<p>The first department that comes to mind is obviously academia, i.e. faculty or research positions at universities. However, there are many other career paths available (hopefully: there are not enough academic positions for every student completing a Ph.D...). For volcanologists, there is actually a nice site called <a href="https://volcanologistsoutsideacademia.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">volcanologists outside academia</a>. As the name suggests, it compiles various testimonies about people who got a Ph.D. in volcanology but now work outside academia. They have also conducted a survey to gather more data. The results show that there are very diverse employment possibilities, including (but not restricted to):</p>
<ul>
<li>Outreach/science communication</li>
<li>Museums</li>
<li>Academic publishing</li>
<li>Data analysis</li>
<li>Material science</li>
<li>Instrument companies</li>
<li>Tourism...</li>
</ul>
<p>I'm not sure for igneous petrologists/geochemists, but I think the possibilities are pretty close.</p>
<p>Edit: I just realized I completely forgot to mention volcano observatories, which represent a &quot;large&quot; source of employment for the community (relative to its size). IAVCEI's Early Career Network has put up a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_OnswTU2k8WZuOmdCD22qQ/videos" rel="nofollow noreferrer">series of videos</a> where observatory workers describe their job. Another series about careers in academia is planned, so stay tuned!</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-01-27T15:59:21.830Z
2020-10-13T15:57:25.010Z
2020-10-13T15:57:25.010Z
Jean-Marie Prival
<p>What industries or government departments hire volcanologists and igneous petrologists/geochemists in the United States? </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-21T05:50:49.703Z
Do you have a specific country in mind?
Gimelist
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-21T06:09:03.250Z
I'm sorry, I should have added that I'm in the US.
Steven
<geochemistry><volcanology><petrology>
Employment of Volcanologists and Petrologists
Steven
# Employment of Volcanologists and Petrologists

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-05-21)

What industries or government departments hire volcanologists and igneous petrologists/geochemists in the United States?

**Tags:** geochemistry, volcanology, petrology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Do you have a specific country in mind?  
> **username_0**: I'm sorry, I should have added that I'm in the US.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2020-01-27. Score: 2

The first department that comes to mind is obviously academia, i.e. faculty or research positions at universities. However, there are many other career paths available (hopefully: there are not enough academic positions for every student completing a Ph.D...). For volcanologists, there is actually a nice site called [volcanologists outside academia](https://volcanologistsoutsideacademia.wordpress.com/). As the name suggests, it compiles various testimonies about people who got a Ph.D. in volcanology but now work outside academia. They have also conducted a survey to gather more data. The results show that there are very diverse employment possibilities, including (but not restricted to):

* Outreach/science communication
* Museums
* Academic publishing
* Data analysis
* Material science
* Instrument companies
* Tourism...

I'm not sure for igneous petrologists/geochemists, but I think the possibilities are pretty close.

Edit: I just realized I completely forgot to mention volcano observatories, which represent a "large" source of employment for the community (relative to its size). IAVCEI's Early Career Network has put up a [series of videos](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_OnswTU2k8WZuOmdCD22qQ/videos) where observatory workers describe their job. Another series about careers in academia is planned, so stay tuned!


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