How to get into programming with a Physics/Engineering background

[Ben Mercado]

Hi Everybody!

I've got a job doing stress analysis as an engineer at an aerospace company. My best days are when I get to spend all day writing VBA codes/macros to automate stress analysis procedures or whatnot. I was thinking about getting a certificate in Data Analysis aka Data Science at the local University, but I'm not sure if a career melding the physical sciences/physics/engineering with lots of programming exists. If so, how do I go there from here?
The certificate program is mostly in R.
I only know how to program in VBA.
I've got a MS in Structural Engineering (Civil) and a BS in Astrophysics, and I'd rather not throw away all that physics background to start a new career in data analysis/data science.
Anyone know how I can take my engineering/physics background and turn programming from something I do on the side into something I emphasize in my career?

thanks !

 

[Evo]

This doesn't belong in "New Member introductions ONLY - NO QUESTIONS". I've moved this.

 

[Ben Mercado]

OK Thanks !

 

[Jon321]

A data science career is more like statistics / probability and programming. Its not so much physics, although, a mathematically rigorous physics education can help a lot.

The best way to learn programming is practice. I suggest you just pick a couple of projects to do on your own (nights and weekends) and start in. Post the code on GitHub, and then you can put it on your resume. There are a lot of opportunities in easy to use data analytics / machine learning software with a GUI.

Personally, I don't see a big distinction between true data science and engineering/physics. Yes, you are not typically dealing with modeling physical systems, but a lot of the insight and math is very similar. The trick is to get a job where you are actually expected to think about the model, and not just be some software engineer blindly applying some machine learning toolbox.