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Remembering Bell Labs as legendary idea factory prepares to leave N.J. home

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Re: Remembering Bell Labs as legendary idea factory prepares to leave N.J. home

#11

Post by chicagoengineer »

LeonardoTolstoy wrote: post #8
user_7832 wrote: post #2

I have a question for anyone in an R&D/Bell Labs-esque place - are there any good recommendations for similar places to work, particularly outside the US? "Old" Google apparently was, but going by what ex-googlers have been saying it hasn't been the case for a long while now.

If you are in the UK Deepmind seemed to be that way to me when I applied. A lot of research groups doing hard research in a wide array of fields, cutting edge AI stuff, a core team of SEs developing in house programs for researchers, and research engineers for productionization. And no, I didn't get the job lol. I've heard mixed things about it as a company but GResearch (also UK) seemed like an interesting R&D softw…

I work at a very successful HFT. It’s a special place, but we’re not advancing the state of the art in fundamental science like the Bell Labs/Microsoft Researches of the world.

Re: Remembering Bell Labs as legendary idea factory prepares to leave N.J. home

#12

Post by grepfru_it »

stn8188 wrote: post #9
eatonphil wrote: post #7

The new home is still NJ: New Brunswick. > When Nokia’s research arm, Nokia Bell Labs, said in early December the company will move out of the Murray Hill campus over the next five years to relocate to a new tech hub being built in New Brunswick, the announcement spurred an outpouring of memories online from current and former employees. > Bell Labs’ new headquarters will be located at the HELIX innovation center in…

I agree that investment in the city of New Brunswick seems like a great idea for the reasons you stated. At the same time, it just feels so grand and historic to walk the same halls as the likes of Shannon, and it's a bit sad that I may not be able to see it again. (I've only visited a handful of times to work on some joint projects though). Hopefully the new lab space/equipment will be very modern and efficient thou…

NB resident here. It’s still miserable, but removing stop lights on route 18 between landing lane and the turnpike made things excellent for folks getting to somerset/piscataway!

Re: Remembering Bell Labs as legendary idea factory prepares to leave N.J. home

#13

Post by user_7832 »

LeonardoTolstoy wrote: post #8
user_7832 wrote: post #2

I have a question for anyone in an R&D/Bell Labs-esque place - are there any good recommendations for similar places to work, particularly outside the US? "Old" Google apparently was, but going by what ex-googlers have been saying it hasn't been the case for a long while now.

If you are in the UK Deepmind seemed to be that way to me when I applied. A lot of research groups doing hard research in a wide array of fields, cutting edge AI stuff, a core team of SEs developing in house programs for researchers, and research engineers for productionization. And no, I didn't get the job lol. I've heard mixed things about it as a company but GResearch (also UK) seemed like an interesting R&D softw…

Thanks for your suggestions! I'm currently in The Netherlands but I'll keep these in mind (though they sound more "math-ey" than engineering-ey but that's fine).

Re: Remembering Bell Labs as legendary idea factory prepares to leave N.J. home

#14

Post by user_7832 »

chicagoengineer wrote: post #11
LeonardoTolstoy wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you are in the UK Deepmind seemed to be that way to me when I applied. A lot of research groups doing hard research in a wide array of fields, cutting edge AI stuff, a core team of SEs developing in house programs for researchers, and research engineers for productionization. And no, I didn't get the job lol. I've heard mixed things about it as a company but GResearch (also UK) seemed like an interesting R&D softw…

I work at a very successful HFT. It’s a special place, but we’re not advancing the state of the art in fundamental science like the Bell Labs/Microsoft Researches of the world.

Sorry, what's HFT?

Re: Remembering Bell Labs as legendary idea factory prepares to leave N.J. home

#15

Post by mnky9800n »

chicagoengineer wrote: post #11
LeonardoTolstoy wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you are in the UK Deepmind seemed to be that way to me when I applied. A lot of research groups doing hard research in a wide array of fields, cutting edge AI stuff, a core team of SEs developing in house programs for researchers, and research engineers for productionization. And no, I didn't get the job lol. I've heard mixed things about it as a company but GResearch (also UK) seemed like an interesting R&D softw…

I work at a very successful HFT. It’s a special place, but we’re not advancing the state of the art in fundamental science like the Bell Labs/Microsoft Researches of the world.

What are you advancing?

Re: Remembering Bell Labs as legendary idea factory prepares to leave N.J. home

#16

Post by user_7832 »

thatcat wrote: post #6
carterschonwald wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was wondering the same myself. Albeit in the us or nyc. :) I’ve had middling success creating opportunities but that’s very far from being in an environment where there so much interesting going on around you

Freelance product design is a good field for this type work, but you don't really see it concentrated into a unified r/d location like bell had often. Also @dsgnr you're posts are currently hell banned

Thanks, product design is something I've also considered. I'd guess Apple/MS style companies are probably still the best bet, even though you're more restricted than what it probably was at Bell.

Re: Remembering Bell Labs as legendary idea factory prepares to leave N.J. home

#17

Post by user_7832 »

DaiPlusPlus wrote: post #5
user_7832 wrote: post #2

I have a question for anyone in an R&D/Bell Labs-esque place - are there any good recommendations for similar places to work, particularly outside the US? "Old" Google apparently was, but going by what ex-googlers have been saying it hasn't been the case for a long while now.

Microsoft Research, though it has a reputation for coming up with great ideas that somehow never end-up in a shipping Microsoft product.

Thanks, I've found some of their design guidelines have legitimately changing my worldview (eg situational disabilities).

Re: Remembering Bell Labs as legendary idea factory prepares to leave N.J. home

#18

Post by Nullabillity »

user_7832 wrote: post #14
chicagoengineer wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I work at a very successful HFT. It’s a special place, but we’re not advancing the state of the art in fundamental science like the Bell Labs/Microsoft Researches of the world.

Sorry, what's HFT?

High-frequency trading, I'd assume. Exploiting the stock market for profit.

Re: Remembering Bell Labs as legendary idea factory prepares to leave N.J. home

#19

Post by lotsofpulp »

Nullabillity wrote: post #18
user_7832 wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry, what's HFT?

High-frequency trading, I'd assume. Exploiting the stock market for profit.

Or providing liquidity to reduce transaction costs for everyone.

Re: Remembering Bell Labs as legendary idea factory prepares to leave N.J. home

#20

Post by oh_sigh »

mnky9800n wrote: post #15
chicagoengineer wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I work at a very successful HFT. It’s a special place, but we’re not advancing the state of the art in fundamental science like the Bell Labs/Microsoft Researches of the world.

What are you advancing?

The number of digits in their bank account.
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