Computer Science Canada

Computer Science
Author:  JWHooper [ Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Computer Science
I'm thinking about being an computer scientist. What job should I apply for, if I want to have full time researching computer science?
Author:  Tony [ Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:39 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Computer Science
If you want to research computer science as a full time position, I think you have a few options to aspire to. 1. Become a university professor and conduct your own research. 2. Become a university professor and work with grad students and their research projects. 3. Get hired by some company for Research and Development.

Although I would imagine that you'd need a CS PhD for the R&D position anyways.
Author:  Nick [ Thu Aug 23, 2007 12:18 am ]
Post subject:  RE:Computer Science
well if your particuliarly interested in games like me you could check out game design
Author:  JWHooper [ Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: RE:Computer Science
momop @ Wed Aug 22, 2007 9:18 pm wrote:
well if your particuliarly interested in games like me you could check out game design


I want to be an computer scientist, not an game designer! Laughing
Tony @ Wed Aug 22, 2007 8:39 pm wrote:
If you want to research computer science as a full time position, I think you have a few options to aspire to. 1. Become a university professor and conduct your own research. 2. Become a university professor and work with grad students and their research projects. 3. Get hired by some company for Research and Development.

Although I would imagine that you'd need a CS PhD for the R&D position anyways.


I wanna do computer science research myself, like Einstein did research in physics by himself: same thing goes for me, too, if you know what I'm talking about. So, I have a choice left: become an computer science professor at an university, and conduct my own research... is this my only choice left here? Let me know if there's at least one more option that I could choose.

Thanks,

J.
Author:  Aziz [ Thu Aug 23, 2007 8:23 am ]
Post subject:  RE:Computer Science
Probably the best option. But don't limit yourself. Go get your Master's or PhD, and leave your options open.
Author:  Clayton [ Thu Aug 23, 2007 3:56 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Computer Science
There's also the stay at home route if you so wish. The biggest problem there though is ensuring a steady source of income. My best advice to you would be to sit down for a day or two, with a list of questions that you want answered. Then, start googling, looking through Universities sites, and checking out professions that would involve a lot of R&D. You could also (potentially) try and contact people in professions that you might like to try. Contact a couple of University professors and the like to see what the deal is, what they wanted to do, etc. I'm not saying harass them, if they answer back, great!, if not, oh well, move on and try and find out from other sources. Alot of this is in your hands. Also, I'm assuming you're still in high school, there's still your guidance councellor's who will probably do their best to try and help as well.
Author:  JWHooper [ Thu Aug 23, 2007 10:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: RE:Computer Science
Clayton @ Thu Aug 23, 2007 12:56 pm wrote:
Your signature says: Remember that it's hard to clean up the pool of blood when you're dripping into it JWHooper.

Why did you put my name into your signature? Shocked
Author:  rdrake [ Thu Aug 23, 2007 11:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: RE:Computer Science
JWHooper @ Thu Aug 23, 2007 10:56 pm wrote:
Clayton @ Thu Aug 23, 2007 12:56 pm wrote:
Your signature says: Remember that it's hard to clean up the pool of blood when you're dripping into it JWHooper.

Why did you put my name into your signature? Shocked
It's the [ username ] tag, [username:2fb84c3cbb].
Author:  agnivohneb [ Thu Aug 23, 2007 11:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Computer Science
Ha that freaked me out the first time i seen that too. I agree with Clayton. I did something similar and when I went looking around I also got some connections for later on. I to am still in HS so I talked to my guidance councilor and semester two I will be taking Co-Op doing some programming and website work at the Durham District School Board. I will learn a lot from the Co-Op and also get more experience, references, and recommendations for College/University (I still have not chosen exactly).
Author:  JWHooper [ Fri Aug 24, 2007 12:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Computer Science
I'm gonna say it now -- it's very tough to choose what job I'm really going to have Shocked

So, from all of your advices, should I join a career that involves computers, like Microsoft or IBM, and do my own research at both work and home? I want to research and develope theories, and put my name on it, like Einstein did his own research on theory of relativity, and we all know that Einstein proved it himself. I am interested in a job that requires computer stuff and developing, but not really teaching, since I do really want to prove theories in computer science. Therefore, I don't really want to be an professor at an university. Besides -- they don't make much money as the guys in Microsoft/IBM does. So, should I join Microsoft/IBM related company?
Author:  Aziz [ Fri Aug 24, 2007 8:15 am ]
Post subject:  RE:Computer Science
It depends, what do you value? Money, or doing what you want to do? Also, I believe most University professors only teach because they have to, and they're really there to research.
Author:  JWHooper [ Fri Aug 24, 2007 8:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Computer Science
I think it's more important for me to research then making tons of money. You can't research and teach at the same time being professor, so should I work on Microsoft/IBM and research at the same time instead?
Author:  Aziz [ Fri Aug 24, 2007 8:46 am ]
Post subject:  RE:Computer Science
Don't know much about it myself. If you're serious about it, do some research and try to get in touch with people in the business.
Author:  McKenzie [ Fri Aug 24, 2007 8:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Computer Science
JWHooper @ Fri Aug 24, 2007 8:28 am wrote:
You can't research and teach at the same time being professor, so should I work on Microsoft/IBM and research at the same time instead?


Actually, that is exactly what most professors do. It is the most direct line to pure research. That's why Tony suggested it. There are a number of big companies that do their own Research and Development but I really don't know what it takes to get into that. Like Tony says, they probably expect a PhD, but I expect that your area of specialty would have to be of interest to them as well.

