Physics, Passion, and Identity: Calcifer Phillips on Blazing New Trails in Science

Calcifer Phillips (they/them), a student and research assistant at Northern Illinois University in Chicago, joins us on Closing the Gap to discuss their experience as a nonbinary individual pursuing a Ph.D. in physics.

Resources for Women and Gender Minorities in Physics:

• CU*IP (formally CUWIP): Conference for Undergraduate Women and Gender Minorities In Physics; a conference for physicists to grow their networks, present research, and learn about the status of inclusivity in the field of physics.
• Lee Teng internship: Lee Teng was a renowned accelerator physicist; this internship helps undergraduates get started in the field.
• US Particle Accelerator School (USPAS): A two-week program featuring intensive coursework. This opportunity is mainly available to graduate students and people working in the field. A prerequisite of getting a job in the accelerator physics field. Chicagoland Accelerator Student Traineeship (CAST): Offers funding opportunities for graduate students going into accelerator/beam physics at either Northern Illinois University or Illinois Institute of Technology. 
• The International Society of Nonbinary Scientists: An organization providing community and resources for nonbinary people navigating the educational and career pathways in the science fields.

 

Articles:

• https://www.aps.org/publications/reports/lgbt-climate-in-physics
• https://www.aps.org/apsnews/2022/10/mixed-progress-women-marginalized