Where area do computational physicists work in?

[srmeier]

Hey Guys,

I'm currently finishing up my B.S in Physics (going into the last semester of Junior year) and plan on getting a Masters in Computer Science concentrating on software engineering. I'm curious if anyone else has made a similar career choice and how it worked out. Also, which universities would people recommend for computer science? I've looked at: Maryland, UNCG, Purdue, Illinois, Cornell, Berkeley, and a few others. Also, I'm considering an internship at Intel or a similar corp. during / after graduating.

Thanks,

 

[DrWillVKN]

How do scientists/applied mathematicians interact with modelers? Do they just describe the situation and the programmers get to work immediately? Do they have to write pseudocode for the programmer to translate? Do they formulate algorithms and equations and have the programmer try to simulate it?

I've been interested in the field of computational modeling for some time (stated in another post that I wasn't interested in electronics, not scientific computing), but i realized that given my degree in biochem and math, I don't have time to become skilled or knowledgeable in programming beyond introductory classes. I'm more interested in the mathematical side than the computational side.

I feel like this isn't the best option, so I want to be competent enough to make my own models, not just use and understand them. I think i have enough time to devote 5-10 hours per week learning this stuff. Over the summer, I don't think I get can a job working as a modeler since I'm just a beginner (not to mention I have a commitment to a hospital, which are not even similar to the job, since I can get benefits from there due to familiarity with the people and place doing menial labor, though that's still just a fall back option as i still need money from working).

I want to really get into the hands-on environment of this work but I don't know how. If I do a masters in this field, will I be able to learn on the fly or do I have to have deep knowledge of the subject to be able to survive (despite university =/= work?)

So I'm not asking the best path to learn modeling- I'll just use whatever time I have to read from a book and do my best to learn it; what I want to know is the entire nature of this field and what you do in it. My naive view of this so far is that I need to know how to model a system using equations and deep knowledge of the subject, but that I do not need to know the best ways to optimize and polish a program/simulation of the system. I imagine that I'll be looking at a system and will be analyzing every detail of it and trying to fit it into a mathematical model, which I'll then hand to a very skilled programmer who will make it work.

 

[FAlonso]

Hello all,

I am a final year Mechanical Engienering student with a modest cGPA of 3.0/4.0 and aiming to do masters. I am hugely dissatisfied by the gain from bachelors degree and Masters in ME related field is an option I cannot write off.

As a diverse career, I found the manufacturing industry to be best in terms of diversity, application of knowledge (things are actually in front of you unlike materials or composites for example), option to work anywhere in the world and of course climb up higher to management positions. I might not be good at it but I want to work on designing production machinery since I think this way you can definitely go your own way and develop some ego/value in front of organization you are working with.

To go this way, which degree at masters level is appropriate for me ? I saw courses offered in Production Systems Engineering at RWTH Aachen, Germany to be relevant. Are they really relevant to me or I am mistaking it. If not, which other programmes would be right for me.

Also advice on choosing a country for masters study would be welcome

Regards

 

[murrayty]

Hi,

First off a little about myself. I graduated with a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Alberta in Alberta, Canada. I have roughly a year and a half of experience working in construction as a field engineer and project controls specialist. I make really good money at my current job but find it difficult to put up with since it requires I work in remote locations and really isn't that challenging of a job. I have tried looking for other jobs but there is nothing in my direct area and relocation for an entry level job is a big turn off for companies(at least I would think so and it agrees with my never getting replies to my resume). I figured a master's program would help as it would give me some more specialized skills and show my interest in the field.

I started searching around and came across a program that looked very interesting, I applied to it and have now been accepted. It is a European Master's program in Europe called EMARO(European Master's in Advanced Robotics). It is a relatively new program(started in 2007) but I have been able to get a hold of a few people that are in the program and they are happy with it and say the program for the most part is quite good. Personally I like the program because of the subject and the international aspect, my rotation would allow me to study in Italy then France and would give an option to work on my thesis in either Tokyo, Shanghai or Bangkok if I wanted to do that(which I would likely opt for just for the life experience it would give me).

What I am unsure of is how robotics companies or even other technology based companies would view a program like this on my resume(especially North American based companies). Would they recognize the master's level degree? Will having studied abroad add to my resume or hamper it compared to if I did a degree here? I think this would be a great experience just not entirely sure what kind of opportunities it would open up for me down the road. Any information on what I could likely expect would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[ajaxx195]

Hi Everbody ,
I'd completed BE in computer in Mumbai(India) in June 2011.
Recently I left the Job (Position .Software Engineer) due to health problem so I am having 5 month experience.
Unfortunately 1 and half month i'll be resting at home.
My friend suggested me to go for MS in IT in UK so I think to go for this January.
After getting cure instead of searching job should i purse Master degree.
I need suggestion regarding it.

What would be the benifit of doing MS ?
Will this be good for my career ?

 

[X89codered89X]

So I'm currently in graduate school for control systems/Signal processing (1st year) - Just curious if I decided to end with just a masters (which is only 1-1.5 more years of school), would I be ready for those jobs. What I'm discovering is that a job that really seems to use these skills (controls/signal proc.)

1) - are either uncommon
OR
2) are in conjunction with requiring knowing lots of hardware - FPGAs, hardware micros - doing board layouts - tons of stuff that I either decided not to take/specialize in while in college (undergrad) as a result of wanting a math minor to prepare for grad school in controls/signal proc.

The only hardware experience I have is that I know C++ (not for embedded systems though) and I took a handful of analog electronics courses for my UG degree - although it was still paper/pencil design and minimal lab experience and I never came close to getting a natural feel for it.

If i went ahead and took the typical controls signal processing courses for grad students in my area (which I have started) which includes various DSP/Stochastic sig Proces/nonlinear & linear sys/optimal control/robust control/convex optimization.. etc etc - how much would these help me? Should I jump ship and start studying hardware and making personal projects or are these mathematical/theory heavy topics actually valued in industry.

Does anyone with a masters in signal processing/ controls have experience that can shed some light on this? I nearly faint when I see the "applications" and lists of hardware skills preferred on job applicant resumes.

And yes, I do want to certainly end up in industry.

 

[ThiagoG]

What area do computational physicists work in?

Are computational physicists only hired in academia and the research sector or are they also hired in the industry sector? If so, what kinds of companies hires them?

Reason I am asking is because currently I am an undergraduate student double majoring in physics and computer science because I want to go into computational physics. In case that doesn't work out I still have my computer science degree as a back-up so that I can go into software engineering.

Sorry for the poor title. I was deciding whether to use where do and which area and ending up using both. For some reason it's not saving my change to the title.

 

[nbky]

Hi,
I am an undergrad student.And i can say that my degree is well.But i think it s time to focus on a field.I like electronics and i m good at it.But i can't decide which field i should choose.
i can go to europe for master degree (it s common way for physics student in Turkey who is succesfull.and our government and some corporation support it).Probably i will.
So please help me with this instability. Which field has future? or in which field i can find good job as a reseacher.(in europe)
thanks to all who answer.