Ask HN: Working as programmer in science?

4 points by wwwater 8 years ago | 3 comments

I started programming during my post-grad in nuclear physics, but after the post-grad in fundamental sciences I went to industry and for the last 4 years I've been working in web development. I kind of long for somewhat more meaning in the product I'm working on. More in the sense that it's not for buying-selling stuff online, but for helping scientists. (For the record: I don't want to be a scientist again, because I'm very happy with being a programmer.)

Does anyone here work (worked) in a research center as a full-time programmer? Could you tell about your experience there?

oldmancoyote 8 years ago |

I did for 50 years more or less (NASA-Ames and USGS). I feel that although I have two degrees in geology, I was a second class citizen. I eventually earned respect by doing some remarkable things, but I had the opportunity to choose my own projects and be creative. I can see how in a more controlled environment, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to innovate and would have remained a second class citizen.

oldmancoyote 8 years ago | |

Let me add one more point. I believe that it would be to your advantage to insist on a job title of Computational Physicist or something similar. If anyone ever refers to you a a programmer or software engineer, forcefully correct them.

Good luck

pinewurst 8 years ago |

I did it for a few years and found it really fulfilling from a meaning perpective (doing cancer modeling). I was especially fortunate that my Principal Investigator was (and remains!) a first rate human being, which sadly wasn’t that common in my research center.

I eventually left only because life events required income beyond which research could pay. Honestly, I long for the ability to return and not have to do the awful corporate stuff I do now.