Dr. Paul Navratil
Manager - Scalable Visualization Technologies @ Texas Advanced Computing Center
I conduct my own research into scientific visualization algorithms and applications (like the weather report, but with different data) and I consult with researchers who use our advanced computing systems to help them gain better insight from their visualizations.
How I Got Here
ShowI started out pre-med / pre-law in college, but neither really took. I had played with computers in elementary and middle school, and I thought that no matter what, a degree in computer science would be useful. A friend in the dorms was CompSci, and I started taking classes with him.
My undergraduate degree gave me the initial training and inspiration to pursue a graduate degree and my eventual career. After undergraduate, I spent two years with a dot-com startup, which gave me crucial insight into the business world and "real life". I then returned for graduate school and eventually took up a student job that turned into a full-time job at TACC.
I had a student job with TACC, and through my exposure there, I discovered that I could do the work I wanted to do in a positive, supportive environment with cutting-edge people and technology.
The Ups and Downs
ShowI have great flexibility in conducting research I find interesting and fulfilling, and I get to work with talented people who are leaders in many different fields across science. Working at a university gives me day-to-day freedom and flexibility that might not be found in a corporate environment. While a public university cannot match salaries and perks in industry, the health care and quality of life significantly balance this.
Recommendations
Show- Say 'yes' when you can and 'no' when you must.
- It is okay to feel overcommitted, it expands what you can do.
- Find a major that encompasses what you like to do. Regardless of the job you have afterwards, you will be doing something you like.
- Read before you sign.