Check out what going on at UW:
http://www.uwaterloo.ca/researchandteaching/index.php
Author:  Dan [ Fri Aug 24, 2007 2:17 pm ]
Post subject:  RE:Computer Science
I also whould like to do resreach in computer sci (probly the enecription/security side or educatioal side) and from what i can tell the best path is to go for your masters and phd and then either work for a company's R&D deparment or become a prof.

Becoming a prof is probly the best option as you can reasreach what ever you can get a grant for basicly but you have to teach (tho you do get to have grad studtens and T.A.s)

If you work for a company's R&D you may be limited in what you can reasrach and you will have alot less job secuirty then a prof with tenure.

If you are just in it to get your name on a new theroy and for fame (witch personaly i find a bit silly) you will almost have to be a prof if you whont your work published at all. Working for a companys R&D section whould likey mean you can not talk about your work much.
Author:  Skynet [ Fri Aug 24, 2007 7:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Computer Science
McKenzie @ Fri Aug 24, 2007 8:59 am wrote:

There are a number of big companies that do their own Research and Development but I really don't know what it takes to get into that. Like Tony says, they probably expect a PhD, but I expect that your area of specialty would have to be of interest to them as well.

The company I work for right now does a lot of R&D on CS-y topics related to dynamically optimizing job schedules and personnel/space resource allocation. Most of the research-type projects are worked on by people with their Masters, though a few have their Ph.D. If you want to do stuff like this when you graduate, it's looking like you'll need a Masters as a minimum.
Author:  JWHooper [ Sat Aug 25, 2007 4:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Computer Science
Okay, so Dan is saying that I should be a professor to research as much as I can, so I can put my name on my own theories (this is most, and THE most important to me). But, doesn't it really matter being an professor and research my own, or joining Microsoft (non-R&D job) researching my own at the same time? Because I can also research computer science while I work, right? You can research while you teach, so doesn't matter, does it?
Author:  Nick [ Sat Aug 25, 2007 4:48 am ]
Post subject:  RE:Computer Science
i guess in the end no but i think Dan also said professers usually get their work published and ms guys don't
Author:  JWHooper [ Sat Aug 25, 2007 4:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Computer Science
Oh, okay. So, what you guys are saying here, is that if I try out for being professor, and research my own, then I'll get my name on my own work, right? But, if I join Microsoft, and do research (even if I did it on my own), then still I can't get my own name on my own work. Is this what basically what you guys are saying here?
Author:  Nick [ Sat Aug 25, 2007 4:54 am ]
Post subject:  Re: RE:Computer Science
Dan @ Fri Aug 24, 2007 2:17 pm wrote:
Becoming a prof is probly the best option as you can reasreach what ever you can get a grant for basicly but you have to teach (tho you do get to have grad studtens and T.A.s)

If you work for a company's R&D you may be limited in what you can reasrach and you will have alot less job secuirty then a prof with tenure.

If you are just in it to get your name on a new theroy and for fame (witch personaly i find a bit silly) you will almost have to be a prof if you whont your work published at all. Working for a companys R&D section whould likey mean you can not talk about your work much.


so what dan is pretty much saying is that yea professors would have a better career in researching than R&D as he says
Dan @ Fri Aug 24, 2007 2:17 pm wrote:
Working for a companys R&D section whould likey mean you can not talk about your work much.


meaning you also wouldn't be able to publish your own work
Author:  JWHooper [ Sat Aug 25, 2007 4:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Computer Science
I don't think it's really fair that you can't publish your own work, even if you did the research your own. That's a total pitfall right there..
Author:  Nick [ Sat Aug 25, 2007 5:00 am ]
Post subject:  RE:Computer Science
tell me about it Razz
Author:  JWHooper [ Sat Aug 25, 2007 5:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: RE:Computer Science
momop @ Sat Aug 25, 2007 2:00 am wrote:
tell me about it Razz


Huh...? Tell you what? Laughing
Author:  JWHooper [ Sat Aug 25, 2007 5:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Computer Science
Anyways.. I appreciate that you guys helped me out. Thank you.

J.
Author:  McKenzie [ Sat Aug 25, 2007 7:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Computer Science
There is a very important point that you are missing whenever you mention working alone. Although you could work at almost any job and do research on your own the environment that you work in is important. Some environments are condusive to great research and some stifle it. One of the greatest research groups in history was the original Pala Alto group (PARC). They sat around in beanbag chairs and tossed ideas around and in the process invented OOP, GUI, Laser printing, Ethernet ....

I'm sure some companies have great environments and I'm sure some have horrible environments. The key is, before you do research do some research (into the type of environment the company/school has)
Author:  Skynet [ Sat Aug 25, 2007 8:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Computer Science
JWHooper @ Sat Aug 25, 2007 4:57 am wrote:
I don't think it's really fair that you can't publish your own work, even if you did the research your own. That's a total pitfall right there..

You usually sign some sort of agreement when you work for a company like that where you assign the rights to everything you develop while you're working there to the company. Depending on the company, compensation for extraordinary developments (things that get patented, for example) may come in the form of cash or stock options. Also, regarding patents, you will get credit as "inventor". Same goes for anything the company publishes on your behalf, though those are usually few and far between because part of the advantage a company like Google has is their algorithms. However, I know Google has allowed employees to publish certain bits of their work publicly. (a description of the Google File System comes to mind)
Also, unless the company has a huge amount of money, they won't be paying people to theorize too much beyond developing new algorithms. They'll probably provide research funding for a prof at a local school. So, if all you want is to develop theories (less on the application), being a professor is probably the way to go.

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