Editing Computer scientist

{{Short description|Scientist specializing in computer science}}
{{Distinguish|Computational scientist |Software engineering{{!}}Software engineer}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}

{{Infobox Occupation
| type = [[Academy#Academic personnel|Academic]]
| activity_sector = 
| image = 
| caption = 
| competencies = [[Computer science]] and other [[formal science]]s (e.g. [[mathematics]], [[logic]], [[statistics]], [[information theory]], [[systems science]])
| formation = [[Doctoral degree]]
| employment_field = Universities, <br/>private corporations, <br/>financial industry, <br/>government, military 
| related_occupation = [[Logic]]ian, [[mathematician]]
}}

A '''computer scientist''' is a [[scientist]] who specializes in the academic study of [[computer science]].<ref>{{cite book|author1=Orsucci, Franco F.|author2=Sala, Nicoletta|year=2008|title=Reflexing Interfaces: The Complex Coevolution of Information Technology Ecosystems, Information Science Reference|page=335|publisher=Information Science Reference |isbn=978-1599046273}}</ref> 

Computer scientists typically work on the theoretical side of computation. Although computer scientists can also focus their work and research on specific areas (such as [[algorithm]] and [[data structure]] development and design, [[software engineering]], [[information theory]], [[database theory]], [[theoretical computer science]], [[numerical analysis]], [[programming language theory]], [[compiler]], [[computer graphics]], [[computer vision]], [[robotics]], [[computer architecture]], [[operating system]]), their foundation is the theoretical study of computing from which these other fields derive.<ref name=salary>{{cite web|url=https://www.bls.gov/ooh/Computer-and-Information-Technology/Computer-and-information-research-scientists.htm|title=Computer and Information Research Scientists|publisher=U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics|date=29 March 2012|access-date=2019-09-09|archive-date=2 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402000057/https://www.bls.gov/ooh/Computer-and-Information-Technology/Computer-and-information-research-scientists.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

A primary goal of computer scientists is to develop or validate models, often mathematical, to describe the properties of computational systems ([[Processor (computing)|processors]], programs, computers interacting with people, computers interacting with other computers, etc.) with an overall objective of discovering designs that yield useful benefits (faster, smaller, cheaper, more precise, etc.).

==Education==
Most computer scientists possess a [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]], [[Master of Science|M.S.]], or [[Bachelor's degree]] in computer science, or other similar fields like [[Information and Computer Science]] (CIS), a closely related discipline such as [[mathematics]]<ref name=salary/> or [[physics]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aps.org/careers/statistics/bsprivatesec.cfm|title=Fields of Employment for Physics Bachelors in the Private Sector, tuty of 2010 & 2012 Combined|publisher=American Physical Society|access-date=2019-09-09|archive-date=17 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017135613/https://www.aps.org/careers/statistics/bsprivatesec.cfm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Areas of specialization===
*[[Theoretical computer science]] – including data structures and algorithms, [[theory of computation]], [[information theory]] and [[coding theory]], [[programming language theory]], and [[formal methods]]
*Computer systems – including [[computer architecture]] and [[computer engineering]], [[computer performance]] analysis, [[Concurrency (computer science)|concurrency]], and [[distributed computing]], [[computer network]]s, [[computer security]] and [[cryptography]], and [[database]]s. 
*Computer applications – including [[Computer graphics (computer science)|computer graphics]] and visualization, [[human–computer interaction]], [[scientific computing]], and [[artificial intelligence]].
*[[Software engineering]] – the application of engineering to software development in a systematic method

==Employment==

Employment prospects for computer scientists are said to be excellent. Such prospects seem to be attributed, in part, to very rapid growth in computer systems design and related services industry, and the software publishing industry, which are projected to be among the fastest growing industries in the U.S. economy.<ref name=salary/>

Computer scientists are often hired by software publishing firms, scientific research and development organizations, or universities where they develop the theories and computer models that allow new technologies to be developed.

Computer scientists can follow more practical applications of their knowledge, doing things such as software engineering. They can also be found in the field of [[information technology consulting]], and may be seen as a type of mathematician, given how much of the field depends on mathematics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.acm.org/binaries/content/assets/education/computing-disciplines.pdf|title=Computing Disciplines & Majors|access-date=2019-09-09|archive-date=6 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906122742/https://www.acm.org/binaries/content/assets/education/computing-disciplines.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Computer scientists employed in industry may eventually advance into managerial or project leadership positions.<ref>{{cite web|author=Perry, Benjamin Beau|url=http://people.cs.ksu.edu/~bbp9857/cs.html|title=What is a computer scientist?|publisher=The University of Newcastle|access-date=9 September 2019|archive-date=21 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821154940/http://people.cs.ksu.edu/~bbp9857/cs.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Computational scientist]]
*[[Software engineering]]
*[[List of computer scientists]]
*[[List of computing people]]
*[[List of pioneers in computer science]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Computer Scientist}}
[[Category:Computer scientists| ]]
[[Category:Computer occupations]]
[[Category:Mathematical science occupations]]