Ask HN: Working as programmer in science?

I started programming during my post-grad in nuclear physics, but after the post-grad in fundamental sciences I went to industry and for the last 4 years I've been working in web development. I kind of long for somewhat more meaning in the product I'm working on. More in the sense that it's not for buying-selling stuff online, but for helping scientists. (For the record: I don't want to be a scientist again, because I'm very happy with being a programmer.)

Does anyone here work (worked) in a research center as a full-time programmer? Could you tell about your experience there?