What is your degree, and what do you do?

[lisab]

What is it like to work as a chemist? Do you use math on the job? Just curious b/c I'm a chem major.

Truthfully, my job is monotonous. I work in a rather primitive lab because the organization I work for has no money to upgrade (or even repair) equipment.

But my rather dreary situation is largely due to the pressures of the economy. Previous jobs I've had in R&D labs were a lot more challenging and fun.

I'm looking to switch into engineering now.

 

[PatrickEE]

B.S. Electrical Engineering, about to finish my M.S.E.E. My thesis is in High Power Microwave breakdown, which is interesting and all, but research is not my thing (neither is defense work) and as such I have a job lined up for after graduation. It will be at a large engine company doing high horsepower control systems.

I like to think that no matter where I go in the EE world, the knowledge I gained in E&M will always be useful.

 

[MrB8rPhysics]

Bsci (Hons) Physics and Planetary/Space Physics, and several other postgrad/profesisonal qualifications relating to Education.

I teach Physics. Mainly to 17 to 20 year olds looking to get into university to do Maths or Physics. On the side I carry out research, development and implementation of innovative and experimental science education methodologies.

 

[lbrieda]

I am completing my PhD in Aerospace Engineering with emphasis on plasma physics. I develop simulation codes for modeling plasmas and rarefied gases, see http://www.particleincell.com.

About your other comment, PhD vs Bachelors. Yes, it is true that a PhD will help you in some cases, but what really matters is being interested in your topic. I know some folks who only have a B.S. and they are some of the smartest people I know. They learned their stuff on their own simply because they were interested in the subject. On the other hand, I also know some PhDs who got the degree just for show and I wouldn't really trust them with any analysis.

 

[little]

BS Mechanical Engineering

First worked at Lockheed Martin doing material testing. Mostly it was paperwork and making pretty presentations. I could have done that job with the knowledge I gained in high school.

Then worked for a manufacturing plant that reverse engineered parts for ion implanters for the semiconductor industry. That was far more fun and required actual engineering knowledge.

I now work in a physics research lab doing experimental work on everything from gravity to anomalous energy production. My background in engineering let's me design and manufacture experimental equipment while my on-the-job-learned physics let me guide the experiment and even turn some of the theoretical work here into an actual testable hypothesis.

About your other comment, PhD vs Bachelors. Yes, it is true that a PhD will help you in some cases, but what really matters is being interested in your topic. I know some folks who only have a B.S. and they are some of the smartest people I know. They learned their stuff on their own simply because they were interested in the subject. On the other hand, I also know some PhDs who got the degree just for show and I wouldn't really trust them with any analysis.

I've run into a few problems with having just a BS. At a conference I was to give a paper at, a person called the section organizer and tried to get me removed from the program because I didn't have a PhD. I've also been told that I'm simply "lab staff" and need to let the "scientists" (aka PhDs) rule the experiments - I'm just here to turn the screws. Fortunately, my boss disagrees and has fought this stereotype, but it still exists.