Shaping a data literate workforce is critical to our efforts at NCDS. Through two signature events, our Career Panel and the Career Networking Event, we provide job and internship seekers with pathways to find opportunities that inspire and challenge. We offer learning opportunities online throughout the year to bolster these efforts. We hope to see you at our next event.
From time to time, programs and workshops that are pushing the needle forward in data literacy come to our attention. We do not hesitate to provide support through a variety of channels, ranging from promotion and planning to cash sponsorship. A common element for these opportunities is that something beyond the life of the event is developed as a result of our participation.
Analyzing Data Science Careers
Career Panel
The NCDS hosts an annual career panel where data science professionals provide insight into what it takes to capture the attention of top recruiters in data science and data analytics. Our panelists often represent a variety of career stages and come ready to discuss what it takes to set yourself apart as you launch your career search. We strive to host panelists that represent diverse industries and career paths to provide attendees with a wide swath of options to consider. Recent panelists have represented companies such as Google, IQVIA, Bain and Co, Wake County, SAS, Advance Auto, RTI, UNC Healthcare, Amazon, and Twitter Cortex.
We began hosting our Fall Career Panel online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then we have experienced exponential growth in student attendance at the event. Registrants have attended from 22 states and two U.S. territories, as well as Canada, India, and Germany. Majors represented include: Data Science, Statistics, Statistics and Analytics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Biostatistics.
Past Career Panel Events:
2024 NCDS Spring Career Panel
2024 NCDS Spring Career Panel Analyzing Data Science Careers – Are you career ready?
You don’t want to miss these data science professionals who provide insight into what it takes to capture the attention of top recruiters in data science and data analytics. Our panelists represent a variety of career stages (a former high school teacher! a Practice Lead and Hollywood script consultant!) and they are ready to discuss what it takes to set yourself apart as you launch your career search. View a recording of the event here.
Moderator: Wing Chan, Senior Vice President, Global Risk Management, Bank of America
Panelists included:
- Paige Spell | Data Scientist at Elder Research: Paige obtained a bachelor’s in Applied Mathematics at Appalachian State University along with minors in Biology, Statistics, and Computer Science. There, she discovered a passion for working with data to make a difference. Paige developed many technical skills but realized she was only scratching the surface. She then went on to earn a master’s degree in Analytics at NC State University, gaining practical experience in model explainability and using machine learning to analyze complex relational claims data. After graduation, Paige worked as a Data Scientist at Red Hat, Inc. forecasting company revenue and product consumption while engaging C-level executives, impacting prompt hiring decisions and influencing business growth. Looking for more diverse problems and a strong technical team, she decided to join Elder Research Inc almost two years ago.
- Melinda Thielbar | Vice President of Data Science, Practice Lead at Fidelity Investments: Thielbar is a researcher and statistical software developer with over twenty years of industry experience. Her career ranges from statistics education to developing algorithms for commercial software to Hollywood script consulting. She co-founded Research Triangle Analysts, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit focused on education and training for people working in the analytics field in the Raleigh-Durham area. Thielbar currently works as a Practice Lead in Fidelity Investments’ Workplace Investing.
- Rachini Moosavi | Chief Analytics Officer at UNC Health: As the Chief Analytics Officer, Rachini Moosavi champions data and analytics adoption across the UNC Health system. Her focus on modern analytics architecture and deploying on a focused strategy aligned with the organization’s goals has led UNC Health to seamlessly join the top health systems in driving Augmented Intelligence (AI) pioneering and adoption. A renowned speaker, she has presented at dozens of events and conferences nationwide, promoting the benefits of analytics culture, data management and quality, and augmented intelligence to transform healthcare. Leading, communicating, and empowering others well-defines her focus as data and analytics leader in healthcare.
- Adam Cottrell | Analytical Consultant at SAS : With more than a decade of experience as a high-performance athletics coach and public educator, Adam is eager to bring his passion for supporting others and a sharp understanding of team dynamics to the data science world. He is driven to understand all types of systems, from the human and societal to the physical and philosophical. This curiosity led him to earning a BS in Physics as well as a Masters in Secondary Science Teaching. As a rowing coach, he instructed athletes of all abilities, aged 12 to 70+, and oversaw the development of many nationally competitive collegiate crews. While coaching, he also worked in the public-school system in several roles across the K-12 spectrum. He hopes to leverage his backgrounds in science, education, and coaching to help bring meaningful insight to a world quickly growing in its need for intelligent, data-driven change.
