. High-difficulty problem perseverance — sustains focused effort on an unsolved physics problem over an extended period, systematically exhausting approaches before concluding a method is insufficient Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
  2. Career risk tolerance — pursues a high-uncertainty research direction with significant scientific upside despite the professional risk of null results and limited near-term publications Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Replication challenge response — defends original research findings under challenge from replication attempts by transparently providing data, protocols, and statistical documentation Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab. O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
Exceeding
  1. Decade-scale research courage — leads a research program investigating a foundational but poorly-funded question in physics, sustaining the effort through sustained skepticism from the broader community Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  2. Adversity narrative leadership — shares with the research community the full story of a difficult scientific journey—including failures and pivots—to normalize perseverance as a core professional value Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
  3. Institutional resistance navigation — advances an unconventional research agenda within a conservative institutional context, building evidence and alliances until the approach gains acceptance Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.
Sources:Pathsmith Durable SkillsPathsmith Durable Skills Framework — America Succeeds + CompTIA. Opens in new tab.O*NET v30.2O*NET Resource Center — Occupational Information Network, v30.2 (Sept 2025). Opens in new tab.
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Source anchors that ground each statement

Related titles
Aerodynamicist · Aerophysicist · Astrophysicist · Atmospheric Physicist · Atomic Spectroscopist · Biophysics Scientist · Cloud Physicist · Computational Physicist · Condensed Matter Physicist · Diagnostic Medical Physicist · Electrodynamicist · Experimental Physicist
RAPIDS apprenticeships
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O*NET skills
ScienceReading ComprehensionMathematicsSpeakingCritical ThinkingWritingActive ListeningActive LearningLearning StrategiesComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingInstructingProgrammingSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessPersuasionOperations AnalysisTime ManagementManagement of Personnel ResourcesCoordinationService Orientation
Knowledge domains
PhysicsMathematicsEngineering and TechnologyComputers and ElectronicsEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingChemistry
Abilities
Mathematical ReasoningWritten ComprehensionNumber FacilityOriginalityFluency of IdeasInductive ReasoningDeductive ReasoningOral ExpressionOral ComprehensionProblem Sensitivity
Work styles
Intellectual CuriosityInnovationAttention to DetailAchievement OrientationDependabilityIntegrity
Technology
Music or sound editing softwareGraphics or photo imaging softwareData base user interface and query softwareExpert system softwareAnalytical or scientific softwareComputer aided design CAD softwareDevelopment environment softwareObject or component oriented development softwareEnterprise resource planning ERP softwareEnterprise application integration software
Tasks · seed anchors for statements
  1. Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.
  2. Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.
  3. Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.
  4. Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.
  5. Write research proposals to receive funding.
  6. Teach physics to students.
  7. Report experimental results by writing papers for scientific journals or by presenting information at scientific conferences.
CIP education codes
14.120140.020240.080140.080240.080440.080540.080640.080740.080840.080940.081040.089940.110151.2205

Sources: O*NET v30.2 (CC BY 4.0), SkillsCrosswalk.com, LER.me, Anthropic Economic Index, SAFI (Jadhav & Danve, 2026), WEF Skills Taxonomy 2021, Pathsmith Durable Skills Framework. © 2026 EBSCOed.