Not quite a decade ago, I took some work for a lab to replace some aging software (circa 1990) used to do peptide synthesis. It was an enlightening experience.

Not quite a decade ago, I took some work for a lab to replace some aging software (circa 1990) used to do peptide synthesis. It was an enlightening experience. While I was the programming expert with a CS degree, I wasn't trusted for anything, because I wasn't a PhD or had a background in bioinformatics. However, I did get to work with lots of smart people, fixed and improved the code and processes that the Phd level statisticians and bioinformaticians used. It is a real joy to work in hard science, with brilliant people who love their work. I learned a ton and gained a healthy respect for the people that do this kind of work. However, the downsides are pretty bad. Pay and compensation is awful. Most people, myself included, could have made as good if not better pay waiting tables. There end up being different levels of people Administrators, Private investigators, and lab workers (peons). Unless you are an admin or a high level PI you're not gonna be getting much money. Everybody lives and dies by the grant. If funding dries up, you will be out of a job. Ethics. Us CS people are woefully under educated on ethics. You will find yourself asking why we can simply do something, often the answer will be ethics. Regulations, like ethics, you will have to bend to regulations. It's not a bad thing, just a different thing. Unless you find yourself in a admin role, you will just be another lab peon. Its not a a bad place to be, but you will never be at the top of the totempole. Loads and loads of ego. You will work with very smart and sometimes unreasonable people. Learning to navigate this with tact is important.