Ask HN: Working as programmer in science?

by wwwater on 4/29/2018, 7:22:59 PM with 3 comments
I started programming during my post-grad in nuclear physics, but after the post-grad in fundamental sciences I went to industry and for the last 4 years I've been working in web development. I kind of long for somewhat more meaning in the product I'm working on. More in the sense that it's not for buying-selling stuff online, but for helping scientists. (For the record: I don't want to be a scientist again, because I'm very happy with being a programmer.)

Does anyone here work (worked) in a research center as a full-time programmer? Could you tell about your experience there?

  • by oldmancoyote on 4/29/2018, 9:04:47 PM

    I did for 50 years more or less (NASA-Ames and USGS). I feel that although I have two degrees in geology, I was a second class citizen. I eventually earned respect by doing some remarkable things, but I had the opportunity to choose my own projects and be creative. I can see how in a more controlled environment, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to innovate and would have remained a second class citizen.

  • by pinewurst on 4/30/2018, 2:13:23 AM

    I did it for a few years and found it really fulfilling from a meaning perpective (doing cancer modeling). I was especially fortunate that my Principal Investigator was (and remains!) a first rate human being, which sadly wasn’t that common in my research center.

    I eventually left only because life events required income beyond which research could pay. Honestly, I long for the ability to return and not have to do the awful corporate stuff I do now.