4 ms·
> Are you saying you're a "professional data scientist" with a "mathy PhD" who has a "light-to-moderate amount" of machine learning knowledge? How did you get t
by Tarrosion 5y ago
> Are you saying you're a "professional data scientist" with a "mathy PhD" who has a "light-to-moderate amount" of machine learning knowledge? How did you get the job?
Indeed! My job involves approximately zero machine learning, at least for a narrow or stereotypical definition of machine learning. I work on optimization, domain-specific models inspired by queueing theory, various phsyically-motivated structural models, writing production code for data-heavy products, testing hypotheses in data, brainstorming how existing data can be used to solve new customer problems, writing documentation, communicating with customers, etc.
If you think this isn't data science but know of better nomenclature: please share! I've struggled to write a great job posting for this kind of work, and surely improved nomenclature would help :)
- amkkma 5y agoin what is your phd?
- uoaei 5y agoI would say you do machine learning if you're doing optimization on bespoke models. These worlds blend together once you get into the weeds. It doesn't have to be gradient descent (via AD or otherwise) to be machine learning. By "light to moderate amount" do you mean that you haven't catalogued the menagerie of statistical models that are commonly taught in machine learning / deep learning courses? Because that to me is secondary to having the underlying principles (optimization theory, measure theory, etc.) down pat. Recognizing the fundamentals in the theory which describes how machine learning proceeds is invaluable for comprehension. If you wanted a flashier name for your role I might suggest "Solutions Architect" or even "Machine Learning Engineer" based on what roles you want to aim for. Because honestly you're doing a lot of what is already entailed by those titles. "Data Scientist" also fits for sure, being such a broad title nowadays. I interpreted what you said more glibly(?) than it seems you intended, and apparently I expressed my surprise snarkier than I intended.