[thruflo22]

Rebrand as a data scientist.

Data science is eating the world. Everyone wants data scientists.

You’re a microbiologist. It’s hugely credible that you’ve done some crazy data crunching for your science work. Spin that into an increasing interest in the pure data science.

Voila, you’re writing python for a living at the top of the market with a hugely valued differentiated skill set.

[tw1010]

Are you saying this because you work as a data scientist and this is personal experience (that the field is booming), or are you saying this because this is what you've heard?

I tend to hear from actual data scientists that the field is a lot harder to get into than what the press is reporting.

[CuriouslyC]

I can definitely corroborate this. If you don't have a PhD in a quant field, landing a job off your resume alone is really hard. Last time I was job hunting I tuned my resume towards data science positions, but while I got ~30% hit rate on software engineering positions, I never got a single data science callback.

I've talked to a lot of data scientists, and I can't recall any without a PhD said they were initially hired for that role. I have met quite a few that were initially hired as a support programmers then moved into data science once they had their foot in the door though.

[thruflo22]

I’m squarely in the field but as an entrepreneur, not a data scientist.

[altairiumblue]

Rebranding according to what's in demand is all fine, but if you choose data science please make sure that you actually have a solid understanding of statistics and software development. Because ultimately that's what data science is.

"Hugely credible" and actual experience in data analysis/statistics are completely different things. And if you don't have the statistics/math background, you'll find out that now instead of just programming, you need to learn programming and statistics. Which might be too much for someone who doesn't know where to start.

[nextos]

Seconded. There's so much space for data analysis in biology, that there are even training programs at top universities to reconvert wet lab technicians and postdocs into data science people to fill unmet demand as quickly as possible.

Thus, it's dirty easy to get a job in this area with a background in biology. It's just a relatively small pivot that can be done smoothly.

[abcd0990]

would you mind listing some universities or programs you know that offer these opportunities? thanks!

[nextos]

For example, the University of Oxford. Just drop me an email if you require more information.

Oxford is even starting a new college to address the data & life sciences challenge.

[jcroll]

My brother did this, it works