- #1
cryora
- 51
- 3
It may be unique to my situation (or it may not, as I was told that AMO is one of the less computational fields of research in Physics), but for my undergraduate research assistant role, my job is to help the research group set up automated experimental controls. That includes learning:
Python
Python modules such as PyQt (for building GUI's) and Twisted (for Asynchronous Networking)
Hardware Description Langauge (namely Verilog) for FPGA's
In other words, this is combining basic Object-Oriented Programming + GUI's + Networking + Digital Logic to design one integrated system where computer programs can receive user input to talk to lab instruments and automate what they do (i.e. control lab instruments like an musical ensemble playing a piece). I do feel this is quite heavy on the programming side for a Physics major, though I suspect this is child's play compared to what professional researchers at, say national labs, have to be able to implement.
Python
Python modules such as PyQt (for building GUI's) and Twisted (for Asynchronous Networking)
Hardware Description Langauge (namely Verilog) for FPGA's
In other words, this is combining basic Object-Oriented Programming + GUI's + Networking + Digital Logic to design one integrated system where computer programs can receive user input to talk to lab instruments and automate what they do (i.e. control lab instruments like an musical ensemble playing a piece). I do feel this is quite heavy on the programming side for a Physics major, though I suspect this is child's play compared to what professional researchers at, say national labs, have to be able to implement.