In honor of Women’s History Month, we interviewed Charmaine Dean, a woman who has made significant strides in the world of data science. Here, she shares advice for the next generation of aspiring data scientists.
Charmaine Dean is vice president, research and international, and professor in the department of statistics and actuarial science at the University of Waterloo. Her research interests lie in the development of methodology for disease mapping, longitudinal studies, the design of clinical trials, and spatio-temporal analyses. Much of this work has been motivated by direct applications to important practical problems in biostatistics and ecology. Her current main research applications are in survival after coronary artery bypass surgery, mapping disease and mortality rates, forest ecology, fire management, smoke exposure estimation from satellite imagery, and modeling of temporary and intermittent stream flow for flood analysis and predictions.
What is a key piece of advice you would give to those starting their careers in data science, especially when it comes to overcoming challenges or breaking into the field?
Data science is inherently interdisciplinary and includes a wide scope of areas, such as machine learning and data visualization. It is collaborative, with individuals from different disciplines coming together with a key purpose of solving some complex issue. The nature of the complexity often necessitates an understanding of spurious experimental effects, consequences, and solutions outside our own discipline.
It is time consuming and intellectually difficult to view problems in a holistic way using horizontal thinking. Vertical, disciplinary thinking allows us to believe we are solving a problem using the tools we have been trained with. It is important to take the time to understand and show respect for the different perspectives at the table of collaborators who have come together to solve the problem, as well as to be authentic in collaboration and shared interest in the problem under consideration.
At the same time, it is critical to develop and become an expert at the table, and so development of one’s statistical expertise needs to be a continuing focus. The tensions in this duality make the life of a data scientist challenging but also interesting. Remember the balance does not necessarily need to be achieved each day or each week but should be seen longer term.
Breaking into the field is relatively easy. Most complex problems are handled in large-scale grant portfolios and hence have attention at institutions through large projects at high levels. Attend seminars and be proactive in asking questions and bringing ideas forward, question the statistical tools used, offer to co-supervise students with colleagues working on the grand challenge, and ask mentors in your department to open doors to these collaborations.
Looking back at your career, what strategies were most important for your success?
I was always interested in doing work in areas of impact in communities. In health, the focus would be first and foremost better care for patients; in fire science, developing tools to help manage the ever-growing problems of effective suppression. And in doing so, I was passionate about not using tools just because they were handy but making sure the right tools were developed based on the problems at hand, underlying assumptions, and goal of the study.
I also made sure students were involved in the projects. Responsibility toward students ensured the work moved along in a timely manner, and student development of new methodology was also sharply in focus.
Building teams who are fun to work with and building in engagement strategies that offered dedicated time for focus, such as hosting workshops with ample time for brainstorming and discussion, also helped drive projects forward. It’s also really important to bring in new perspectives, rather than working with the same team for many years on the same goal.
Communicating impact and working with government agencies and industry to bring new methods into wide use were very helpful.
How do you stay up-to-date with new technologies and methods?
It’s difficult to stay up-to-date in my current role as vice president of a large institution, I’ll note. But attending conferences and carving out time to attend workshops help considerably. I also do my best to read the latest articles and regularly check in with colleagues working in the field. Additionally, mentoring students has been a great way to find out about emerging trends and new approaches.
Can you share a moment when you faced a significant setback in your career? How did you overcome it, and what did you learn from the experience?
I had a major medical event earlier in my career. I focused on healing, family, and reading at the time, as well as stress reduction strategies. My colleagues were extremely supportive through my medical leave and on my return. It was a time to really make health a priority, and, when I returned to work, there was also much to reflect upon from my experiences. I re-entered with drive but also a strong sense of gratitude, which buoyed me then and continues to this day.
What role has mentorship played in your career, and how would you recommend others seek out or become effective mentors?
Good mentorship is so amazing; it supports, forgives, becomes the wind to help drive one uphill. It really carries one through empathy over mistakes and inspires a commitment to excellence. Ask your chair or a member of a committee on which you serve about good mentors and don’t hesitate to reach out and introduce yourself politely to hear of availability for mentorship. Be clear on what you’d appreciate receiving guidance on and what sort of support you’re looking for in the relationship. Peer-to-peer mentorship is also helpful, so work to bring a group of your trusted peers together for informal conversations.
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