I am intreasted in a career in computer science research....

[deathbow2134]

I plan to get a PhD in computer science. But, what can you do with that? (Aside from being a professor). Are there any real jobs for computer science PhDs outside of universities? (Not that I don't want to be a professor, but I want to know what else they can do)

How hard is it to become a professor? And how hard is it to get non-professor jobs with a CS PhD?

[wtd]

I think you'll find that if your expertise ends up being in research, you'll end up teaching. Those who are good at something should always be the ones teaching others how to do it.

[Prabhakar Ragde]

Google loves to hire CS PhDs. That's where the last graduate student of mine who finished went. Other companies are becoming more interested in people with higher degrees as well.

How hard it is to become a professor depends on what your area is, how good you are, how you interview, and what the job market is like at the time you graduate (it's up and down).

[Prabhakar Ragde]

wtd @ Sun Mar 22, 2009 8:56 pm wrote:

I think you'll find that if your expertise ends up being in research, you'll end up teaching.

There have always been pure research positions that involve no teaching -- Google, Yahoo, IBM, Microsoft all support research divisions, to name but a few.

[btiffin]

wtd @ Sun Mar 22, 2009 8:56 pm wrote:

I think you'll find that if your expertise ends up being in research, you'll end up teaching. Those who are good at something should always be the ones teaching others how to do it.

/me wrote:

Those that can, do. Those that can't teach, write the documentation.

I sure do like writing documentation.

But on the topic; I agree with Prabhakar. The world loves and funds researchers. Don't expect to find listings on kijiji, but look to NSERC or NRC or the business park built right beside the U of Waterloo or ... life in America and NSF, or DFG in Germany. Opportunities abound. Follow the foot steps of Canadians like James Gosling, build the next big thing. And we (on compsci.ca) will get to live vicariously through the exploits of the famous deathbow2134 (although that does sound like an ominous name for building up a following).

Cheers

[deathbow2134]

Quote:

But on the topic; I agree with Prabhakar. The world loves and funds researchers. Don't expect to find listings on kijiji, but look to NSERC or NRC or the business park built right beside the U of Waterloo or ... life in America and NSF, or DFG in Germany. Opportunities abound. Follow the foot steps of Canadians like James Gosling, build the next big thing. And we (on compsci.ca) will get to live vicariously through the exploits of the famous deathbow2134 (although that does sound like an ominous name for building up a following).

Cheers

Haha, Thankyou.