Astronomers Turned Data Scientists Podcast

14. Marcos Huerta

Marcos Huerta discusses his astronomy background, his transitions first to science policy and later to data science, and his current data science job at Carmax. He also talks about data science bootcamps, interviews, work-life balance, and his predictions for the future of data science and LLMs.    Links Marcos’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcoshuerta/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcoshuerta/]  Marcos’s Website: https://marcoshuerta.com/about/ [https://marcoshuerta.com/about/]    Credits Intro Music: Tonight At Eight by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com [https://www.silvermansound.com] (no relation) Outro Music: Savour The Moment by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com [https://www.silvermansound.com] (no relation) Co-Hosts: Jeffrey Silverman and Joseph A’Hearn Recording: Jeffrey Silverman Editing: Joseph A’Hearn ATDS Podcast Logo: Joseph A’Hearn Thumbnail Headshot Image: Marcos Huerta Thumbnail Design: Joseph A'Hearn   We thank the American Astronomical Society for being an official sponsor of the podcast.   Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 1:07 - Astronomy Background 4:18 - Transition to Science Policy 8:06 - Transition to Data Science 11:40 - Job Changes within Science Policy 15:32 - Data Science Bootcamps and Alternatives 21:55 - Interviewing 26:20 - Data Science at Carmax 33:50 - Day-to-Day and Work-Life Balance 40:26 - Predictions for Data Science and LLMs 47:46 - Final Advice 49:40 - Outro   #Astronomy #DataScience #Transitions #Podcast #ATDS #Astro2Data

13. Julia Silge

Julia Silge discusses how she got into astronomy, her first non-data science positions after leaving academia, and how she then started blogging about data science and going to conferences, which opened up the door to new opportunities, including open source contributions, writing books, and data science positions. She shares advice for those who are considering making the transition from astronomy to data science. She also talks about the experience of speaking at SciPy 2024 about scientific computing across languages.    Links: Julia’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliasilge/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliasilge/]  Julia’s blog: https://juliasilge.com/blog/ [https://juliasilge.com/blog/]  ROpenSci: https://ropensci.org/ [https://ropensci.org/]  Her first O’Reilly book: https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/text-mining-with/9781491981641/ [https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/text-mining-with/9781491981641/]  SciPy Conference: https://conference.scipy.org/ [https://conference.scipy.org/]  Her Talk at SciPy 2024: https://youtu.be/MVuxbtERZMI?si=1pSajS3Y1I5CjjBx [https://youtu.be/MVuxbtERZMI?si=1pSajS3Y1I5CjjBx]    Credits Intro Music: Tonight At Eight by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com [https://www.silvermansound.com] (no relation) Outro Music: Savour The Moment by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com [https://www.silvermansound.com] (no relation) Co-Hosts: Jeffrey Silverman and Joseph A’Hearn Recording: Jeffrey Silverman Editing: Joseph A’Hearn ATDS Podcast Logo: Joseph A’Hearn Thumbnail Headshot Image: Julia Silge Thumbnail Design: Joseph A'Hearn   We thank the American Astronomical Society for being an official sponsor of the podcast.   Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 1:37 - Astronomy Background 7:45 - Careers After Leaving Astronomy 8:49 - Emergence of Data Science 10:36 - UT Austin Astronomy Conducive to Data Science 12:45 - Getting into Data Science 19:13 - First Data Science Job 21:36 - Consulting Roles 25:44 - Writing Books 28:16 - Current Role at Posit PBC 35:51 - Switch from Individual Contributor to Manager 42:50 - Advice for Astronomers Becoming Data Scientists 48:29 - Scientific Computing Across Languages 56:13 - Outro   #Astronomy #DataScience #Transitions #Podcast #ATDS #Astro2Data

