Don't get me stated, here I have some slides… 🙂 I research “artificial life” software simulations of natural complexity. I published one study at ALIFE 2023, now in press for their journal. I'm currently collaborating on a technique for inverse design of multi-agent systems. Drafting a paper now.

I will note that being an “unaffiliated researcher” is easier for a software guy. Just me and my laptop at our dining room table. This path is less viable for, say, someone studying high energy particle physics.

Yeah, but imagine the fun you’d have on your dining room table…. Wife might be upset, but still!

Me: Look honey, I've finally finished my 3 km diameter 30 GeV collider! Her: Great. Can you clear it off for dinner?

Is there any money in that? (Currently an affiliated researcher hehe)

I assume you are being jocular. (More context by tracing up the reply tree.) My delight in having zero constraints on my research agenda is exactly BECAUSE there is no money in that! I got to an equilibrium point where annual increases in retirement savings dipped below annual benefit from freedom.

A genuine question :) When retired, I think ill still be publishing papers, and also making games. Just always on the lookout for getting closer to that without having to wait til retirement!

And thanks for the response, that makes sense

Most of the jobs I could get hired/paid for were in software development. A few years here and there I had “research” in my job description. I managed to publish a few research papers (including that made me a “one hit wonder”) but most of it was outside work, after hours hobbyist research.