"I get to work with very smart people and I get to learn new things all the time."

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Ellen Boughter

Born in Texas, USA, 1949

BS degree, Math and Computer Science

Purdue University

Field(s) of work

Programming: database management systems, distributed systems

Areas of interest outside work

Cycling, reading.

I was born in Seminole, Texas, which is near Midland/Odessa. My dad graduated from college as a mechanical engineer, but there weren't many jobs available, so he took a job as a roustabout for an oil company. That's a bit ironic, since I now work in the oil business! We moved back to Iowa (where both he and my mom were from) when I was about 2. We moved to Bakersfield, CA, when I was 4 and lived there for about two years, during which my only sibling, a brother, was born. Right after his birth we went back to Iowa, where we lived until I was about to enter 8th grade. We then moved to La Crosse, Wisconsin. After a couple of years there, we moved to Columbus, Indiana, which is where my dad and step-mother currently still live.

I have a BS degree in Computer Science from Purdue University; I graduated in 1971 (yes, I am *way* old!).

I have been with Schlumberger since 1988. I've worked on a variety of software projects; currently I am in the Interpretation Systems Department at the Austin Technology Center and am working on GeoFrame data loaders and savers. Over the years I have worked on several software libraries that are used to read and write oilfield-related data in industry-standard formats, such as RP66 and Geoshare. I also spent some time working on distributed systems. I enjoy the world of standards, even though it can be a frustrating experience at times!

Prior to joining Schlumberger, I worked for Control Data Corporation, which no longer exists as such, but was for many years the maker of the world's most powerful computers. There, I worked primarily in the field of Database Management. I designed and implemented Control Data's first database query language, and I also worked on a proprietary database management system. I was a member of the ANSI X3H2 subcommittee, which developed the very first SQL standard; that fueled my interest in standards, plus gave me an opportunity to work with people from other companies. While with Control Data in Sunnyvale, CA, I had the opportunity to come to Austin as one of Control Data's assigned personnel to a research consortium called MCC, the Microelectronics and Computing Consortium. I spent four wonderful years there, learning a bit about how to go about researching issues and how to think about new problems. From there, I came to Schlumberger.

As you can see, I have spent all of the 30+ years since my college graduation working in some form of computing or another, so I must enjoy it! When I retire from Schlumberger, I would like to use my technical knowledge to help charitable organizations--perhaps designing and implementing databases or spreadsheets or .....who knows?
I was always interested in math and science, and it seemed to come naturally to me. I'm sure the fact that my dad was an engineer helped! He always encouraged me to do my best.

Outside of work, I do a lot of reading, a modicum of exercise (mostly walking on my treadmill), and I spend time trying to coax a flower or two to grow in the hot Texas sun. My husband has two grandchildren, and we like to spend time fooling around with them--primarily spoiling them, making them tired, and then turning them over to their parents!