Ad Age Dataworks (Nov. 26) -- As Ooyala's chief data scientist for two years, Matt Pasienski spends his time turning "crazy messy data sets into something meaningful for our customers." Toting a PhD in physics from University of Illinois -- "with emphasis on quantum information, phase transitions and cold atoms" -- Pasienski is not unlike other top data crunchers with backgrounds across the sciences from biology to mechanical engineering to, yes, physics. "I believe that anyone can do this job, if you have one trait -- intense curiosity. OK, you need strong mathematical and computational skills, but the most successful data people are the ones that have a desire to keep looking."
Curious alumnus
11/26/2013