Pathways to research careers in maths stats

							     Pathways to research careers in maths & stats
     CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences



                        The education and career pathways in mathematics and statistics
                        are not as obvious as those in say, medicine or law. Find out how
                        three CSIRO researchers got to where they are today.

Dr Julian Taylor: Biostatistician
Academic qualifications

• 1997 – Bachelor of Science with
Honours in Mathematics and Computer
Science, The University of Adelaide
• 2005 – PhD in Biometrics,
The University of Adelaide
Current role
Working on several research based
agricultural genetics projects.             > Dr Melissa Dobbie, left, with colleague in the field, classifying
                                            vegetation as part of an ecosystem health monitoring project
Recent projects
                                            Julian joined the Adelaide-based               to assess the health of seagrass
• gene discovery through the analysis
                                            team of statisticians at CSIRO.                off of the coast of Adelaide
of high dimensional agricultural/
animal/human genetic data                   “After taking an active role in statistical    • helping redesign the whole of
                                            consulting it becomes definitively             Queensland’s ambient stream and
• helping to improve agricultural yields
                                            clear how important mathematics                estuarine monitoring program.
from grains such as wheat or barley.
                                            and statistics is for many scientific
                                                                                           At university
At university                               areas. It provides the fundamental
                                            tools to unravelling and understanding         Melissa’s career in statistics was kick-
During the completion of his
                                            the world we live in,” he says.                started by studying statistics as part
Bachelor of Science degree, Julian
                                                                                           of a Bachelor of Science degree.
discovered he had a strong interest
                                                                                           She then carried out statistics-based
in statistics and its wide applicability.   Dr Melissa Dobbie:                             research to complete an Honours
This fuelled him to complete an             Environmental Statistician                     year and eventually a PhD.
Honours degree in Statistics so he
                                            Academic qualifications                        During her early career, Melissa also
could establish himself as a researcher.
                                            • 1993 – Bachelor of Science                   spent a year lecturing and conducting
On completion of his Honours, Julian                                                       research (as part of a postdoctoral
                                            with Honours in Statistics, The
decided to continue with his studies                                                       fellowship) at the University of British
                                            University of Queensland
at a newly established Biometrical                                                         Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. This was
Unit at Adelaide University which           • 2001 – PhD in Mathematical Statistics,
                                                                                           a fantastic opportunity to try something
consisted of statistical researchers,       Australian National University
                                                                                           different, to hone her research skills
consultants and postgraduate students.      • 2005 – Accredited Statistician               and network with other statisticians.
This environment provided fantastic         through Statistical Society of Australia
                                                                                           Melissa says:
research support for his studies which      Current role
                                                                                            “Statistics is a profession that does not
involved developing new statistical
                                            Working on some challenging                    exist on its own. Statistics and statistical
models for agricultural data.
                                            environmental problems with an                 reasoning are essential ingredients in
Julian also became actively involved in     emphasis on water quality monitoring.          solving most scientific problems – the
consulting, providing statistical support                                                  glue that binds the science together
                                            Recent projects
for University staff, postgraduate                                                         - and that makes the profession of a
students and even external clients.         • designing an integrated long-term            statistician a very powerful one.”
After being awarded his PhD,                environmental monitoring program
Dr Simon Dunstall:                          based on where the current                        and collaboration, and excellent support
Operations Researcher                       passengers want to get on and off.                services will help you to realise your full
                                                                                              potential and put your ideas into action.
Academic qualifications                     At university
                                                                                              You will have plenty of opportunities
• 1994 – Bachelor of Engineering            Simon studied mechanical and
                                                                                              for sharing your ideas with your
with Honours in Mechanical                  manufacturing engineering.
                                                                                              colleagues and for working in
and Manufacturing Engineering,              “Maths was a big part of my engineering           multidisciplinary teams on projects of
The University of Melbourne                 course. We used it to look at things              national and international significance.
• 2000 - PhD Engineering Science,           like the design of bridges, how fridges
                                                                                              We offer competitive remuneration
The University of Melbourne                 work, and how metals get formed into
                                                                                              packages, including a high performing
                                            shapes like car doors or nuts and bolts.”
Current role                                                                                  superannuation scheme, and
                                            “My PhD research also involved a lot              opportunities to travel interstate
Leading a group of mathematicians
                                            of maths. I used it to figure out how to          and overseas to attend conferences
who solve logistics problems.
                                            schedule work in factories, which meant           and to collaborate with other
Recent projects                             I looked at things like when jobs should          researchers and industrial partners.
                                            be done and how to set up machines
• working with a winery and its                                                               Our conditions of employment include
                                            to do jobs in the minimum amount of
supply network to understand where                                                            a range of flexible work practices, four
                                            time. I also wrote software to schedule
improvements could be made and to                                                             weeks annual leave and generous sick
                                            buses that travel between shopping
write mathematical algorithms and                                                             and personal leave provisions. CSIRO
                                            outlets in inner-city Melbourne,” he says.
computer software to coordinate the                                                           is an equal opportunity employer.
activities of all the businesses involved
                                            Working at CSIRO
• predicting patient arrivals at
hospital accident and emergency             CSIRO offers competitive remuneration
departments in order to roster on           . . .travel . . . study . . . flexibility . . .   For further information:
enough staff to look after them                                                               CSIRO Mathematical and Information
                                            We have offices in most state
                                                                                              Sciences:
• designing public transport systems        capitals, located on or near a                    Danielle McNicol
that run according to passenger             major university campus.                          Phone: 61 3 9545 8036
                                                                                              Email: Danielle.McNicol@csiro.au
demand instead of to a timetable            Access to the best and latest technology,         Web: www.csiro.au/cmis
and that follow shorter routes              workplaces designed to foster creativity                 www.csiro.au/careers