2023 NCDS Fall Career Panel
2023 NCDS Fall Career Panel: Analyzing Data Science Careers
October 17, 2023
Data science professionals provided insight into what it takes to capture the attention of top recruiters in data science and data analytics. Our panelists represented a variety of career stages and discussed what it takes to set yourself apart as you launch your career search. View a recording of the event here.
Moderator: Deborah Strohman
Panelists included Peter Baquero (AlixPartners), Suparna Goswami (Renaissance Computing Institute), Reiko Nakashima (Pfizer), and Estevan Torres Jr. (Bank of America).
2023 NCDS Spring Career Panel
2023 NCDS Spring Career Panel: Analyzing Data Science Careers
April 13, 2023
Data science professionals provided insight into what it takes to capture the attention of top recruiters in data science and data analytics. Our panelists represented a variety of career stages and discussed what it takes to set yourself apart as you launch your career search. View a recording of the event here.
Speakers included:
- Bradley Doll | Data Science Manager at Spotify: Brad leads a data science team at Spotify working to develop data analysis products for advertisers. Trained as a cognitive neuroscientist, Brad transitioned from academia to industry to set up a data science practice at The Daily Beast prior to joining Spotify in 2019.
- Alice Fortune-Britt, PhD | Manager, Medicare Stars at Blue Cross NC: Alice is a health services researcher by training (Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health). After working briefly in academia, she started at BlueCrossNC as a Data Scientist and transitioned to a Senior Strategic Advisor. In her current role as Manager of Medicare Stars, she is responsible for strategy, performance monitoring, and analytic insights to improve member experience and health outcomes.
- Uthra Ramanujam | Sr Director, Data Science-Liberty Specialty Markets at Liberty Mutual Insurance: Uthra Ramanujam is the Senior Director of Data science and advanced analytics at Liberty Mutual and supports Liberty specialty markets globally where she leads a team of data scientists and product managers delivering innovative solutions across the insurance value chain. Prior to that she was the VP of Strategic tech research at StateAuto Insurance in Columbus,OH where she lead a similar team delivering business capabilities using ML/AI and Blockchain and other cutting edge tech . Before State auto she was an Executive Director at JPMorgan Chase & Co. leading the Machine Learning and Emerging Technology Group, which supports Consumer Operations. She has a passion for mentoring and teaching technology and teaches data mining and python programming part time at THE Ohio State University and UC Berkeley.
- Michael Taffe | Data Reporter at FT Specialist: Michael Taffe is a D.C.-based data reporter for two of the Financial Times’ industry publications, FundFire and Financial Advisor IQ, covering institutional investors and asset managers. In this role, he reports on the growing role that large money managers play in affecting public policy and the financial services industry as a whole. He studied statistics and economics at UNC-Chapel Hill and has previously reported on campaign finance and higher education in North Carolina.
2022 NCDS Fall Career Panel
2022 NCDS Fall Career Panel: Analyzing Data Science Careers
October 19, 2022
We convened approximately 200 students from across the country in October for a virtual career panel featuring speakers from Google, Bain and Co., and IQVIA. Panelists represented a variety of career stages and discussed what it takes to set yourself apart as you launch your career search, including:
- What programming languages are in demand now
- Unexpected ways to promote your experience
- What experiences you should gain early in your career
View a recording of the event here. This lively Q&A session was moderated by Dr. Deborah Stroman.
From Outlier to Insider
Networking Event
The NCDS hosts an annual networking event for students interested in careers in analytics and data science. Attendees have the opportunity for one-on-one conversations with employers seeking their skill set, project experience, and motivation to drive innovation in data science and data analytics. Employers who attend the networking event will have the chance to interact with and potentially recruit top-tier analytics and data science talent.
Our spring networking event moved online during the pandemic, and drew attendees from across the country. While we are still determining the best venue in 2023, we look forward to connecting students with companies who are driving data science innovation forward.
Over the last several years, companies represented have included Volvo Financial, Medical University of South Carolina, CISCO, Noonum, Brandeis University, SAS, Catalog DNA, and LexisNexis.