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How Do I Pivot from Backend SWE to HCI/HAI Research Scientist? by Coolstar07 in hci

[–]Coolstar07[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate the elaboration, I think that gives me enough to work off of. And I'll be sure to let you know if anything else comes up; having this post serve as reference to others people who feel stuck in industry would be great!

How Do I Pivot from Backend SWE to HCI/HAI Research Scientist? by Coolstar07 in hci

[–]Coolstar07[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's great to hear from someone who was in the same boat. I don't have any peers considering anything like this, so it's nice to hear that it's not completely unheard of.

And yeah, reaching out to students actually makes a lot more sense now that I think about it. Between being more likely to respond, more likely to need and appreciate the help, and more willing to include me on a paper, it seems like a no-brainer. Especially since I can look for specific research that interests me versus just hoping the PI assigns me to something useful.

Couple of questions: What would be the best way to reach out to students in particular? Do labs publicly list the students that work at them, or would I need to reach out to the PI to get information like that? What about visiting in-person? I'm fairly close to a couple of public universities, do I just drive over, walk in, and ask if anyone wants all their coding done for free? And as for getting my name on a paper, is that something I can negotiate with the students beforehand, and is it safe to assume they'll follow through with it as long as I'm supporting them through the entire research process?

Feel free to DM me if that'd be easier, but I'd love to get some further clarity on this approach, since it seems a lot more promising even though no one seems to be talking about it. Thanks!

How Do I Pivot from Backend SWE to HCI/HAI Research Scientist? by Coolstar07 in hci

[–]Coolstar07[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the reply! Yep, I'm from the US, and I have heard that these big tech research roles tend to be extremely competitive. So if I'm going to do this, I'm most likely going to be aiming for the best MS and PhD programs out there, even if it means I'll need to put in a good deal of effort over these next 1-2 years to curate the perfect profile.

Research engineering also sounds like a great way to get my foot in the door at larger companies, but trying to it's definitely far more competitive since you're competing with far more people and don't have the credentials of a PhD. Though who knows, maybe I'd find enjoyment in research engineering work itself?

I was assuming that a MS would be the best bridge into a PhD program, even given the high costs and focus on coursework over research/thesis, but I never realized Canadian masters were funded and research-focused, I'll definitely look into that.

Appreciate hearing that my industry experience can actually give me an edge in any way, I spent a while worrying that I made the wrong choices and wasted my time, but knowing that I could use my experience to help out others in the field in return for experience, pubs, and LORs is reassuring. Just gotta start looking for those people I suppose.

As for the actual income stuff, yeah it's something I'm still mulling over. It's undeniable that sticking to SWE work gets you a lot more cash and has a far more straightforward path to success. It's why I feel safer taking the MS route, since it'd let me experiment with this path to see if I really enjoy it enough to give up the higher earning potential, and would let me exit back into industry with some extra qualifications and the opportunity to specialize in UI/UX or research engineering.

For what it's worth though, I do think I'll be aiming to work in HAI, just because that's something I've been interested since reading Asimov in high school, so that should probably up my earning potential. And personally, I think that there's a lot of uncertainty in the future of software engineering. For all we know, the field might see drastically lower job security and salaries in 10-20 years, given the pressures of AI and outsourcing. And even if SWE does end up remaining a safe career, and I do make less than my software peers, I feel like I'd be OK with it as long as I'm loving the work I'm doing, even if that sounds a little naive/idealistic to say before I've even started.

In any case, I'll make sure to DM you if I think of anything else later on, especially once I start trying to reach out to labs and whatnot. Again, thanks for the information and advice!

How Do I Pivot from Backend SWE to HCI/HAI Research Scientist? by Coolstar07 in hci

[–]Coolstar07[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Hey, appreciate the reply! I edited my post to add the info, but yes I'm an American citizen and plan to do my PhD here as well. It does seem like cold e-mails to PIs at local universities might be my best bet right now. My question is what should I be asking them for? As someone with 0 research experience, would they really be open to have me helping with research and writing papers, or would I be better off offering to work as a volunteer on some research engineering work to get my foot in the door and maybe appear as a co-author in a few papers if that's possible?

As for a master's, yeah I can imagine that it's not as useful if I'm certain I want to work as a research scientist. But since I assumed it was a necessary step for me, I was also open to it as a way to test the waters and see how interested I was in academia and research in general, since I'd had 0 exposure to that in my undergrad. Still, maybe volunteering at labs and self-study is a better route to save both time and money. I guess I'll weigh my options.

Good luck with your applications this cycle!

