I am a physicist transitioning into data science. I recently obtained my PhD in physics from the University of California, San Diego and I am currently searching for data science opportunities in the Bay Area.
What did I study in my PhD?
My graduate research was on the conformational transitions of biomolecules, such as the folding or binding of proteins. These transitions play a key role in virtually every living process. I developed theoretical frameworks based in statistical mechanics to interpret data from single-molecule pulling experiments. These frameworks are general enough to be applicable to the conformational transitions of all types of biomolecules, yet concrete enough to yield experimentally testable predictions.
My works have been published as Letters in the Biophysical Jounal and Physical Review Letters, and my frameworks were used to study the binding of the blood clotting protein von Willebrand Factor.
Why am I interested in data science?
I have always had a strong passion for solving complex and messy problems, especially those that do not have a unique solution. In data science, you never run out of these sorts of interesting problems. Additionally, data science allows you to rapidly iterate on your proposed solutions in a way that no other field can match. This feedback is essential for solving extremely complex problems, but is often slow moving in the traditional sciences.
What data science problems excite me the most?
I am extremely intrigued by data related to people's passions and hobbies, especially gaming. This led me to build a recommendation system for a game I enjoy, League of Legends. My interest in biological systems also translates directly into data science, as I am also quite intrigued by data science problems in the healthcare industry.