Fall 2025 Newsletter

Nominations will open soon for the FIAP Executive Committee

The FIAP Nominating Committee is seeking your assistance in identifying a diverse slate of outstanding candidates to run for leadership positions within the FIAP Executive Committee. These positions will be open for nomination: 

• Vice Chair: 4-year term in total (serving for 1 year as a Vice Chair, Chair-Elect, Chair, and Past Chair) 
• Member-at-large: Two will be elected for 3-year terms 

These officers will begin their terms during the APS Global Physics Summit in March 2026 and serve until March 2029. Current officers are listed on the FIAP website, and the officer duties and responsibilities are specified in the Bylaws. The “Chair Line” consists of the Past Chair, Chair, Chair-Elect, and Vice Chair. Briefly, the Vice Chair is responsible for leading the Program Committee which plans the program for the FIAP sessions at the Global Physics Summit including Industry Day. This is a large task and others in the Chair Line provide support. The Members-at-Large serve on FIAP subcommittees and support a broad range of activities. All officers participate by video in Executive Committee meetings every other month. Self nominations are welcome. 

Look for an email with details for the nomination process. 

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DPP & DFD Career Fairs, Education, and Outreach Events

The APS Careers Team is hosting two Career Fairs including a Career Counseling and Resume Help Desk: 

Division of Plasma Physics (DPP) meeting November 18-20, 2025, in Long Beach, CA link

Division of Fluid Dynamics (DFD) meeting November 23-25, 2025, in Houston, TX link 

Come and participate in these events as either a job seeker or an employer. If you are starting your job search, this is a good time to tune up your resume and connect with potential employers. Many employers will have job listings, and there will be a private interview space available near the Career Fair to conduct interviews. See which employers have signed up to participate in the Career Fair, and other information such as Career Fair hours of operation, by visiting the “link” websites above. 

Please email Lesley-Ann Rennie (rennie@aps.org) on the APS Careers Team at any time with questions/concerns about the Career Fair. 

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Call for papers: Special issue on motivating physics learning through research applications

The American Journal of Physics invites submissions for a special issue, Motivating physics learning through research applications, with a submission deadline of December 31, 2025. This issue will share how concepts from the undergraduate curriculum are applied in research, with the goal of providing instructors with examples to motivate students to learn these topics. Papers in this issue won’t explain entire research problems, but, rather, will share examples from the research process that illustrate the use of specific topics in undergraduate physics. You might think about what concepts are most important for new students in your lab to understand, or what process you love to explain to new students because they recognize its connection to what they learned in class. For more information, see the call for papers. 

Contact for more information: Beth Parks, meparks@colgate.edu. 

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DCOMP webinars on working in industry

The APS Division of Computational Physics (DCOMP) has launched a series of informal, one-hour virtual “office hour” events featuring researchers who have successfully transitioned into careers in industry. You can learn more and indicate your interest in future events at this link. A recording of a recent event in August is available here. This is an excellent opportunity to hear from people who are working in the private sector. Check it out and see if this might be an option you want to consider! Note that you must be a DCOMP member to participate in the live events. 

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IEEE article on getting attention for your ideas

This article from IEEE caught my attention: “Why No One Takes Your Ideas Seriously (And How to Fix It)”. This can be a special challenge early in your career. Jacquelyn Adams makes several points worth reading in more detail with this summary: ” By adjusting your timing, delivery, storytelling, and engagement tactics, you can transform a brilliant-but-ignored idea into one that others champion.” It’s well worth three minutes to read this insightful article. 

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Perspective from David Giltner on “will I still feel like a scientist if I work in industry?”

David Giltner wrote a thoughtful posting on LinkedIn on the question “𝘐𝘧 𝘐 𝘨𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺, 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦?” His excellent answer is “Being a scientist isn’t about the work you do. It’s about 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩 the work you do.” The full article is worth a few minutes to read. You’ll find encouragement to consider a wide range of career paths in your scientific career. 

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Sign a letter to Congress supporting the NSF role in funding US science

The Association of American Universities is coordinating a letter with business leaders of all stripes (including startup founders and VCs) to demonstrate support for the National Science Foundation. The letter, to be sent to appropriations leadership the third week of September, focuses on the importance of NSF for US competitiveness and global scientific leadership. It also identifies the agency’s role in economically important technology and in skilled workforce development. The letter is addressed to members of Congress and the text can be viewed here. You can sign the letter and express your support by filling in this simple form. 

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