Will fit statistical models for food (and additional money for rent and whatnot)
January 20, 2012 9:28 AM Subscribe
I've been focusing on getting a tenure-track academic position for a long time, but I feel like it's foolish not to be looking elsewhere for work, too. What jobs might I be a (reasonably) good applicant for? (relevant personal details below the fold)
I have a PhD in Linguistics and Cognitive Science, a MS in Applied Statistics, and a MA in ESL (I'm a native speaker of English - the degree was to learn how to teach English as a second language, not learn it). I am currently a research scientist at the University of Maryland, but my position only lasts until September of this year. Getting a tenure-track position this year isn't an impossibility, but it's getting less and less probable as the rejections (or, more commonly, indifferent non-responses) accumulate.
So, I need a job, and I have at least some useful skills. Certainly the most useful is my training in and work experience with statistics. I very much enjoy building, fitting, and writing about statistical models, so I'm guessing that this is the key to finding a non-academic job (if such a key exists). I've been poking around online, trying to think of who all might want to hire someone with my training and interests. The most likely options seem (to me) to be statistical software companies (e.g., SAS, Mathworks) and tech companies (e.g., google, yahoo, etc...), but I've been in the ivory tower for so long, I feel sure that I'm not thinking of many relevant possibilities.
Of course, I'll keep trying to come up with new ideas on my own, but I wanted to ask the metafilter hive mind for help thinking of companies, non-profits, etc..., that I am overlooking. So, mefites, who might want to hire a linguist and/or statistical modeler like me?
I have a PhD in Linguistics and Cognitive Science, a MS in Applied Statistics, and a MA in ESL (I'm a native speaker of English - the degree was to learn how to teach English as a second language, not learn it). I am currently a research scientist at the University of Maryland, but my position only lasts until September of this year. Getting a tenure-track position this year isn't an impossibility, but it's getting less and less probable as the rejections (or, more commonly, indifferent non-responses) accumulate.
So, I need a job, and I have at least some useful skills. Certainly the most useful is my training in and work experience with statistics. I very much enjoy building, fitting, and writing about statistical models, so I'm guessing that this is the key to finding a non-academic job (if such a key exists). I've been poking around online, trying to think of who all might want to hire someone with my training and interests. The most likely options seem (to me) to be statistical software companies (e.g., SAS, Mathworks) and tech companies (e.g., google, yahoo, etc...), but I've been in the ivory tower for so long, I feel sure that I'm not thinking of many relevant possibilities.
Of course, I'll keep trying to come up with new ideas on my own, but I wanted to ask the metafilter hive mind for help thinking of companies, non-profits, etc..., that I am overlooking. So, mefites, who might want to hire a linguist and/or statistical modeler like me?
Cognitive sciences + statistics -> finance
If you can figure out some programming you could do algorithmic trading. $$$.
posted by knz at 9:44 AM on January 20, 2012
If you can figure out some programming you could do algorithmic trading. $$$.
posted by knz at 9:44 AM on January 20, 2012
Consultancy businesses and think tanks will employ people with modeling experience--and you're in the right part of the country for that gravy train.
posted by stevis23 at 9:45 AM on January 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by stevis23 at 9:45 AM on January 20, 2012 [1 favorite]
I was able to figure out who you via a copy of your CV in about 10 seconds after reading your post.
I suggest quick anonymization here, as this could seriously affect your professional life.
posted by saeculorum at 9:45 AM on January 20, 2012
I suggest quick anonymization here, as this could seriously affect your professional life.
posted by saeculorum at 9:45 AM on January 20, 2012
Agree on consultancy and think tanks. Look at companies like Mathematica, RTI, Macro International, Danya, Booz Allen, Accenture, etc. Think tanks would include Rand and those based in DC. You may also want to look at large, stable foundations that do work in your area of interest.
posted by superfille at 9:49 AM on January 20, 2012
posted by superfille at 9:49 AM on January 20, 2012
Response by poster: I considered anonymizing the question, but I couldn't think of any reason to. All of my colleagues at UM know that my position is fixed-term and that I am on the job market. Also, I didn't say anything specific about which academic jobs have rejected or ignored me, and it's not exactly news that most applicants for academic jobs get ignored or rejected.
In any case, I want this to seriously affect my professional life (in the sense of helping me continue to have a professional life beyond my current position).
And thanks for the suggestions so far, everyone. I'll check back in later to see what else people have come up with.
posted by noahpoah at 10:00 AM on January 20, 2012
In any case, I want this to seriously affect my professional life (in the sense of helping me continue to have a professional life beyond my current position).
And thanks for the suggestions so far, everyone. I'll check back in later to see what else people have come up with.
posted by noahpoah at 10:00 AM on January 20, 2012
Quant finance.
posted by Perplexity at 10:00 AM on January 20, 2012
posted by Perplexity at 10:00 AM on January 20, 2012
I work at a large software company and it's almost hilarious how many ex-academics we have, from just about every science-y field. So if you know how to program and don't mind working for The Man, you'd fit in great.
posted by miyabo at 10:45 AM on January 20, 2012
posted by miyabo at 10:45 AM on January 20, 2012
A friend of mine worked at Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) on things related to his thesis (which I could never understand) while finishing his Ph.D in linguistics at Stanford - maybe see if they have any openings?
posted by permiechickie at 11:33 AM on January 20, 2012
posted by permiechickie at 11:33 AM on January 20, 2012
The World Health Organization and other public health agencies all the way down through national, state, and local levels will hire stats people. I suggest WHO based on the guess that you're multi-lingual. Do you have any interest in public health?
posted by Wretch729 at 1:16 PM on January 20, 2012
posted by Wretch729 at 1:16 PM on January 20, 2012
Westat?
posted by Westringia F. at 4:28 PM on January 20, 2012
posted by Westringia F. at 4:28 PM on January 20, 2012
Also -- RAND? SAIC?
posted by Westringia F. at 4:34 PM on January 20, 2012
posted by Westringia F. at 4:34 PM on January 20, 2012
You might want to talk to a headhunter in DC, though I have no idea how to find a reputable one. Also check out US government positions; you might be surprised how many jobs there are that suit your qualifications. (I was surprised a few years ago to learn how many government jobs there are for Ph.D. historians, though many are contract jobs writing program histories for various agencies such as NASA.)
posted by brianogilvie at 5:19 AM on January 21, 2012
posted by brianogilvie at 5:19 AM on January 21, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by parmanparman at 9:36 AM on January 20, 2012