News @ Wentworth

September 15, 2012

Applied Mathematics Program Launches Career Lecture Series

Boston, MA – September 16, 2012 – Wentworth Institute of Technology’s Department of Applied Math has launched its inaugural lecture series as the first year program gets underway. Eight guest lectures will be provided by professionals in positions ranging from market researchers to programmers to actuaries to biostatisticians. The lectures are intended to highlight the variety of career options available for the 28 students enrolled in the Applied Math major and for students in other majors.  

“Applied math is so interdisciplinary,” said Amanda Hattaway, associate professor and department chair of the Applied Mathematics Department. “It’s good for students to know that you can focus on different aspects of mathematics, depending on your personality and wants and needs.”

Guest lecturers will discuss their current positions, career paths, and how they use math in their jobs, and offer career advice for students. The format of the lectures will allow for an interactive conversation where students can engage the professionals in meaningful conversations.

The schedule and topics are as follows:

September 16: What is a data analyst at a marketing research firm?
Presented by: Howard Ross from Simpson Scarborough

September 28: What is an actuary?
Presented by: C. Harrison from John Hancock, Howard Mapp and Ivy Pittman from Liberty Mutual, and Mawuyno Adanu from Electric Insurance

September 25: What is a software development engineer?
Presented by: Chahid Ghaddhar from PTC

October 2: What is an Artificial Intelligence Programmer?
Presented by: Deryck Morales from Rockstar New England

October 16: What is a national security researcher?
Presented by: Caroline Fernandes and Dr. Lori Layne from MIT Lincoln Labs

October 23: What is GIS and what is a GIS Programmer?
Presented by: Richard Grady and Peter Girard from Applied Geomatics

November 6: What is a biostatistician?
Presented by: Sarah Sloan from Brigham and Women’s Hospital

November 13: What is an operations researcher?
Presented by: Dr. David Craft from Massachusetts General Hospital

For more information, please contact Amanda Hattaway, department chair for Applied Math, at 617-989-4368 or hattawaya@wit.edu.