Ask Slashdot: Scientific Research Positions For Programmers?

An anonymous reader writes "I recently (within the past couple years) graduated from college with a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and currently work as a programmer for a large software consulting firm. However, I've become gradually disillusioned with the financial-obsession of the business world and would like to work for the overall betterment of humanity instead. With that in mind, I'm looking to shift my career more toward the scientific research side of things. My interest in computer science always stemmed more from a desire to use it toward a fascinating end — such as modeling or analyzing scientific data — than from a love of business or programming itself. My background is mostly Java, with some experience in C++ and a little C. I have worked extensively with software analyzing big data for clients. My sole research experience comes from developing data analysis software for a geologic research project for a group of grad students; I was a volunteer but have co-authorship on their paper, which is pending publication. Is it realistic to be looking for a position as a programmer at a research institution with my current skills and experiences? Do such jobs even exist for non-graduate students? I'm willing to go to grad school (probably for geology) if necessary. Grad school aside, what specific technologies should I learn in order to gain an edge? Although if I went back to school I'd focus on geology, I'm otherwise open to working as a programmer for any researchers in the natural sciences who will take me."

Comments

Business is a vital institution in human society

[Karmashock]

You might not like business or its obsessions but it is a vital institution.

Without it, who would pay for the universities or the scientists? Business pays for it all one way or another.

It puts the food on your table.

The heat in your home.

The electricity in the wires.

The clothes on your back.

The fuel in your car.

Everything.

Its about as vital to human society as your digestive tract is to your body.

Is the excrement that comes out the far end the most glamorous or sweet smelling thing ever? No. But it is vital.

And that obsession is merely the hunger pangs of the stomach. Does it ever stop? No. It is an ongoing need.

Why does the scientific community not care as much for such things? Because to a great extent they're shielded from it. That said, they aren't totally shielded from it. Most of them have to pitch grant proposals. The old "publish or perish" imperatives of their trade.

Best of luck gaining entry to the Ivory tower, friend. But know it was built by everyone else on our dime. And whatever glories or accomplishments achieved by academia... they did not happen without sacrifice from the rest of society.