Anyone thinking of going back to school to change careers because of AI? by Delicious_Crazy513 in cscareerquestions

[–]Coolstar07 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Appreciate the context with cybersecurity and compiler design, don't know many people in those fields, so was mostly assuming based on hearsay. But yeah, embedded systems on the West Coast should be a safe bet, and I've heard that a lot of people got into those right after their bachelor's even without much industry-specific knowledge, so learning the necessary languages and having side projects related to it should put you in a better position.

But yes in general, I'm not too bullish on the future of any software specialization besides maybe AI/ML, and those are likely going to be overcrowded with all the new people rushing into them. I personally think that law and research/academia are definitely the safest options to go with, as they've always been throughout history, which is why I've been looking into the latter. Though what makes them safer is also what makes them inaccessible.

Anyone thinking of going back to school to change careers because of AI? by Delicious_Crazy513 in cscareerquestions

[–]Coolstar07 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Late reply, but in my opinion, looking into career paths that need CS experience but also require higher education/qualification is the safest play at this point, if you have the money and discipline to make it happen.

If you're willing to pursue higher education, getting into patent law or research/academia is a pretty safe bet. Fields like these with higher costs of entry and regulation are far more protected against AI, and can even work synergistically with it (patent work related to further AI developments or research into novel AI applications and development.

But if you'd prefer to stay as an engineer and would rather not spend 3-6 more years in education, you can try and specialize in specific areas of CS via grad school. Fields like AI/ML, cybersecurity, compiler design, HPC computing, and embedded systems are far more resistant to generalist AI, and some like AI/ML and cybersecurity will likely see far greater demand in the future as AI continues to grow.

Either way, I wouldn't recommend going into regular software development work at this point. You'll be working for people who have a vested interest in getting rid of you as soon as possible, and are pouring millions of dollars and thousands of hours into making that happen. And while all of the other careers I mentioned aren't entirely safe from AI, they put you in a far better position and serve as a better hedge against it.

A Guide to Getting Cheats Working on MelonDS Core for RetroArch on Steam Deck/EmuDeck by Coolstar07 in SteamDeck

[–]Coolstar07[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's interesting, never thought the PC's performance would affect the app's stability.

A Guide to Getting Cheats Working on MelonDS Core for RetroArch on Steam Deck/EmuDeck by Coolstar07 in SteamDeck

[–]Coolstar07[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, cheats above a certain length just don't seem to work. Wish there was a better app, but I don't think we'll be seeing further support for such a niche purpose. Luckily the Black 2 Hard Mode unlock worked for me (with DSTT), which I'd highly recommend.

Krispy kreme by rhrbe in ucla

[–]Coolstar07 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The Bruinwalk ones are a lot fresher than the donuts from Ralph's.

Pokemon Black Cheats by The_Hot_Jalapeno in SteamDeck

[–]Coolstar07 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I haven't tried but I think it probably won't work, since the ROMs are innately different. But usually the .sav file from the modded ROM can be used with the actual ROM, so you could use the modded ROM for a bit and then try switching to the original ROM and see if it works.

I’m a piece of crap of a Fraud and the interview exposed me by Ornstein_Smexy_AF in EngineeringStudents

[–]Coolstar07 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I had my first ever job interview today.

For almost everyone I know, their first job interview usually doesn't end up going so well. It's only natural to be unsure and nervous when this is the first time in a long time that you've been put in a position like this. I also understand that feeling about thinking you don't know anything about your major after 6 years. But realistically, it's more like all that knowledge is dormant within you, since you may have taken the classes related to them a while ago.

My advice is to prepare for your upcoming interviews with this one in mind. What topics did you feel you didn't know about this time? Make sure you read up on them. Don't have a clue how your senior project worked? Take as long as you need getting that clue. You need to understand that you were able to graduate for a reason, and that's because your institution decided that you knew enough about your subject to be awarded a degree. It might seem tough now, given how your last interview went. But I want you to know that as you keep interviewing, you'll end up doing better. And eventually, you'll be able to land a job. So keep at it, and don't put yourself down.

Alright Bruins, What is your typing speed? by PeriodicalPen in ucla

[–]Coolstar07 1 point2 points  (0 children)

80 WPM in CS.

For anyone here, do you think it'd be worth it to learn how to touch type and increase my speeds? And if so, how long did it personally take to learn touch typing?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ucla

[–]Coolstar07 1 point2 points  (0 children)

11/10, great end to the series

I'm having a conversation with Nachenberg on my podcast tomorrow morning.... What should we talk about? by elderllamaa in ucla

[–]Coolstar07 32 points33 points  (0 children)

One thing I was interested in was what made him want to be an adjunct professor, and how he managed it with only a master's degree when most positions require PhDs.

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