Bridging the Gap from Mathematics to Industry
When
Where
The Colloquium will take place from 5-6pm, followed by an opportunity to mingle with the speaker and members of the IAB from 6-6:30pm, all in ENR2 room S107
Industry Advisory Board Colloquium
THURSDAY, OCT 3, 5PM ENR2 S107
TITLE: Bridging the Gap from Mathematics to Industry
Featuring Guest Speaker: Jefferson Taft, Senior Applied Scientist, Microsoft
Abstract: I graduated from the University of Arizona with a PhD in Mathematics in 2010 and chose to pursue a career in industry rather than academia. Over the past fourteen years, I have worked in the biotech, aerospace, and software industries. In this talk, I will share my journey from a newly minted PhD with no real-world “tech” experience to becoming a data scientist at the largest tech company in the world, highlighting some key stops along the way.
I will specifically focus on how my mathematical training uniquely equipped me for success across various technical disciplines, as well as the deficiencies I had to address independently. More broadly, I will discuss why I believe mathematicians excel in technical roles, often outperforming colleagues whose backgrounds are more directly aligned with those roles.
Finally, I will offer practical advice based on my industry experience. This includes insights I would share with my grad-school self about job hunting, self-marketing, resume building, presenting oneself to recruiters and interviewers, and establishing a professional brand after being hired.