Does a PhD in Computer Science Mean You’re a Computer Scientist?

Academic qualifications often play a crucial role in defining one's profession. But does a PhD in Computer Science automatically make you a computer scientist? The answer, as it turns out, is more nuanced than a simple yes or no.

Reputation and Job Title

If you're compensated for your computer science work by someone reputable, such as being a Principal Investigator (PI) on a government grant, you can be reasonably considered a computer scientist. Similarly, if you've published a paper in a reputable, peer-reviewed journal, the same applies. These factors indicate that you're engaging in the activity typically associated with a computer scientist.

Role vs. Title

Consider another example: my partner has a PhD in physics. While she is a physicist by background, her current role as an associate professor in theoretical ecology might make her seem less like a physicist. However, her current job duties still align with the requirements of a physicist, focusing on experimental-based research and contributing to the field.

The term "computer scientist" is a job description. Having a PhD in computer science enhances one's chances of securing such a role, but simply possessing the degree doesn't make you a computer scientist. Many people with CompSci PhDs work as software developers, project managers, architects, and more. Their roles may not align with the traditional duties of a computer scientist.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

To be a computer scientist, you must engage in the activities that define the profession. These include writing and reviewing peer-reviewed literature, supervising PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, designing and running experiments, applying for grants, organizing workshops, and participating in PhD dissertation committees. These tasks bring a level of scientific rigor to the study of computers.

If you were to return to doing software development in laboratory robotics, you would more accurately describe yourself as a programmer, not a computer scientist, because your focus and responsibilities would change.

Research and Depth of Knowledge

Stephen Kurtzman points out that while some people might back up their claim to be computer scientists through their research, the majority of people who call themselves computer scientists do so based on their work in this field.

A PhD in Computer Science typically requires you to do research and advance knowledge in the field. An undergraduate degree only provides basic knowledge and doesn't require research. An undergraduate computer scientist who becomes a software engineer in industry is not doing computer science but rather programming or engineering. While it is possible to do research with just a bachelor's degree, most people find that a master's or doctoral degree is necessary to achieve the depth of knowledge required for research.

Throughout history, many early computer scientists had a background in mathematics because computer science was not recognized as a distinct field. The subfield of Theory of Computer Science is a branch of mathematics. The key point in answering this question is that to be a computer scientist, you must conduct research that contributes to the field of Computer Science.