What it Takes to be a Hybrid Physicist
Atom Physics Staffing offers contracts that are tailored to each facility, including traditional locum contracts, remote support contracts and hybrid contracts. A hybrid contract mixes on-site and remote work. Many facilities are moving toward having some of their physics staff working in a hybrid model. We have several of these contracts across the country, and we have learned not only when it is an appropriate solution to a facility’s needs, but what type of physicist thrives best in this situation.
The nature of radiation therapy physics requires at least some physical presence by physics staff for machine QA and regulatory requirements for stereotactic or HDR treatments. Depending on the facility, this physical presence can be minimal, or it could be for the majority of the time. The hybrid contracts are tailored specifically for the facilities, so you shouldn’t assume the structure of the contract when you hear the term hybrid. We recently posted about the different situations that might lead to a facility wanting a hybrid contract. From the physicist’s point of view, here are some of the corresponding schedules we have and some considerations for each:
- On site once a month to do monthly QA, usually on the weekend, and remote support the rest of the month. We’ve got physicists lined up out the door to fill these types of contracts, because most people think they can fit this in on top of their full-time physics job. The variable with these types of contracts is the amount of remote work done each week. Sometimes it is just 1-2 hours a night, but it can also be a full 8-hour day. The facility may want the physicist to be available during clinical hours to answer questions or respond to urgent needs. That can be difficult if you already have a full-time job.
- On site once a month for 3-5 days during clinical hours to provide support for a solo physicist and some remote support the rest of the month. This is a difficult position to take on if you are already in a full-time physics role. This works best for physicists that want to work part time or when we can give someone more than one of these positions that they can add together to get to full-time work.
- On site one day a week during clinical hours and remote the rest of the time. This can be a desirable job for some physicists, as long as travel to the facility once a week is not a burden. This type of position can be fit onto a full-time job where someone works 4 days a week. Again, the variable is how much remote work needs to be done the rest of the week and when the facility expects you to be available.
- On site 2-4 days a week and the rest remote. Some facilities consider this to still be a hybrid contract even though it leans very heavily on on-site work with some days remote as more of a perk to the job. There really isn’t a way to add this into the work a physicist is already doing at a different facility. The benefit of this kind of contract is having the job perk of at least one day a week remote. It is possible to stack two of these positions on top of each other if the travel between sites is possible and the on-site days align.
No matter how the hybrid contracts are set up, the net pay for working a hybrid contract is not as high as an on-site locum would make. You would not be on site full time and facilities pay less for remote support. The advantage is the lifestyle and flexibility of working from home or adding this on to a full-time position. Hybrid contracts allow more autonomy in your career and more work from home.
Contact our lead physicist, Adam Evearitt adam@atomphysics.com, to find out if we have hybrid positions that are a good match for you!