12. Chris Lindner

Chris Lindner talks about his Astronomy background, his transition into Data Science, as well as his stint as a professional Poker player. He also discusses how as a graduate student he was involved in starting a study group about entering Data Science, how there is no real method to interviews, how he continues to stay connected to Academia through events like Astronomy on Tap, and what non-technical skills are important for Astronomers looking to become Data Scientists.    Links: Chris’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-lindner-170a0385/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-lindner-170a0385/]    Credits Intro Music: Tonight At Eight by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com [https://www.silvermansound.com] (no relation) Outro Music: Savour The Moment by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com [https://www.silvermansound.com] (no relation) Co-Hosts: Jeffrey Silverman and Joseph A’Hearn Recording: Jeffrey Silverman Editing: Joseph A’Hearn ATDS Podcast Logo: Joseph A’Hearn Thumbnail Headshot Image: Chris Lindner Thumbnail Design: Joseph A'Hearn   Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 0:49 - Astronomy Background 2:09 - Study Group About Entering Data Science 6:29 - Communication Between Industry and Academia 13:05 - Transition into Data Science 19:40 - Diversity of Interviews 23:27 - Networking and Getting Referrals 26:28 - How Data Science Has Changed Over the Years 34:56 - Important Non-Technical Skills 38:20 - Most Recent Positions: Data Science and Professional Poker 43:14 - Relevance of Math for Poker 47:06 - Final Advice for Astronomers Becoming Data Scientists 49:13 - Outro   #Astronomy #DataScience #Transitions #Podcast #ATDS #Astro2Data

11. Tom Kirsh

Tom Kirsh talks about his astronomy experience during undergrad, learning data science foundations, getting hired as a data scientist, and his next career steps. He also offers advice about how to pitch yourself in interviews and emphasizes the need for data cleaning.   Links: Tom’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaskirsh/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaskirsh/]    Credits Intro Music: Tonight At Eight by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com [https://www.silvermansound.com] (no relation) Outro Music: Savour The Moment by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com [https://www.silvermansound.com] (no relation) Co-Hosts: Jeffrey Silverman and Joseph A’Hearn Recording: Jeffrey Silverman Editing: Joseph A’Hearn ATDS Podcast Logo: Joseph A’Hearn Thumbnail Headshot Image: Tom Kirsh Thumbnail Design: Joseph A'Hearn   Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 0:58 - Astronomy Background 4:35 - Applying to Grad Schools and Data Science Foundations 10:38 - Search for a Data Science Position 13:38 - Experience in First Data Scientist Position 27:20 - Pitching Astronomy Experience in a Data Science Interview 30:35 - Envisioning Next Career Steps 37:44 - Second Job Search 44:08 - Advice for Transitioning to Data Science This Year 47:50 - Outro   #Astronomy #DataScience #Transitions #Podcast #ATDS #Astro2Data

10. Patrick Aleo

Patrick Aleo talks about his astronomy background, how he developed his skills for data science over several years of graduate school, his recent transition to data science, and his fresh industry experience. He also offers his advice to academics who are considering making the transition to data science.    Links: Patrick’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickdaleo/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickdaleo/]  Patrick’s Talk at ATDS 6: https://youtu.be/2j9lVBcBpfY?t=20&si=gkTwR7TP8ZU0NbEL [https://youtu.be/2j9lVBcBpfY?t=20&si=gkTwR7TP8ZU0NbEL]   Credits Intro Music: Tonight At Eight by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com [https://www.silvermansound.com] (no relation) Outro Music: Savour The Moment by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com [https://www.silvermansound.com] (no relation) Co-Hosts: Jeffrey Silverman and Joseph A’Hearn Recording: Jeffrey Silverman Editing: Joseph A’Hearn ATDS Podcast Logo: Joseph A’Hearn Thumbnail Headshot Image: Patrick Aleo Thumbnail Design: Joseph A'Hearn   Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 1:04 - Highlight of Recent Transition to Data Science 2:11 - Astronomy and ML Background 9:37 - Transition to Data Science 15:43 - Transferable Skills and Applying for Industry Positions 22:30 - Adapting to his Industry Data Scientist Position 28:40 - Scope of his Current Data Science Work at Honeywell 38:30 - Advice to Academics Considering the Transition 42:11 - Impact of ML on Astronomy Today 46:39 - Advocating for Yourself 49:50 - Outro   #Astronomy #DataScience #Transitions #Podcast #ATDS #Astro2Data