Computer Science

[JWHooper]

I'm thinking about being an computer scientist. What job should I apply for, if I want to have full time researching computer science?

[Tony]

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.

[Nick]

well if your particuliarly interested in games like me you could check out game design

[JWHooper]

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!

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.

[Aziz]

Probably the best option. But don't limit yourself. Go get your Master's or PhD, and leave your options open.

[Clayton]

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.

[JWHooper]

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?

[rdrake]

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?

It's the [ username ] tag, [username:2fb84c3cbb].

[agnivohneb]

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).

[JWHooper]

I'm gonna say it now -- it's very tough to choose what job I'm really going to have

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?

[Aziz]

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.

[JWHooper]

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?

[Aziz]

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.

[McKenzie]

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

[Dan]

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.