Skill path
How to become a Computer and Information Research Scientist
How to become a Computer and Information Research Scientist: skill roadmap with 5 core skills, degree usually required, courses and salary data. Updated weekly.
Education & experience requirements
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school.
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience.
- On-the-job training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Foundations
Skills assumed by employers — the base to build on
- Advanced mathematics (calculus, linear algebra)Foundation
Higher-level math necessary for modeling complex systems and algorithms. Used in research and data science to solve real-world problems. Build skills through rigorous study and application.
- Algorithm designFoundation
Creating efficient step-by-step methods for computation. Essential for developing optimized software and solving complex tasks. Learn through theoretical study and coding exercises.
- Data structuresFoundation
Ways of organizing data for efficient access and modification. Critical for building performant applications. Master through programming practice and algorithm courses.
- Programming languages (Python, Java, C++)Foundation
Writing code to develop software and automate tasks. Required across research and engineering roles. Acquire via coding bootcamps and building personal projects.
Core skills
The skills that define the role today
- LLMs / GenAIHigh demand
Advanced AI for generating human-like text and content. Professionals use it for content creation, analysis, and automating communication.
- Machine LearningHigh demand
AI that learns from data to make predictions or decisions. Used by scientists and managers to analyze complex data and automate tasks.
- ExperimentationHigh demand
Conducting controlled tests to gather data. Professionals use this to validate hypotheses and optimize processes or products.
- PyTorchHigh demand
An open-source machine learning library for deep learning models. Employers need it for AI research and deployment. Learn through online documentation and building neural networks.
- ExcelHigh demand
A spreadsheet program for data organization and analysis. Essential for accountants and many other roles to manage and interpret data.
Tools in demand
Specific tools that appear in live postings
- CIn demand
A low-level programming language for system and embedded development. Valued for performance-critical applications. Learn by writing C programs and studying memory management.
- TensorFlowIn demand
A framework for building and training neural networks. Used in machine learning and data science. Develop skills through hands-on model building and community resources.
- C++In demand
An object-oriented language for high-performance software. Needed for game engines, systems, and large applications. Gain through practical projects and C++ guides.
- AWSIn demand
Amazon's cloud platform for computing, storage, and services. Employers use it for scalable infrastructure. Learn by experimenting with AWS free tier and following official documentation.
- Microsoft Power BIIn demand
A business analytics tool for transforming data into interactive dashboards. Needed to support data-driven decision-making. Learn by connecting to datasets and building visual reports.