From Graphs to Growth: Mentorship, Math, and the Power of Algorithms

From Graphs to Growth: Mentorship, Math, and the Power of Algorithms

Author: Professor Margot Gerritsen, Chisoo Lyons October 17, 2024 Duration: 36:31
Huda Nassar is a data scientist who did her PhD at Purdue University, advised by David Gleich. Her research focused on graph alignment, using a combination of mathematics and computer science to solve real-world problems. After completing her PhD, Nassar did a postdoc at Stanford and now works at the company RelationalAI, where she develops optimized graph algorithms to help customers. Nassar is passionate about the intersection of mathematics and programming, and advocates for students to take courses in both areas. She also enjoys teaching and is a proponent of the Julia programming language. Nassar discusses how finding the right mentors has been crucial to her academic and career journey.

Hosted by Professor Margot Gerritsen and Chisoo Lyons, Women in Data Science Worldwide is a conversation with researchers and practitioners at the forefront of a rapidly evolving field. Each episode moves beyond abstract theory to explore the tangible, often surprising, ways data science is applied. You’ll hear firsthand accounts of analytical work creating change, whether it’s developing new models for patient care, building equitable financial systems, or parsing complex climate datasets. The discussions are grounded in the professional journeys of the guests, who offer practical advice and reflect on the challenges they’ve navigated. This podcast provides a direct audio connection to a global community of experts, highlighting the diverse thought and innovation driven by women in the discipline. Listening reveals the human story behind the algorithms and the collective effort shaping the future of technology across every sector. It’s an ongoing series for anyone curious about the real-world impact of data, from students to seasoned professionals, offering perspective and insight naturally through each guest’s experience.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Women in Data Science Worldwide
Podcast Episodes
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Dr. Karolina Urbanska, a data scientist working for Teach First in the UK, has spent her career using data science to better understand human behavior. She discusses her work as a data science and psychology researcher,…
Welcoming our new podcast co-host, Cindy Orozco [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:08
WiDS Co-Founder Margot Gerritsen welcomes her new podcast co-host Cindy Orozco, as they interview each other about their career paths to data science, coping with the imposter syndrome, and successfully juggling busy liv…
Tahu Kukutai | Advocating for indigenous data sovereignty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:17
Tahu Kukutai, a professor at the University of Waikato in New Zealand and a Māori woman, is leading data sovereignty initiatives that advocate for indigenous data ownership, guardianship, and governance.
Karina Edmonds | Building bridges between business and academia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:02
Karina Edmonds, Global Head of Academies and University Alliances at SAP, has spent her career building bridges between business and academia. She is passionate about promoting fairness in data science by bringing more y…
Menglin Cao | Data science in fintech and financial services [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:52
Menglin Cao, Senior VP and Head of AI and NLP Model Development at Wells Fargo, discusses the central role of data science in fintech and financial services, and best practices for success.