27 September 1999 Scott Baeder ('76)

I work for a company called Cadence Design Systems. We make software that is used to design almost every type of electronics - from Microprocessors to simple analog/digital converters. Almost all of the major semiconductor firms use at least some of our software. I am the architect for licensing and installation. Since most of our software is very expensive, it is protected by a licensing process. I help our R&D people and Marketing people review and communicate with each other so that we have products that meet customer expectations.

As part of that role, I serve as an internal educator, mentor, and sometimes even as an "enforcer". It is my responsibility to review all of the packaging and licensing for the entire company (over 700 individual software products).

Beyond my BS in Physics/Math, I completed the course work for a MS in EE (including some undergraduate make up courses). However, I got busy with a start-up company, and never completed my thesis.

After VU, I taught High school in Monon, IN for two years. During that time (1976-78), the first micro-computer came out for "home" use...I was HOOKED. I saved my money, and bought a kit that I assembled myself...it had NO disk (used cassette tapes for storage), had 16K of ram, and the display was to a TV set (64 characters by 16 lines)...I was in HEAVAN.

Well, with teaching, you have to get further education, and I went to University of Texas (in Austin) to get an MS - since I was bitten by the computer bug, I went to the EE/Comp Eng. dept. I had to "prove" myself by taking some undergraduate courses, but my physics background served me well in courses like electro magnetism theory, etc. There I hooked up with a professor that was writing CAD software for the layout/creation of integrated circuits (originally to do my thesis). One thing led to another, and I got consumed in the growth of a startup company.

When at VU I was a secondary Ed minor, and was involved with the early PLATO system development in the Physics Department, etc. The thing that most intrigued me was the access to the department's PDP-8 computer. I was always interested in computers, and being able to actually flip switches, and push buttons, etc. was a thrill. At the time, there was no CS department, but I also took the course in programming the old IBM system they had.

But more than that, the analytical aspect of Physics, and the fact that it really does apply to almost everything that isn't "chemical" or biological was a great asset to me. I really like hunting down problems, and finding solutions. So gravitating toward applied physics (engineering) was a natural. But I am glad that I had the broader background in all the areas (electrical, mechanical, acoustics, nuclear, etc.

Reflecting on how it all came about, while at VU I thought the future was clear: by the time I graduated I would become a high school teacher. Looking back, there is no way I could have EVER imagined what I am doing now.

Scott