<p>If you’re not willing to spend 50% of your working hours at a computer, then you should not become an engineer. That computer may be in a lab, in an office, at a work site, in a <em>GASP</em> cubicle, etc. If you’re working in a research lab and you’re not spending a lot of time on a computer, then chances are you’re more of a technician than an engineer. For fluid dynamics, I would expect that you would spend at least 75% of your time on a computer. If it’s just the cubicle you don’t like, then re-consider. You’ll be so wrapped up staring at the computer you won’t pay much attention to your cube. Besides, most offices these days try for an “open” approach that really has a much better vibe to it.</p>