# How do I become a scientist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 15, 2003, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-scientist/188656 "2003-07-15T14:34:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Trigonal\_Planar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Trigonal\_Planar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trigonal_Planar)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-scientist/188656/21 "2003-07-16T21:27:50Z")
Can we address this question from an engineering perspective? I’m studying electrical engineering and do plan on getting my Ph.D. Ultimately, I want to go into R&D for academia or industry. What should _I_ do to become a scientist? ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-scientist/188656/22 "2003-07-16T23:55:16Z")
Eh… get some experience working with someone with a PhD. in engineering? Working in an internship? ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-scientist/188656/23 "2003-07-17T03:19:31Z")
Interesting case, **Trigonal Planar**. Engineering occupies its own unique position, and as to the academia v. industry question, I’ll say that the few academic engineers I’ve known have had far stronger ties to (and active involvement with) industry than most other academics. My own industry (oil and gas - involving geologists, geophysicists, petroleum engineers and, to a lesser extent, organic chemists) is not all that far behind. I think it’s a case where, if you’re a whiz-bang engineer, it’s not all that hard to get hooked up with the consulting dollars while maintaining your academic career. It might be tougher for a line engineer to try an unorthodox treatment of a problem, while a name person could float the idea more easily, and better survive its failure. Anyway, at this point, for you (and I’m guessing that you’re an undergrad or soon to be), I’d say you want to get at least a summer job or two worth of field experience (work for either an electrical engineering firm or an electrician - I realize, vastly different) and then search out opportunities to work as a lab assistant for a prof or get an internship at an EE firm. Direct from the den of one who has zip experience in that field. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-scientist/188656/24 "2003-07-17T03:32:23Z")
I don’t know, why don’t you ask Tom Cruise? I hear he’s scientologist and therefore knows a lot about scientists. ---
**Author:** ![Lodrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@Lodrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lodrain)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2003, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-scientist/188656/25 "2003-07-17T15:07:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by j.c. \* > \*\*One question - do you have a hump? Because if you do, you’re fated for the assistant slot. Sorry. That’s just the way it is. > > Also, if you are a beautiful woman, either you are some sort of space clone or you need a scientist to rescue you. \*\* I am an attractive young man. And I do have a sort of kink in the nape of my neck that has definite hump potential if I slip and let my posture go. Crap. I wasn’t expecting to be the next world-destroying madman, anyways. As long as I get to wear a lab coat and drool to my heart’s desire, I’ll be fine. Hmph. World wouldn’t appreciate me, anyways. Cretins and ingrates, all of them. How I’d love to show them what _real_ intelligence can do. Hmm… I’ve got me a large quantity of weapons-grade plutonium–maybe _that_ will educate the populace! GAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! BWAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAA! Ha. Sorry. Got carried away. Anyways, thanks for the advice. If it does turn out that I want to do this for the rest of my life, I’ll certainly use this advice. For good. Oh, and very funny, **Christopher**. Guards! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-become-a-scientist/188656.md?page=1)