Computer Programmer in Marine Biology??
Russell Martin
>
> I am currently a computer programmer for an insurance company, but I have
> always had a strong interest in Marine Biology. At this point in my life, I
> am not prepared to drop my programming career totally to pursue a degree in
> Marine Biology. However, it seems to me that I could use my programming
> skills or math background (I have a BS degree in math) to get involved in
> the Marine Biology field in some capacity. Does anybody have any
> suggestions?
It is possible. I worked as a computer programmer for a neurosurgeon,
and believe me I knew nothing about that field when I started (and
precious by the time I finished :-) ). I also could have worked
as a programmer in a forestry research area, but the money was less
than I was making programming for the neurosurgeon. It helps if you
know statistics and data analysis techniques, since this is often
what you will be programming in my experience, although there may be
some modeling involved. Check the want ads in appropriate scientific
magazines, job sites on the web, wherever, and apply. However you may
be up against stiff competition, like from Ph.D.s in the field who
are just looking for any job that keeps them in or near their
specialty. Also be prepared for the possibility of needing to take
a pay cut. If it is what you want, give it a shot.
Good luck,
Russell Martin
--
Russell Martin R. L. Martin and Associates, Consultants
russell...@mail.wdn.com in Science and Technology
http://www.rmartin.com
All too often the study of data requires care.
rick++
Oceanograpic institutes and museums might do some.
You might look at Woods Hole, La Jolla, Hopkins etc.
As another poster has said, many of these positions are
haunted by academic gypsies- those of us could can't quite
leave academica but cant quite get the real academic jobs.
I did that for a while in related field.
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Matt Jones
russell...@mail.wdn.com wrote:
> Kelly M Bloom wrote:
> >
> > I am currently a computer programmer for an insurance company, but I
have
> > always had a strong interest in Marine Biology. At this point in my
life, I
> > am not prepared to drop my programming career totally to pursue a
degree in
> > Marine Biology. However, it seems to me that I could use my
programming
> > skills or math background (I have a BS degree in math) to get
involved in
> > the Marine Biology field in some capacity. Does anybody have any
> > suggestions?
>
Kelly,
There are a number of new programs in ecological informatics that would
allow you to use your programming skills in an position focused on
improving the science of marine biology. Here's a current job opening
at the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS,
http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu) that involves database programming for marine
ecology. It is located in Santa Barbara, California. Good luck with
your search.
Matt
See the UCSB HR website for instructions on how to apply
(http://hr.ucsb.edu/Employment/how-to-apply.html).
Metadata Systems Developer
[TECHNO III, COMPUTER & NETWORK]
------------------------------------------------------------
Opening Date: Current Status:
MARINE SCIENCE INSTITUTE 02-25-2000 Open
Job Number: 2000-02-029 Apply By:
Salary: $4,333- $4,833/mo. 03-13-2000 NEW
Duties: Works for National Center for Ecological Analysis
and Synthesis and works with participants in the
Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal Network (MARINE) to create an
internet-accessible database for marine ecological data
based on new research on metadata systems . Designs,
develops, tests, and installs a metadata and data system to
manage marine ecological data; extend existing metadata
standards for ecology to include metadata about data
semantics for use in conceptual data queries. Develops
software and database tools for internet-based metadata and
data access by participating MARINE scientists. Develops
metadata conversion tools for conversion among existing
metadata standards and develops software for semi-automated
quality assurance analysis based on metadata.
Minimum Requirements: Specialist in metadata systems,
database modeling and design, and software programming.
Strong knowledge of relational and object-oriented database
systems and SQL programming, including Oracle database
programming. Expertise with web-database integration using
high-level programming languages (e.g., Perl, Java). Broad
programming skills, including Java and C/C++. Detailed
knowledge of emerging web and internet technologies (e.g.,
XML, XML-Schema and Resource Description Framework) and
their potential impact on metadata systems. Ability to
quickly understand new developments in information science
and apply those developments to working systems. Excellent
communication and writing skills and ability to work within
a team. Bachelor's Degree or higher or equivalent
combination of education and experience.
Desirable: Quanitative analysis and statistical skills
desirable, especially in the SAS environment. UNIX
experience and knowledge of the field of knowledge
representation (KR). Experience with ecological or earth
systems science research.
Special Conditions: Note: Position funded by National
Science Foundation for three years. Located at 735 State
St., Santa Barbara.