How to become a Research Scientist after PhD
I finished PhD in electrical engineering from an average university. My coursework and research papers belong to Machine Learning, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Vision, Statistics, and Signal processing. I do not have any background in tele-communication, network, electromagnetics, power system, power electronics, integrated circuits, solid-state devices, semiconductors, photonics, MEMS, nono ... Unfortunately many people think electrical engineering means either power systems or electronic circuits. My H index is 5 and my citation is more than 100. Next year, I can reach to H index of 7 and more than 200 citations. I would like to work as a research scientist, not applied scientist, not data scientist, not research engineer, not other engineers in production lines. I applied to many companies in USA, from FAANG to medium size to start up, from tech companies to auto companies to health companies. However, I do not get any screening call or interview. I get many messages (email and linkedin) for software engineer, software developer, and embedded system but not a research scientist. What is the path to research scientist? #tech #auto #research #scientist #researchscientist #phd #academia #science #machinelearning #AI #artificialintelligence #robotics #robotic #HRI #computervision #statistics #signalprocessing #googlebrain #googleai #googleresearch #google #FAIR #facebook #amazon #apple #adobe #microsoftresarch #microsoft #dataminr #twosigma #bloomberg #ebay #qualcomm #nokia #samsung #samsungelectronicsamerica #deepmind #openai #intel #IBM #nvidia #uber #lyft #waymo #zoox #cruise #ford #toyota #generalmotors #mitsubishielectric #motional #bosch #robertbosch #irobot #intuitivesurgical #siemens #Medtronic #LG #sony #bytedance#horizonrobotics #electrical #datascientist #datascience #engineeringmanager #researchgmanager #researchlead #researchengineer #appliedscientist #career
It would not hurt to do more research about the roles in these companies, and look for a role that fits you instead of a fancy title. For example, at FB any PhD grad ML engineer can get the RS title, but they are still more of a ML engineer unless you are in FAIR. At G, most RS are expected to code heavily, oftentimes in C++. At Amazon, it is widely known that applied scientist is the most prestigious and highest paid job family, and they engage the research community just as much as their RS.
You need papers at top conferences. Other papers are useless. Do a postdoctoral for 3-5 years first.
Graduate from top tier university and publish at top tier conferences.
To be hired as a research scientist like that you need solid credentials. You don’t have that. Research papers are cheap, thousands phd every year, doing useless research. To get attention to the tech world, you need a bit more than that.
Easiest way to become a research scientist is to get your professor hired and your lab acquired. Other than that, it's really hard since there aren't many true research positions. Some companies like FB call all PhDs research scientists even if they do no research.
Apply for jobs at a university. That is were 95% of research is done. A professor whole gig is to research with some teaching on the side. “Research” at companies is mostly development not basic. My title was senior scientist and I created new medical devices to image the retina. But I did not right papers or present at conference. Though I did attend conferences. Companies make products not knowledge so by nature you will be applied in the private.
Ok first.. A lot of research scientists are actually doing applied research and engineering with a fancier title. Do you want both research freedom and money? Then you should be extremely good at your job to get hired by Google Brain, FAIR, Deepmind, or Open AI. The list is short because it is a ridiculously privileged position. If you don’t see a path to get hired by those companies, the truth might be that there’s no path.
You are right. The truth is not pleasant.
First go and get your ego checked.
What research did you do specifically in PhD? It seems that what you mentions is too general. CV and signal processing is very different.
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