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Brochure on Careers in Applied Mathematics

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Brochure on Careers in Applied Mathematics careers in applied mathematics Options for STEM Majors society for industrial and applied mathematics 2 / careers in applied mathematics Mathematics and computational science are utilized in almost every discipline of science, engineering, industry, and technology. New application areas are WHERE CAN YOU WHAT KINDS OF PROBLEMS MIGHT YOU WORK ON? constantly being discovered MAKE AN IMPACT? While careers in mathematics may differ widely by discipline while established techniques Many different types and job title, one thing remains constant among them— are being applied in new of organizations hire problem solving. Some potential problems that someone with ways and in emerging fields. mathematicians and mathematical training might encounter are described below. Consequently, a wide variety computational scientists. Which of them do you find most intriguing, and why? of career opportunities You can easily search the • How can an airline use smarter scheduling to reduce costs of are open to people with websites of organizations and aircraft parking and engine maintenance? Or smarter pricing mathematical talent and corporations that interest to maximize profit? training. you to learn more about their • How can one design a detailed plan for a clinical trial? Building such a plan requires advanced statistical skills and In this guide, you will find answers to sophisticated knowledge of the design of experiments. questions about careers in applied mathematics • Is ethanol a viable solution for the world’s dependence and computational science, and profiles on fossil fuels? Can biofuel production be optimized to of professionals working in a variety of combat negative implications on the world’s economy and environment? environments for which a strong background • How do we use major advances in computing power to in mathematics is necessary for success. incorporate knowledge about interactions between the oceans, the atmosphere and living ecosystems into models Mathematical careers location(s), mission statement used to predict long-term change? outside of academia and objectives, history, and • How can automotive and aircraft companies test rarely carry a simple title job requirements. Experience performance, safety, and ergonomics, while at the same time of “mathematician.” The gained through internships lowering the cost of construction and testing prototypes? very idea of a career in and work-study opportunities • A pharmaceutical company wants to search a very large mathematics has evolved can help you determine database of proteins to find one that is similar in shape or and diversified and is often your personal preferences activity to one they have discovered. What’s the most efficient coupled with a specialty or regarding a workplace, such way to do so? area of research interest. as non-profit or for-profit, • How might disease spread in populated areas in the event of Mathematics plays a major large or small, working a bioterrorism incident, and how would it be contained? role in the bottom line of independently or on a team, • Can we measure sentiment change as a result of social media industrial organizations, and and how much customer shares, likes and comments? helps companies perform contact you prefer to have. • How do you design a robotic hand to grip a coin and drop it better in today’s data-driven in a slot? marketplace. • How can you mathematically model the spread of a forest fire depending on weather, ground cover and type of trees? Here are some examples of organizations that hire • How can you allocate an investment among various financial mathematicians and computational scientists: instruments to meet a risk/reward trade-off? • Academic institutions and research institutes • Can mathematical models be coupled with efficient • Aerospace and transportation equipment computational implementations to obtain practical, low-cost manufacturers or service providers simulations to guide computer chip design and manufacture? • Analytics and forecasting organizations • Can computational simulations show sufficient detail to • Chemical or pharmaceutical manufacturers capture the effects of the chemicals, but still be fast enough • Communications services providers to permit studies of many different chemicals? • Computer information and software firms; • How can genome sequencing analysis help in making clinical established or start-ups decisions based on a personalized medicine approach? • Consumer products companies • How can mathematics improve rating prediction performance • Energy systems firms of e-commerce systems and help enhance the consumer • Electronics and computer manufacturers experience based on their past purchases, behavior and • Engineering research organizations interests? • Financial service and investment management firms • Can we provide insight to coastal communities about future • Government labs, research offices and agencies sea level rise and the risk and likelihood of effects of climate • Insurance companies related events on their communities? • Medical device companies • Producers of petroleum and petroleum products careers in applied mathematics / 3 ARE YOU READY? statistical sciences, financial SIAM. Attend conferences, may not specifically be part of Part of the preparation for mathematics, earth sciences, and meetings to connect with your career preparation. Often your future is obtaining a solid and physical sciences. other individuals in your field. a person with training in the foundation in mathematical Pairing math with any of Volunteer for committees mathematical sciences has and computational these field can be a powerful or community service skills that apply and can pick knowledge—tools like combination. opportunities. up the rest on the job. Do you differential equations, Use your university’s need to have every skill listed probability, combinatorics, Practice communication resources on a job description? You applied algebra, and Learn to communicate ideas Many universities offer career should meet at least a few matrices, as well as the art in a compelling, concise way services and human resources of the criteria well and have of abstraction and advanced to someone unfamiliar with departments. Services such as ways to demonstrate your computing and programming the topic. career assessments can help depth of skill in those areas. skills. Preparation for a career you narrow your search to suit Fit for a job? Think of ways to use the skills in applied mathematics your personality and interests. Don’t discount job postings and computational science you have to approach new Other resources may include for computer scientists, also involves being able to problems. resumé help, interview engineers or other titles that apply these skills to real-life preparation, and job opening problems, and achieving announcements. practical results. Mathematical Possible job titles for people with applied math & and computational skills are a Explore internships, summer computational science backgrounds and education: huge career asset that can set jobs, industrial research • Actuary • Modeling Engineer you apart and open doors. opportunities, and work- • Analyst • Operations Researcher study • Analytics Consultant • Operations Support WHAT’S OUT THERE FOR What better way to determine • Analytics Manager Specialist SOMEONE WITH YOUR the range of opportunities TALENTS, INTERESTS, • Applied Mathematics • Pharmacokineticist and explore possible areas AND BACKGROUND? Researcher • PK/PD Modeler of interest than to actually • Associate Editor • Planner Growing fields to consider be in the workplace? Check • Biostatistician • Principal Scientist and look deeper into: with your university’s career • Business Analyst • Product Manager • Systems Biology center and online job portals, • Business Intelligence • Program Manager • Data Mining and as well as the career and Developer • Programmer • Claims Specialist Data Privacy job resources on the SIAM • Project Manager • Consultant • Materials Science website at www.siam.org/ • Quality Systems and • Cryptanalyst Compliance Manager • Computer Animation and careers. You may also be • Cryptographer • Quantitative Analyst Digital Imaging able to work with a faculty • Data Analyst • Quantitative Developer • Finance and Economics member and some other • Data Engineer • Quantitative • Ecology/Epidemiology/ students on a research • Data Operations Associate Pharmacologist Environment problem that originates from • Data Processing Specialist • Quantitative Researcher • Climatology a business in order to learn • Data Scientist • Quantitative Scientist • STEM ethics and to get experience with • Director of Math Tutorial • Quantitative Software Engineer • Machine learning and the approaches needed to Curriculum • Reporting Engineer artificial intelligence solve such problems. • Engineer • Forecast Analyst • Research and • Personalized medicine Development Engineer The National Science • Functional Analyst • Research Analyst HOW DO YOU Foundation and other • Game designer/slot groups offer programs such game designer/game • Researcher GET STARTED? mathematician • Research Scientist as Research Experiences Choose a major, or consider a • Geolocation Engineer • Risk Analyst for Undergraduates major/minor pairing • Global Pricing Analyst • Risk Strategist (REUs) that support active Look for degree programs in • Guidance and Navigation • Scientist research participation by the mathematical sciences Engineer • Simulation Engineer undergraduate students • Informatics Scientist
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