- #1
cgreeleybsu
- 29
- 1
Hello,
Currently I am an undergrad about 1 year or 3/2 year(s) away from graduating with a double major in computer science (which I am a lot stronger in) and physics. I have always been interested in advanced propulsion. I would really like to do research on the Alcubeirre/Natario/Alcubierre-Froning/Lambda/whatever warp drive & worm holes (please try not to roll your eyes too hard), although I am interested in launch systems, subluminal potentially interstellar engines, as well as superluminal drives.
My plan originally was to be a a computer science & mechanical engineering major, I thought we would learn all of physics including General Relativity (or I could weasel my way into it) as a mechanical engineering major.
A while ago I transferred schools and became a music major for a while, then switched back to CS & Physics (no engineering at this school). One of main the driving reasons I wanted to do physics is I didn't see too many practical ways to help people with programming. I decided I would just go for a masters in mechanical engineering after I got the physics degree.
So here is the next problem that showed up. I thought surely as one of the pillars of physics we would learn General Relativity in undergrad. Sadly I found out this wasen't really the case, although I am in a general relativity class now and we have covered a lot of the EFE in great detail as well as a lot of cosmology and the professor has said he may let me work with him on his GR research as well (which is great, its computationally based and I am really good with that, and in my favorite language, C++ :) )
To study GR, I found out, I would need to go to grad school (or do it on my own). That kind of puts a damper on the whole mechanical engineering thing.Then a second issue came up. I started thinking about computational biology. I finally thought I may have found a way to help people more directly not only with programming but in a STEMy sort of way. I thought I was a little late into my studies to become a CS & Bio major, however there is a professor who does biophysics at my school, and he is very good. I don't know if I can get into his lab, but he may let me do a side project that fits into one of his larger projects for a semester (or two, but then I wouldn't get to do GR with the other professor) as he usually likes to have students for about a year or two.
There is also another research project I came up with on my own that one professor said he would love to and was honored that I thought of him but can't right now (or probably during my renaming time there) and would love to be a reader on if I finish it, he said he thought it was a very good theory, let's call it a quantum communications project, though I am not sure where to take that, or if I should try to do it on my own (a little outside the scope of this question and I may make another post about it, but does he mean I should try this outside academia/an institution then get it peer reviewed? Can you do that?)
So now I really am unsure what to do. I am unsure what lab to try to get into, (and I kinda want it possibly to be relevant to grad school, until recently I was unaware that you could work in labs with professors without a grant).
I am unsure what to do for grad school, my plan of getting a ME degree seems kind of out the window now. But I want to take these advanced physics concepts and apply (I am an applied concentration) them to engineering problems as well as theorize (like the alcubierre drive, and my ladder idea), I am told I pretty much will not be taken seriously at all in research about the alcubierre drive etc. without a PhD. I don't really want to get one though. I will have started my bachelor degree almost/7 years ago by the time I graduate (I took some time off).
Then of course there is the idea of trying to do computational biology or biophysics for a grad degree, and maybe getting a masters. Biology isent exactly what I *want* to study, but it does help people and I always feel that I need to have meaning behind what I do, and that may be the better trade in the long run. The idea is relatively new to me though and I don't know what to think.
I also have a minor interest in Quantum Computing (can solve a lot of comp. biology problems) & Quantum Communications.
My grades are all over the place as well...In summery:
I am unsure what lab to try to go for (GR, Biophys, My Own Quantum Communications Thing?).
I am unsure what to do for a grad program and I am in 2 maybe 3 totally different directions (at least on the non-physics front)
Currently I am an undergrad about 1 year or 3/2 year(s) away from graduating with a double major in computer science (which I am a lot stronger in) and physics. I have always been interested in advanced propulsion. I would really like to do research on the Alcubeirre/Natario/Alcubierre-Froning/Lambda/whatever warp drive & worm holes (please try not to roll your eyes too hard), although I am interested in launch systems, subluminal potentially interstellar engines, as well as superluminal drives.
My plan originally was to be a a computer science & mechanical engineering major, I thought we would learn all of physics including General Relativity (or I could weasel my way into it) as a mechanical engineering major.
A while ago I transferred schools and became a music major for a while, then switched back to CS & Physics (no engineering at this school). One of main the driving reasons I wanted to do physics is I didn't see too many practical ways to help people with programming. I decided I would just go for a masters in mechanical engineering after I got the physics degree.
So here is the next problem that showed up. I thought surely as one of the pillars of physics we would learn General Relativity in undergrad. Sadly I found out this wasen't really the case, although I am in a general relativity class now and we have covered a lot of the EFE in great detail as well as a lot of cosmology and the professor has said he may let me work with him on his GR research as well (which is great, its computationally based and I am really good with that, and in my favorite language, C++ :) )
To study GR, I found out, I would need to go to grad school (or do it on my own). That kind of puts a damper on the whole mechanical engineering thing.Then a second issue came up. I started thinking about computational biology. I finally thought I may have found a way to help people more directly not only with programming but in a STEMy sort of way. I thought I was a little late into my studies to become a CS & Bio major, however there is a professor who does biophysics at my school, and he is very good. I don't know if I can get into his lab, but he may let me do a side project that fits into one of his larger projects for a semester (or two, but then I wouldn't get to do GR with the other professor) as he usually likes to have students for about a year or two.
There is also another research project I came up with on my own that one professor said he would love to and was honored that I thought of him but can't right now (or probably during my renaming time there) and would love to be a reader on if I finish it, he said he thought it was a very good theory, let's call it a quantum communications project, though I am not sure where to take that, or if I should try to do it on my own (a little outside the scope of this question and I may make another post about it, but does he mean I should try this outside academia/an institution then get it peer reviewed? Can you do that?)
So now I really am unsure what to do. I am unsure what lab to try to get into, (and I kinda want it possibly to be relevant to grad school, until recently I was unaware that you could work in labs with professors without a grant).
I am unsure what to do for grad school, my plan of getting a ME degree seems kind of out the window now. But I want to take these advanced physics concepts and apply (I am an applied concentration) them to engineering problems as well as theorize (like the alcubierre drive, and my ladder idea), I am told I pretty much will not be taken seriously at all in research about the alcubierre drive etc. without a PhD. I don't really want to get one though. I will have started my bachelor degree almost/7 years ago by the time I graduate (I took some time off).
Then of course there is the idea of trying to do computational biology or biophysics for a grad degree, and maybe getting a masters. Biology isent exactly what I *want* to study, but it does help people and I always feel that I need to have meaning behind what I do, and that may be the better trade in the long run. The idea is relatively new to me though and I don't know what to think.
I also have a minor interest in Quantum Computing (can solve a lot of comp. biology problems) & Quantum Communications.
My grades are all over the place as well...In summery:
I am unsure what lab to try to go for (GR, Biophys, My Own Quantum Communications Thing?).
I am unsure what to do for a grad program and I am in 2 maybe 3 totally different directions (at least on the non-physics front)