Ask HN: Career in science when you're old?

1 pointsjitbit5mo ago1 comments

I'm financially secure and would love to volunteer in science (physics). How would you even approach that?

Some background: I have a master’s in math and 30 years of full-stack software engineering. I have a (very) basic understanding of relativity, quantum field theory, gravity, electricity etc.

I’ve also founded a moderately successful software company, so I can basically work for free. Intern, lab assistant, unpaid engineer - anything! I'm good at explaining complex things in simple ways to students, but I'm also fine just making coffee for some professor for the rest of my life if it means being around scientific research.

So... Do universities have volunteer positions like that? Do I just send CVs to local universities? Or is there a better way to get involved? (I’m in Europe, if that matters)

The problem is that I'm actually 48 which is super old by today's standards.

Thanks.

1 comments

sxzygz4mo ago

Sorry, I’m not in academia, but since no one responded I thought I may suggest some things.

I think it’s important to be deeply interested in work whatever lab you find is doing, otherwise they’ll feel like they’re babysitting you.

My physics is weak, but if I had your skills, I’d work in developing open source software for microchip simulation, verification, and design.

There are many groups working in this around the world, it’s super interesting, very civilization useful, and is at a nascent stage.

Check out the FOSSi Foundation, their various events, the speakers, their interests, and if anything sparks your imagination.

https://fossi-foundation.org/

Age does not matter, and 48 is young!

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