From scientist to data scientist: transitioning from counting galaxies to counting anything

by Laura Cabayol

Wednesday Nov 12, 2025, 1:00 PM → 2:00 PM Europe/Madrid

IFAE Seminar Room (In-person)

This talk is based on my experience transitioning from academic research in cosmology at IFAE to working in the private sector as a Data Scientist developing AI solutions. Although the environments differ, many of the core skills carry over directly: analytical thinking, rigor in problem formulation, and the ability to work with complex data and models.

I will discuss how scientific training provides a strong foundation for applied data science, often in ways that are not immediately obvious when considering a move outside academia. I will present examples of projects I work on now and highlight the similarities and differences in workflows, expectations, and collaboration.

The goal of the talk is not to provide a universal model for career transitions, but to share practical insights and lessons learned that I would have found useful before making the shift myself.