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Industrial Labs that Still Do Fundamental Research

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the science-for-the-benefit-of-science dept.

An anonymous reader asks: "I am a graduate student of Mechanical Engineering at a reputed University in the United States. I have had a lot of fun working towards my PhD. I have published papers and done exciting research. I should be finishing up in the next few months or so, but I would like to continue doing the same kind of work that I am doing now. One option would be to take up a post-doctoral research appointment and find myself a faculty position. I am somehow not attracted to this option because of the tenure and grant pressure. My ideal job would be in something like the Bell Labs of yester-years. Do you know of labs that have that kind of environment? National labs are supposed to have such an atmosphere, but my stint in one of them makes me think otherwise. Google does seem to have such an environment but I am not a CS person. Does Slashdot know of labs where basic research in applied engineering is still done in the US, without the pressure of money and immediate results?"

2 of 303 comments (clear)

  1. Oh Goody Golly Gee by blantonl · · Score: 0, Troll

    I am a graduate student of Mechanical Engineering at a reputed University in the United States.

    Congratulations!

    I have had a lot of fun working towards my PhD.

    I don't have a college degree.

    I have published papers and done exciting research.

    Outstanding!

    I should be finishing up in the next few months or so, but I would like to continue doing the same kind of work that I am doing now.

    Recommend you stay in school then.

    One option would be to take up a post-doctoral research appointment and find myself a faculty position.

    That would somewhat be staying in school.

    I am somehow not attracted to this option because of the tenure and grant pressure.

    Welcome back to school.

    My ideal job would be in something like the Bell Labs of yester-years. Do you know of labs that have that kind of environment?

    Probably Goole. No, maybe the General Services Administration. No, Maybe Google.

    National labs are supposed to have such an atmosphere, but my stint in one of them makes me think otherwise. Google does seem to have such an environment but I am not a CS person.

    Good lord, how did this make it here? Mechanical Engineering? Google even shows up on your radar, and you aren't a CS guy? Compuserve died long ago...

    Does Slashdot know of labs where basic research in applied engineering is still done in the US, without the pressure of money and immediate results?"

    The readers might..however no pressure of money and immediate results might drive you to a state agency.
    --
    Lindsay Blanton
    RadioReference.com
  2. Re:Do some **real ** work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll
    "we have an outstanding young graduate student who was a former Windows programmer at Microsoft that has come back to earn his PhD in neuroscience ... he has already demonstrated a level of competence in creating useful tools not just for his research, but the wider neuroscience community as well. "

    Translation:

    "He updates our XP desktops and writes l33tkewl VB programs to store my Outlook schedule to a database."