While following a similar education and career path to that of information systems managers and computer programmers, computer and information research scientists have a specific subset of skills and duties that sets them apart from other computing professionals.
Information research scientists work to advance the field of computing and create new computing-based solutions to problems in countless industries. Their role is as a trailblazer: The development and design of new digital technologies, such as data mining software, is the quintessential duty of a computer research scientist.
Repurposing older technology to work in specific contexts is another frequent activity of a research scientist. They put the “science” into computer science — they research, test, and create, whereas other CS disciplines might focus on information systems management or programming software. Notable historical figures in computing, such as Ada Lovelace and Alan Turing, would be classified as computer and information research scientists today. The advancement of the field is the mission for those in this career.
Due to the broad applicability of computing technology to various fields, computer and information research scientists can be found in almost every industry. From food service to aerospace engineering, nearly every line of work can use these research scientists. As a result, duties for this career can vary greatly.
Many computer research scientists can be found in the field of robotics, where software combines with mechanical hardware to create machines that are more efficient and viable in commercial use. Others might find themselves in the medical field, creating new systems for collating and analyzing patient data. The ubiquity of computing technology means that a typical day for a computer and research scientist is almost impossible to define, and this makes the field quite exciting and dynamic.
There are some common trends that can be defined, however. Computer and information research scientists should expect to become familiar with machine learning and artificial intelligence. This emerging field of computing is perceived as the iconic technology of the future. The demand for computer scientists experienced in machine learning and AI is growing fast. As research scientists, those in this career will be hard-pressed to avoid work that involves AI. Many roles in academic and private settings focused on the research and advancement of artificial intelligence can be found. This field is slowly dominating the focus of many different industries: Automotive, health care, marketing, and even private military companies all have their hands in the world of AI, and that list is growing bigger each day.
The basic idea of the occupation is that information scientists invent new computing technologies in response to various needs. Invention naturally leads to technological advancements in many different lines of work.
