Cryptology and related careers?

[Denis]

A colleague of mine has an extremely bright late-teen daughter still in seconday school who is gifted in mathematics.

The girl is considering possible career paths, and, having been warned away from the aerospace sector because of a lack of job prospects even for qualified engineers, now believes that cryptology / counter-cryptology and IT security and counter-hacking are going to be high-demand future jobs for the mathematically-inclined.

Any thoughts / suggestions on this, specifically, what and where to study at university (undergraduate) level, and what kind of work-experience / internships are relevant and/or necessary?

As ever, thanks in advance!

[Aesop]

Tech is great, right until it becomes more economical to outsource to a machine, a call center in Delhi, or a machine at a call center in Delhi.
I would counsel that she also acquire a trade (that can't be outsourced, whether we're talking welding or cutting hair) as well as a profession, to ensure a future that includes regular meals.

I know a Ph.D. rocket scientist who works as a medical tech, and an MBA investment counselor who does transmission jobs, and neither of them by primary choice.

[Netpackrat]

No advice here. I enjoy what I do, but aircraft maintenance is not a field you want a female you care about to go into. Mostly because they will be around mechanics. The women who can make it, tend to be a little rough. I expect the same is true of many other trades.

[HTRN]

I expect the same is true of many other trades.

I can use the word "Fuck" as a verb, pronoun and noun.. All in the same sentence.

[Aesop]

Piker.

Ex.: "Word Wordhead, you've Wording-well Worded the Wording Worders!"
Exclamation, Proper Noun, Adverb, Verb, Adjective, Noun.

My father worked in profanity the way others work in oils or marble, then I got my Ph.D. at MCRD, followed by a four-year post-doctoral fellowship in the FMF.

[MarkD]

Piker.

Ex.: "Word Wordhead, you've Wording-well Worded the Wording Worders!"
Exclamation, Proper Noun, Adverb, Verb, Adjective, Noun.

My father worked in profanity the way others work in oils or marble, then I got my Ph.D. at MCRD, followed by a four-year post-doctoral fellowship in the FMF.

Bah. My Dad (World War II USMC, merchant seaman, shipyard worker, dock builder, etc) used to say he could swear for 20 minutes straight in seven languages and never use the same word twice.

I recall being about four or five years old and asking my mother what a c*cksucker was. I imagine Mom and Dad had a "discussion" that evening after I went to bed about little children having big ears.

[Aesop]

My mother informed us, many years later, she knew things were being received that weren't intended, when at the age of four, she clearly heard me tell my two-year old brother, "You better make yourself scarce, Dad's sonofabitchin' again" that his workshop was not far enough from the house, nor soundproof. We were astonished ourselves.

The old man could screw something up in the shop and go on half-hour uninterrupted blue streaks that would dim the sunlight on a summer day and melt lead.
When we watch A Christmas Story each season, my brothers and I just look at each other when those scenes and lines come up.

[Denis]

I recall being about four or five years old and asking my mother what a c*cksucker was. I imagine Mom and Dad had a "discussion" that evening after I went to bed about little children having big ears.

Until I was about 15, I thought a "cute hoor" was a cow that wouldn't go through a gate

Oh, and thanks for the for the feedback, too! Chris - my colleague was so impressed with your blog, she said she'd like to buy you lunch next time you're in town!