Astronomers Turned Data Scientists Podcast

4. Marcel Haas

Marcel Haas discusses what led him into Astronomy, why and how he transitioned to Data Science, his experience in various Data Science positions, and his current role teaching Data Science. He also talks about differences in the field between Europe and North America, transferable skills, and craft beer. 
Links:
Marcel’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harcel/ 
Marcel’s Website: https://marcelhaas.com/ 
Credits
Intro Music: Tonight At Eight by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com (no relation)
Outro Music: Savour The Moment by Shane Ivers - 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: Marcel Haas
Thumbnail Design: Joseph A'Hearn
Timecodes
0:00 - Intro
0:45 - Welcome 
1:25 - Marcel’s Path to Astronomy
3:33 - Transition to Data Science
5:07 - Experience at First Data Science Job
13:25 - Subsequent Data Science Job Experience
17:10 - Return to Academia
18:52 - Continuous Learning in Data Science
20:46 - Teaching/Research Balance 
23:52 - Favorite Projects
26:52 - Analysis Before Data Science
28:33 - Future of Data and AI
33:22 - Differences between Europe and North America
38:33 - Transferable Skills
42:15 - Craft Beer and ML 
46:35 - Remaining an Individual Contributor vs. Becoming a Manager
49:45 - Companies in Europe
51:48 - Final Thoughts: Astronomy and Data Science
54:07 - Outro
#Astronomy #DataScience #Transitions #Podcast #ATDS #Astro2Data

3. Genevieve Graves

Genevieve Graves discusses her transition from Astronomy to Data Science, sharing her experience with startups and with consulting. She speaks about how to figure out what you want to do and how venture capital firms determine what sort of projects to fund. She also shares her thoughts about the future in the field, why astronomers make good data scientists, and how she discovered work-life balance during Covid.  
Links:
Genevieve’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/genevievegraves/ 
Credits
Intro Music: Tonight At Eight by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com (no relation)
Outro Music: Savour The Moment by Shane Ivers - 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: Genevieve Graves
Thumbnail Design: Joseph A'Hearn
Timecodes
0:00 - Intro
1:25 - Astronomy Research
2:39 - Background for Transition
5:30 - Joining a Startup
6:38 - Consulting Work
9:30 - Advice on Getting a First Data Science Job 
15:58 - Startups vs. Big Companies
21:07 - Consulting Work
25:22 - How to Figure Out What You Want to Do
31:34 - Venture Capital Firms and Thoughts on the Future
45:01 - Why Astronomers Make Good Data Scientists
47:34 - Discovering Work-Life Balance during Covid
53:22 - Outro
#Astronomy #DataScience #Transitions #Podcast #ATDS #Astro2Data
 

2. Jess Kirkpatrick

Jess Kirkpatrick discusses her transition to Data Science, outreach for others considering a similar transition, multiple moves between companies, interesting projects, and predictions for the next few years in Data Science. 
Links:
Wage Report for hired.com: https://hired.com/wage-inequality-report/2020/#intro
Jess’s Astronomer to Data Diva post on Medium - https://medium.com/data-diva/astronomer-to-data-diva-e3c457f6621d 
Jess's blog: https://berkeleyjess.blogspot.com/
Jess's blog specifically about becoming a DS (with links to many other related posts she's written): https://berkeleyjess.blogspot.com/2015/02/so-you-want-to-be-data-scientist.html
Jess’s Women in Astronomy blog posts about DS - https://womeninastronomy.blogspot.com/2014/06/career-profiles-astronomer-to-data.html
Jess’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/berkeleyjess/ 
ATDS 2024 - https://tinyurl.com/atds2024
Credits
Intro Music: Tonight At Eight by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com (no relation)
Outro Music: Savour The Moment by Shane Ivers - 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: Jess Kirkpatrick
Thumbnail Design: Joseph A'Hearn
Timecodes
0:00 - Intro
0:55 - Welcome
1:41 - Astrophysics Background
4:40 - Early Transition to Data Science
10:00 - Blogging to Share Her Experience
11:05 - How Transitioning Today Is Different
16:00 - The Founding of ATDS
24:02 - Moves between Companies
38:10 - Bay Area As a Data Science Hub
39:57 - Wage Gap Hackathon Project
44:24 - Predictions for the Next 5 Years in Data Science
48:14 - Advice for Someone Transitioning to Data Science 
54:50 - Connect with Jess
55:24 - Outro
#Astronomy #DataScience #Transitions #Podcast #ATDS #Astro2Data

1. Taka Tanaka

Taka Tanaka discusses his transition from Astronomy to Data Science, how his career has progressed to the current point of being a Data Science Manager, and what he expects to unfold in the field of Data Science during the next few years. 
Links:
Taka’s Astronomy to Data Science Slides: https://github.com/taka-tanaka/astronomy-to-data-science/blob/master/ATDS.pdf 
Taka’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/takatanaka/ 
Credits
Intro Music: Tonight At Eight by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com (no relation)
Outro Music: Savour The Moment by Shane Ivers - 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: Taka Tanaka
Thumbnail Design: Joseph A'Hearn
Timecodes
0:00 - Intro
1:32 - Welcome and Past ATDS Meetings
2:42 - Astronomy Background
4:40 - Transition to Data Science
6:11 - Mindset during Transition to Data Science, Pros and Cons
9:45 - Skills from Astronomy Background Useful in Data Science
13:35 - Challenges upon Becoming a Data Scientist in Industry
17:44 - How Data Science Has Changed in 7 Years
24:49 - Projects During First Year As a Data Scientist
27:41 - Career Growth: Management and Individual Contributor Roles 
36:06 - Current Projects and Motivations 
42:33 - Predictions for the Next 5 Years in Data Science
46:50 - Role of Data Science in Astrophysics Research
49:31 - Advice for Aspiring Data Scientists
52:55 - Outro
#Astronomy #DataScience #Transitions #Podcast #ATDS #Astro2Data