3 replies to this topic

[albertblank]

So after reading about math/programming being used in pharmaceutical research/pharmacometrics...


I've come across a need for a job, too. I'm an applied math/chem major and business (minor) who is unemployed. During undergrad, I focused on organic chem and pharmaceutical work, but that was mainly on the chem side and very little math. I've taken up programming for the past 8 months, only learning the basics, while working multiple jobs full time (so I only had the weekend to learn). I'm working as a pharmacy tech now, which is, in my case, a decent but dead end position. So I'm trying to apply to pharmacy school now.

However, to better my job hunting chances (in case I don't get my pharmD for whatever reason) I want to learn more programming; I enjoy it, but my knowledge is limited to that of a 15 year old, sadly. Moreso, I want to do mathematical related programming. Right now, I'm just desperate for whatever job I can get, but in the long run I want to end up at some pharmaceutical company doing mathematical modeling- I was wondering how I can get there.

So a few things:

1) Right now, all my job experiences have nothing to do with industry. I'm stuck in community/hospital places, as far as I can see, for maybe a year or two, until I get the required experience. My question is, does anyone know if those places deal with software that favor people with a mathematical background? All I know is compounding, which is very very simple.

2) How long would it take to obtain the 'skills' needed for this type of job? What kind of skills are needed? Is it more program based than math? My programming isn't top notch, but my math is pretty good. I'm also more interested in the math side too.

3) What kind of connections do I need to get into industry?

[isuru]

Well! For programming industry mathematics is wanted but not that much considered. Mathematics used by scientific and advanced engineering in Programming. So don't think that you need to know that much knowledge on maths to be a good programmer.

Second thing, is which programming language you use... I use Java and if I going job hunting my first thing would be getting certified by professional body such as Oracle, IEEE, British Computer Society, Microsoft...so on.

And I want to be a doctor but I don't have money, so I decided to be a Software Engineer and then be a doctor. But your case is other way around. Most programming fields are engaged with problem solving with reusing codes, implementing them...so you have to learn Object Oriented Programming, UML, Scrum, and Iterative development so on...

I learned Java in 3 months. But I can't build a big system because learning programming is not learning the language but to learn problem solving strategies such as Object Oriented Methods, UML, System Design....

So don't lose your faith, but read lots of books, learn step by step... you can do it...all you need is patience....

[WingedPanther]

albertblank said:

So a few things:

1) Right now, all my job experiences have nothing to do with industry. I'm stuck in community/hospital places, as far as I can see, for maybe a year or two, until I get the required experience. My question is, does anyone know if those places deal with software that favor people with a mathematical background? All I know is compounding, which is very very simple.

2) How long would it take to obtain the 'skills' needed for this type of job? What kind of skills are needed? Is it more program based than math? My programming isn't top notch, but my math is pretty good. I'm also more interested in the math side too.

3) What kind of connections do I need to get into industry?

Math skills: calculus based statistics and numerical analysis.

Teachers make great connections, as do internships.

[Muted]

WingedPanther said:

Teachers make great connections, as do internships.

Where might one find internship (working for experience-only)? Or does such a utopia not exist?