Leo Quintanar’s Post

I often encounter the question, "Why should we hire a physicist?" Physicists are often stereotyped as scientists who study the natural laws of the universe, working in laboratories, writing equations on whiteboards, wearing ties, and contemplating the secrets of existence. While these traits may reflect certain aspects of our daily work, they do not capture the essence of who we are. At our core, physicists are classically trained problem-solvers. When confronted with a challenge, we don’t shy away; instead, we approach it with curiosity and determination, saying, “That’s intriguing.” We then leverage our extensive and diverse knowledge base to address it directly. As such Problem-solving is frequently regarded as the very essence of what it means to be a physicist. The unique value of hiring a physicist lies in this approach. We pursue solutions relentlessly, drawing from diverse fields, integrating ideas, and constructing innovative solutions. During graduate school, I built a fume hood using acrylic for model painting, soldering, and chemical-related work. However, I soon encountered practical challenges: inadequate lighting within the hood and poorly positioned helping hands that obstructed the workspace. Rather than accept these limitations, I reevaluated the design. I reinforced the hood with a skeleton for added stability and had a breakthrough idea: using a train track system to enable two-axis movement for lighting. By mounting a train track onto the skeleton and adding a perpendicular track, I created a system allowing the light to glide smoothly in both x and y directions. This innovation also enabled the integration of adjustable helping hands, significantly enhancing functionality. Below is an image showing the progress of the lamp in the fume hood. To further improve the design, I plan to incorporate USB ports for powering small devices during work sessions. Achieving the same capabilities with a commercially available lamp would cost over $500 and require significant adaptation to fit the system. This project exemplifies the essence of a physicist’s contribution: resourcefulness, adaptability, and a passion for creative problem-solving. Therefore, the real question isn’t, “Why should we hire a physicist?” but rather an invitation to reflect on your vision: Do you want your team or company to stagnate by relying on conventional thinkers, or do you aim to achieve greatness by welcoming those who think differently and unlock you organization’s full potential?

Peter John Skuba

Technical Support & Quality Engineer

4w

Super cool, is there plans to integrate a way to quickly lock the position?

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