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Physicists taking jobs as Silicon Valley software engineers

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Re: Physicists taking jobs as Silicon Valley software engineers

#111

Post by alexyim »

asafira wrote: post #81

Whoa! I am actually currently in a physics PhD program, in my last 1-2 years, and have been pursuing internship opportunities for the summer. For me, I've actually wanted to get my PhD in physics and then work in tech for as long as I can remember (so it's not primarily that I feel like the academic job market is too competitive for me, or doesn't pay enough, but those are pretty good reasons, too...) . I actually ha…

Have you thought about de-emphasizing the less relevant experiences? Find the companies you're interested in, tailor your resumé to be mostly what is applicable, and then hint at your expanded experience. As an example, a one-liner on "optics, microwave engineering, and semiconductor fabrication" says a lot already.

Re: Physicists taking jobs as Silicon Valley software engineers

#112

Post by stablemap »

roymurdock wrote: post #108
cinjon wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who are the Econ people you're talking about on twitter?

NR Kocherlakota (my favorite): https://twitter.com/kocherlakota009 Tim Duy: https://twitter.com/TimDuy Claudia Sahm: https://twitter.com/Claudia_Sahm Stephen Williamson: https://twitter.com/1954swilliamson David Andolfatto: https://twitter.com/dandolfa Tony Yates: https://twitter.com/t0nyyates Neel Kashkari: https://twitter.com/neelkashkari Noah Smith: https://twitter.com/Noahpinion Tyler Cowen: https://twitter.com/t…

You've surely run across them, but: Brad DeLong and and Mark Thoma post a ton of interesting links every day.

Re: Physicists taking jobs as Silicon Valley software engineers

#113

Post by cookiecaper »

randlet wrote: post #24
cookiecaper wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know a self-taught developer who was specifically getting a degree in physics because of the wide variety of fields that it could allow him to work in. If you insist on getting a degree, degrees in engineering fundamentals like math or physics are probably the best things to target.

I disagree. In my experience (and talking with classmates) finding a job as a generalist (physics/math) is much tougher than specializing in CS, finance, engineering etc. Yes, there are more paths to take, but there are generally large hills on those paths that need to be overcome first...

I don't have first-hand experience as a candidate so I can't really contribute more to the discussion. I assume that like most positions where the job isn't a 1:1 mapping with the degree, some initiative beyond just presenting the degree will be necessary and you'll need to demonstrate an awareness and competence in the field you're pursuing.

I've done a fair amount of hiring and I know that a candidate with a physics or mathematics degree who also had a programming background that was commensurate with the position would look a lot better to me than one with a compsci degree, all else being equal.

That should tell you what college degrees are worth these days, though. The candidate primarily needs commensurate background. Degrees are effectively neutral -- too widespread to penalize people for taking that route, but really not worth much extra, unless in the course of your studies you accidentally did something really interesting, but then you probably could've done interesting things without the educational institution.

Re: Physicists taking jobs as Silicon Valley software engineers

#116

Post by thesz »

PeterisP wrote: post #110
thesz wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Me (and you) can do theoretical work. Even nanomanipulators are DIY: http://www.popsci.com/diy/article/2011-07/you-built-what-sca... or http://hackaday.com/2015/01/13/cheap-diy-microscope-sees-ind... (ESM can be used to manipulate atoms) Yet I haven't had time or courage. Or badassness.

To work on theoretical physics, you anyway do need a job in physics or win the lottery - doing it as a hobby for 15 hours a week after a job doesn't count, to get anywhere you do need to be able to work on it full time for a few years.

And this is what I call lack of courage.

Re: Physicists taking jobs as Silicon Valley software engineers

#117

Post by p1esk »

return0 wrote: post #98

Strange how the article doesn't mention that (not Hinton), Hopfield, Sejnowski, Kohonen , Amari etc. etc. were all phycisists. Also, physicists working for software is not only a silicon-valley phenomenon .

Hinton was never a physicist.

Re: Physicists taking jobs as Silicon Valley software engineers

#118

Post by thesz »

madengr wrote: post #56
thesz wrote: post #9

Physicists are one hell of science and engineering badasses. I know many physicists who became hardware engineers and even software engineers when they needed it. I know no software/hardware engineer who became physicist.

"I know no software/hardware engineer who became physicist." Sure, due to the premise of the article; no pay in it.

Even wealthy ones can't.

John Carmack was wealthy enough to afford spaceship company.

This is closest one get to physicist. And yet - no quantum or particle physics, theoretical or experimental.

Re: Physicists taking jobs as Silicon Valley software engineers

#119

Post by tossractt999 »

tmoot wrote: post #11

I'm a physics phd student, but I did my undergrad in cs+physics at well known school in the midwest. I really regret going to grad school for physics, I gave up a lot of earning potential, time to develop new skills and I've forgotten a lot of my CS background. Most methods in my area have already been developed and the pressure to publish (pushy advisor, several projects not producing the intended results, and propo…

> Most methods in my area have already been developed and the pressure to s/publish/ship (pushy s/advisor/PM, several s/projects/products not producing the intended s/results/sales, and s/proposal/budgets writing) has always been hampering away at my free time to think. I really dislike this system.

Sounds like you have plenty of "real job" experience ;-)

Re: Physicists taking jobs as Silicon Valley software engineers

#120

Post by shoyer »

asafira wrote: post #81

Whoa! I am actually currently in a physics PhD program, in my last 1-2 years, and have been pursuing internship opportunities for the summer. For me, I've actually wanted to get my PhD in physics and then work in tech for as long as I can remember (so it's not primarily that I feel like the academic job market is too competitive for me, or doesn't pay enough, but those are pretty good reasons, too...) . I actually ha…

Send me an email (my username at google.com). We may be hiring an intern this summer for a physics project.

Yes, Google does interesting science research as well as hiring physicists, though we have plenty of those, too. I'm one of four on my team.

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