I really won't add too many links to all the comments here. But Given you mention physics and some RA experience, i will say Haskell may not be as hard as a few

I really won't add too many links to all the comments here. But Given you mention physics and some RA experience, i will say Haskell may not be as hard as a few others think. (i.e. If my idea of what it takes to do complete physics and/or chemistry graduation). I think in the end, you may have to spend an hour or two for each of the links before taking a call on which you prefer. - Eeks, that looks eerily like common sense :-)