From scientist to data scientist: transitioning from counting galaxies to counting anything
by
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.
Giada Caneva, Elia Bertoldo, Francesco Sciotti, Dorian Amaral