How did you get into a scientific career? What's it like working in mainline comp-sci? Any advice?

[bright gyro]

I am in my second year of computer engineering at a school that focuses on java software development and database stuff. It's more of a software engineering thing but we're learning some electronics and calculus and stuff, but no chem/thermodynamics/etc

I am really interested in a career that closely integrates actual science. I have been fascinated by cosmology and particle physics for my entire life and I would have probably studied one or the other if I thought I could afford to long-term. The allure of cash-flow has brought me to comp-eng/soft-dev, but the allure of personal development and satisfaction makes me look back shyly at science.

Anybody here write galactic structure simulations? Monte Carlo simulations of many-body wave-functions? Is it like chemists that have their glass guy, do the physicists have their computer guy? How's the money? How's working for a university? Do you get benefits/a good package/vacation?

[languid creek]

Anybody here write galactic structure simulations?

very specific question

i will say it should be obvious, like with any spcialized field, getting related education/internships/connections can help

if you want to work on more "Science-y" type things then just go seek those opportunities, no diffferent than any other job in terms of searching

and plenty of the people i know who get their Phd in a lab science like physics can code somewhat, usually with python or R, but depends on the work they decide to do, whether it be research or corperate work

Do you get benefits/a good package/vacation?

doesnt this just depend on the company?

[sweet marsh]

Often the people doing this work have their degrees in physics, chemistry, etc., and programming is just a skill they're expected to pick up

But paging @lost parrot for the academic lab perspective (once she's awake, in Germany)

[sweet lance]

Another way to get in without a degree in that field is to see if there are research labs at your university that have any programming needs. At many labs they just teach students in that field basic programming skills but would love to have a real programmer. It can be as simple as knocking on the door or writing a nice email showing interest in some of the papers they have written.

Once you have research papers under your belt in any capacity that will make it much easier. though many places (academic labs and otherwise) have Research Programmer or Research SWE positions for non-students where you don't need domain specific experience.

There is a bit of a difference in scientific research programming vs industry. There was this recent post in my feed that outlined this pretty well

[lost parrot]

Seconding that.often roles are not public because there's no active search, but capacity for an appropriate candidate

It's also worth looking at software for the types of simulations you're interested in, and seeing who's maintaining it. I imagine many things are not really made from absolute scratch.

As of the other questions... I never planned to get into science and now I don't really see myself elsewhere. I could make more money elsewhere, but personally I'm happy with the freedom and variety of tasks I get here.

[lost parrot]

Also agreeing with this.
I remember three very bright and talented future software engineers leaving the team in favour of roles with much more structure and guidance. They were great at the job, but found it personally unsatisfying to not have a senior SWE or something showing the way.
I know in another team, the fresh graduate is the only computer guy on the team. You very well might find yourself a lot in a position of having to make decisions by yourself very early on because there's no one who can tell you what to do, or how to do it from a technical perspective.

Some people see it as a fun opportunity, others see it as stressful and bothersome.