I’ve been curious how many working researchers we’ve got in this community, and what you all do!

If you’re working in science (physical or social), engineering, etc in a research capacity, give a shout in the comments and let us know what you work on! Same goes for students and amateur scientists at any level. (And by amateur I mean those of you who are working on your own experiments but just not being paid for it / not working on a degree; I’m upset that “amateur” has a negative connotation, it shouldn’t.)

I’m currently a PhD candidate, working on transmission electron microscopy and electronic materials (mainly ferroelectrics). In the past I’ve been involved in research / product development in a few different industries, including medical devices, aerogels, and materials for RF devices.

  • oofinsprouts@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    I’m a Data Scientist (physics PhD) for a large enterprise company. I’ve been in this field for the last decade and I’m kinda bored with it. I’m not exactly sure what to do next though…

    • realChem@beehaw.orgOP
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      1 year ago

      Mmm yeah, I can imagine things might get a bit stale after a decade working on similar things. What was your physics PhD in, something you’d be interested in pursuing again maybe?

      • oofinsprouts@beehaw.org
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        1 year ago

        My thesis covered optoelectronic measurements of nanomaterials for novel photovoltaics. Even as a kid, I wanted some sort of career researching alternative energy, but those jobs sadly don’t exist.

        • realChem@beehaw.orgOP
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          1 year ago

          Researching alternative sources of energy would certainly be a rewarding career. I’m a bit surprised to hear nobody’s doing it, I’d think there’d be companies trying to commercialize on the pretty massive progress we’ve seen in PV efficiency at the lab scale. I remember in my undergrad people were really excited about roll-to-roll manufacturing for flexible organic perovskite solar cells, but come to think of it I haven’t heard much about them in the last five years. I wonder what happened. Maybe just still to expensive to compete commercially with silicon PV?

          Regardless, I hope you find a direction that’s fulfilling for you!

          • oofinsprouts@beehaw.org
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            1 year ago

            Yeah, it’s pretty hard to beat silicon. But, thanks so much for the well wishes! (I’m currently trying my hand as an Indie Game Dev, so we’ll see how that goes ha)

  • Illidariadude@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    I am a welding Engineer working in a mixed role of failure analysis and research. Most of my projects are sustainability based.

    • realChem@beehaw.orgOP
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      1 year ago

      Very cool! From the small bit I learned about welding in my classes it really seems like a topic with a lot of depth and nuance to it (that maybe sometimes goes unappreciated). Happy to have you 'round!

      • Illidariadude@beehaw.org
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        1 year ago

        Honestly it’s one of my favorite things about welding engineering- it’s materials, physics, electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, automation, chemical… you get a bit of a lot of disciplines!

  • appel@whiskers.bim.boats
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    1 year ago

    working in a cultivated meat startup, msc in biotechnology, but now disillusioned and wanting to do something academic/more down to earth and helpful

      • appel@whiskers.bim.boats
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        1 year ago

        no, the technology is underdeveloped, and very resource intensive. I don’t think it is a viable alternative at all. Better to just eat what grows from the ground than spend so much time, money, energy forcing cells that don’t want to grow in such an artificial environment. I’ve also started to notice how it seems to be quite tied to EA and longtermism crowd, who are investing in it a lot.

        • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org
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          1 year ago

          True. It could still have benefits from a vegetarian or conservation perspective, though.

          Have you thought about trying to get into genetically modified plant crops, then?

          • appel@whiskers.bim.boats
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            1 year ago

            I did consider it yes, but those companies are evil too, they make a farmer reliant on a super crop that can’t produce its own seeds, and then make a mint by selling them seeds every year.