Data Scientist – Perry Beaumont

The lead data scientist, head of data science, and actuary at Distinguished Programs in New York City, Perry Beaumont, PhD, has been involved in the finance and technology fields for more than two decades. Beyond his work at Distinguished Programs, Dr. Perry Beaumont teaches at Columbia University.

Data science is a complex field that involves the gathering and analysis of data to reach a conclusion. Data scientists rely on several techniques, including machine learning and statistics. Due to the highly technical nature of data science, becoming an in-demand data scientist takes some effort.

Most data scientists are well educated. About 90 percent of employed data scientists have a master’s degree, while approximately 44 percent have a PhD. For this reason, individuals who want to be competitive in the field should get a master’s degree at the minimum.

Additionally, master’s degrees are best earned in data or related fields. Bachelor’s degrees can be a bit more flexible. Many data scientists have bachelor’s degrees in fields such as computer science, physics, or math. Data scientists also need computer programming skills, good communication skills, and knowledge of statistics.

Perry Beaumont, PhD, is the lead data scientist and head of data science and actuary at Distinguished Programs. He received his PhD in statistics, econometrics, and finance from the University of Illinois. In addition, Perry Beaumont has written a number of books, including Financial Engineering Principles and Fixed-Income Synthetic Assets, and his latest book, Digital Finance, was published in late 2019. He was recently featured in Dataiku’s new documentary Data Science Pioneers.

The hour-long documentary focuses on both the job of the data scientist and the ways in which those roles shape how artificial intelligence (AI) technology has developed and will continue to evolve. Data scientists are professionals whose jobs revolve around how data is collected, stored and, most importantly, disseminated for use in companies. This is especially important in the field of AI, where data collection and dissemination are fundamental aspects of how AI functions grow and improve.

The film also seeks to foster an understanding both within the community and outside it of what exactly a data scientist is, and the ethical responsibilities of the community in the building of new technologies. This is particularly clear in the managing of personal user data. As technologies grow, so too do the ethics surrounding privacy and civil liberties.

Tag: Data Scientist

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