Mathematics and Programming in demand?

[ironcan]

I want to know if mathematics combined with programming is in demand?

I don’t feel as if it is. I hold an MSc degree in Applied Mathematics and have a passion for mathematical modelling, especially fluid dynamics and CFD. I am also a competent programmer who enjoys programming very much and likes to combine programming with mathematical modelling to solve problems numerically.

Why doesn’t it feel like there are any jobs out there that require my skills?

[Skeptik]

Try and get a job that demands your skills. Places like Eskom would want you. Try abroad and you'll get snapped up easily!!

[kaspaas]

I know about several people like you.

As long as the R&D spend in the country is focussed on social and low tech issues, you will struggle.

Your best bet would be with a small consulting group of (mechanical/electrical?) engineers who are not welcome to sell their skills inside SA. There is a myriad of such small consultancies networking and selling their skills into Africa.

[scotty777]

or move to new zealand because they are crying out for people like you. and if not you could work for the car industry as they need fluid dynamics to solve air flow etc... there's many places, just not here

[APG]

Ever thought of working in the financial industry?

[stepper]

Sasol n Unilever might be the best bets.

Or u can use your programming knowledge as well as your applied maths and create a couple of simulation softwares and sell them directly to Universities or educational software houses.

[ironcan]

Yes its sad. The country is always crying out: "We need skilled people in maths and science" but here I am and it doesnt seem like they are practicing what they preach. I think I'll go for abroad. Then they will call out again: "The other contries are taking our skilled people. Brain drain. Help our poor country."

I know about several people like you.

As long as the R&D spend in the country is focussed on social and low tech issues, you will struggle.

Your best bet would be with a small consulting group of (mechanical/electrical?) engineers who are not welcome to sell their skills inside SA. There is a myriad of such small consultancies networking and selling their skills into Africa.

[ironcan]

Yes I have thought about working in the financial industry. There are many similarities in the modelling of financial derivatives and the modeling of continuums. So as long as I will get stimulated by interesting mathematical problems that I can combine with programming, I’m happy. The problem there is. The longer I go without working in the financial industry, the harder it will be to get into the industry. They all seem to want some experience in stock markets etc. I’m still young though and my varsity years are fresh in my mind. Maybe I will give it a shot.

Ever thought of working in the financial industry?

[APG]

Cool! Where you based? What programming skills do you have?

[scotty777]

Yes its sad. The country is always crying out: "We need skilled people in maths and science" but here I am and it doesnt seem like they are practicing what they preach. I think I'll go for abroad. Then they will call out again: "The other contries are taking our skilled people. Brain drain. Help our poor country."

i hate to say it, but the bee thing is screwing us over,

[Angstrom]

You could try to get involved in research activities around the PBMR project. There are PhD level projects that require mathematical modelling skills.

[ironcan]

I'm originally from Cape Town, but based in Johannesburg for a year and a half now. My skills in terms of programming languages include from best to worse: c/c++, java, matlab, delphi, mathematica, fortran, vb.

Cool! Where you based? What programming skills do you have?

[ironcan]

right you are!

i hate to say it, but the bee thing is screwing us over,

[ironcan]

Strange enough I was for an interview and a 3hour assessment at the PBMR not so long ago for a position of design engineer at the training simulator centre. The whole process took close to 3 months from when I first applied. In the end I didn’t get the job. I had too little experience. The position originally asked for 3 years and I had just over one year. So I suppose I shouldn’t feel too bad for getting through to the final round. Still, I would have loved to work there.

You could try to get involved in research activities around the PBMR project. There are PhD level projects that require mathematical modelling skills.

[Angstrom]

Strange enough I was for an interview and a 3hour assessment at the PBMR not so long ago for a position of design engineer at the training simulator centre. The whole process took close to 3 months from when I first applied. In the end I didn’t get the job. I had too little experience. The position originally asked for 3 years and I had just over one year. So I suppose I shouldn’t feel too bad for getting through to the final round. Still, I would have loved to work there.

That's a real shame. It looks like a wonderfully interesting project in which to play a part.

I've been speaking to a couple professors that will be coordinating some of the research effort down here and I'm hoping to participate from a chemistry or physics point of view and get a PhD out of it in the end.