Benefits and Challenges of Statistics/Data Science Careers for Women at National Laboratories

• Activity Number: 95 - Section on Statistics in Defense and National Security A.M. Roundtable Discussion (Added Fee)
• Type: Roundtables
• Date/Time: Monday, July 29, 2019 : 7:00 AM to 8:15 AM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistics in Defense and National Security
• Author(s): Lisa Bramer*
• Companies: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
• Keywords: statistics; data science; national laboratories; research

Abstract

As a statistician, working at a national laboratory provides the opportunity to work in multidisciplinary teams and address problems across a plethora of domains with direct benefit and impact to the country. However, as with many career paths in statistics, women often find themselves in the minority, and this presents differences in the working environment for women compared to men along with challenges in navigating this environment. In the roundtable, we will discuss the challenges and benefits of working at a national laboratory as a woman in statistics/data science, along with some tips for navigating some of the unique situations that can arise when working in teams that are predominantly comprised of men.