Does an astrophysicist (PhD or post-doc) need computer engineering?

[ScienceGuy42]

Does an astrophysicist in research areas such as cosmic structure and evolution, galactic archaeology, and/or black hole phenomena require extensive skills (i.e. undergraduate degree) in computer systems engineering/computer engineering?

The idea is to do a combined degree with computer engineering and physics, or double major in astrophysics and computer science. Which would be better for the research areas stated above (i.e. not experimental, but not purely theoretical either)?

 

[Vanadium 50]

require extensive skills (i.e. undergraduate degree) in computer systems engineering/computer engineering

Not really. You'll need to use computers, but not build computers.

 

[vancouver_water]

Not extensive knowledge. But hardware knowledge when it comes to optimizing simulations will help you if you do numerical relativity.