4 ms·

I've seen positions for "scientific programmers" that seem pretty interesting and I imagine a lot of those fields could be helped with software, but always want

I've seen positions for "scientific programmers" that seem pretty interesting and I imagine a lot of those fields could be helped with software, but always want a PhD in the domain field.

_bxg1 7y ago
That sounds like more of a "you're a scientist but you write bespoke code as an effort-multiplier". What I'm talking about is, you go and talk with people in those fields and figure out what they waste their time doing, and build generalized tools that can amplify effort and improve process at a much grander scale.
- spaced-out 7y ago
  At one time I thought that would be my dream job, which is why I got a minor in Physics. I ultimately went and got a job at a normal tech company because I realized: 1. Working in that field, funding is often tied to government grants, so I would have been making a lot less money, and likely working harder. 2. Little to no opportunities for advancement, or even having your ideas heard, because you'll be the only one in the room without a PhD, in an industry where those 3 letters are literally everything that matters. 3. Even people with PhD are treated like crap in the hard sciences. I have a friend that has a PhD in biology, makes less than 1/3rd of what I do, and works longer hours. If we as a society want the best minds to go into those fields, we need to pay those people more.
  - _bxg1 7y ago
    What if people started software companies tailored to those segments and sold to them as customers, instead of trying to get hired there?
    - spaced-out 7y ago
      I haven't looked into that, but in my anecdotal experience the problems are: 1. There is simply less money in that line of work because it's tied to government grants. 2. The Physics field (which I have direct experience in) is dominated by old people with PhDs. They're very smart people, but also tend to be stubborn, and (again generalizing) are not too keen on listening to the opinions of people who don't have a PhD.
    - 1auralynn 7y ago
      It's not super profitable due to tight budgets.
- non-entity 7y ago
  You're probably correct, but imo those positions should be listed as a scientist role with programmer functions, as opposed to a programmer role then

I've seen positions for "scientific programmers" that seem pretty interesting and I imagine a lot of those fields could be helped with software, but always want a PhD in the domain field.

_bxg1 7y ago

That sounds like more of a "you're a scientist but you write bespoke code as an effort-multiplier". What I'm talking about is, you go and talk with people in those fields and figure out what they waste their time doing, and build generalized tools that can amplify effort and improve process at a much grander scale.

spaced-out 7y ago
At one time I thought that would be my dream job, which is why I got a minor in Physics. I ultimately went and got a job at a normal tech company because I realized: 1. Working in that field, funding is often tied to government grants, so I would have been making a lot less money, and likely working harder. 2. Little to no opportunities for advancement, or even having your ideas heard, because you'll be the only one in the room without a PhD, in an industry where those 3 letters are literally everything that matters. 3. Even people with PhD are treated like crap in the hard sciences. I have a friend that has a PhD in biology, makes less than 1/3rd of what I do, and works longer hours. If we as a society want the best minds to go into those fields, we need to pay those people more.
- _bxg1 7y ago
  What if people started software companies tailored to those segments and sold to them as customers, instead of trying to get hired there?
  - spaced-out 7y ago
    I haven't looked into that, but in my anecdotal experience the problems are: 1. There is simply less money in that line of work because it's tied to government grants. 2. The Physics field (which I have direct experience in) is dominated by old people with PhDs. They're very smart people, but also tend to be stubborn, and (again generalizing) are not too keen on listening to the opinions of people who don't have a PhD.
  - 1auralynn 7y ago
    It's not super profitable due to tight budgets.
non-entity 7y ago
You're probably correct, but imo those positions should be listed as a scientist role with programmer functions, as opposed to a programmer role then