<p>Can anyone tell me about becoming a researcher through a PhD program? How much will the degree help my chances of becoming a researcher? Will it matter what school I go to? How much? </p>
<p>And does anyone have any info on what the job prospects are like for CS PhD graduates? From what I hear, I will be overqualified for many jobs, but others say it will open up more difficult/exciting challenges. I like the idea of the latter, but am wondering how hard/easy it is the get one of those awesome positions. Also, does anyone know anything about the day to day of being a researcher? Do researchers, in the industry, work mostly alone or on a team? Do they write code, or conduct experiments (or go to meetings)? What are the hours like? How is the job market/competition for these jobs?</p>
<p>Normally, I can get away with doing this kind of research through Google searches, but I've been having a hard time finding the info I want on this particular subject...</p>
<p>CS researchers usually have PhDs. Sometimes people with MS do research too. PhDs can do research at universities, industry and government. I think the job prospects are good. When my daughter was a grad student, she did an internship at Google and they told her they hire 1/3rd BS, 1/3rd MS 1/3rd PhD. Some companies, like Microsoft Research, have pure research depts that publish like university researchers do. You can do searches and look at job postings that ask for PhDs in these and other companies. Of course, working at a university as a researcher or professor is the more traditional researcher position. </p>
<p>There are a good amount of universities with good CS grad departments. The best to go to is the one where you can work with professors doing the kind of research you are interested in, in your CS area. </p>
<p>My son wanted to be academic, but realized how limited job market is. He decided to do summer internship in industry. Later in year, he returned to do a 1 year internship. He works with his “boss” ; they wrote a proposal for a conference. He maintains contact with his grad school advisers. He has no set hours and can work at home, just like in grad school. His work should hopefully lead to a published paper. </p>
<p>I don’t have the knowledge to tell you about his day-to-day life. He is not at liberty to tell me what projects are going on in his department. </p>
<p>BrownParent, I do not recall where your DD is in grad school. You are so helpful to posters in grad school.</p>