Science Career Talks - 2018

Data Science Career Talk - November 2018

 Jayde Eustace
Analytics Research and Development
RSA Insurance

Jayde Eustace works with the team at RSA Insurance, a team of actuaries and data scientists who investigate applications of machine learning in home and auto insurance. The R&D team's goal is to help the company improve predictive analytics capabilities in areas such as fraud detection, claims and customer analysis and supporting pricing decisions.

After completing both a B.Sc. (HONS) Pure Mathematics and M.Sc. Statistics at Memorial University, Jayde started her career as a statistician with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. During this time she was introduced to the world of data science through a Johns Hopkins University online course track, and found it so fun and interesting that she set a goal to switch careers.

Jayde started working as a business analyst for Johnson Insurance in 2016, a role that involved programming new automated reports, performing competitive analysis and providing business insights to management. She moved on to the R&D team at Johnson's parent company RSA in October 2018. Although Jayde is only beginning her data science career, she is happy to answer questions about her path so far.

Nithum Thain
Technical Research Manager
Google Jigsaw

Nithum Thain is a Technical Research Manager at Google Jigsaw. He currently works on Natural Language Processing (NLP) research studying the nature of online conversation.

Previously, Nithum was a Lecturer at Berkeley in NLP and a Postdoc at Simon Fraser University.
Nithum holds a PhD in Algorithmic Game Theory from McGill University under the supervision of Dr. Adrian Vetta and an MBA from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar.

Biology and Ocean Sciences Career Talk - September 2018


Hilary Rockwood
Aquatic Science Biologist
Fisheries and Oceans

My name is Hilary Rockwood and I am a Master of Science, Biology graduate from MUN. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology that I obtained from the University of California, Santa Cruz. During my undergraduate degree, I studied abroad in Brisbane, Australia at The University of Queensland, where I gained practical experience through field courses and volunteering as a laboratory assistant in the Palaeontology and Biomechanics Laboratory. Upon my return to California, I took a field course that gave me the opportunity to design and execute an independent field project looking at predator-prey interactions between intertidal invertebrates. I was accepted to MUN in 2012, and in the summer of 2013 I joined the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research at the Marine Institute as a research assistant. That fall, I began my Master's program under the supervision of Dr. Jonathan Fisher and was recommended for the degree of Master of Science in the fall of 2016. In the spring of 2016, I began work as an at-sea fisheries observer in British Columbia, and in the fall of 2016 I was offered casual employment as a technician with Fisheries and Oceans Canada. I continued working as a technician until I was hired as a biologist in the summer of 2017. I am currently the supervisory biologist for a citizen science project called Citizen Cod which hires high school students to measure Atlantic cod caught in the recreational fishery in communities around the island.

Ben Whelan
Career Federal Civil Servant and Supervisor
National Fisheries Intelligence Service, DFO

Ben Whelan is a career federal civil servant and a Supervisor with the National Fisheries Intelligence Service, Fisheries and Oceans Canada. He received his Bachelor, Science from Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador in the mid-1980s. He started his career in the Federal Public Service in 1988 as fishery officer in a small community on the northeast coast of Newfoundland. In the early 1990s, he moved to St. John’s to join the Offshore Detachment as a sea-going fishery officer, boarding and inspecting both foreign and domestic fishing fleets. During his time with the Offshore Detachment he took on several assignments, including one as an analyst in the fight against foreign overfishing, for which he received a merit award, along with several other commendations and awards. He was later promoted to Supervisor and managed several operational units within the Conservation and Protection Division and is now supervising the newly formed National Fisheries Intelligence Service in Newfoundland and Labrador. As a sworn peace officer, he has also represented Fisheries and Oceans Canada for over 25 years volunteering in the local community with the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR), raising funds and awareness for Special Olympics, in Newfoundland and Labrador. He was also a board member on the Board of Directors for Special Olympics Newfoundland and Labrador representing the LETR Provincial Committee.

Rebecca Newhook
Faculty of Science Co-Op Office

Rebecca Newhook from the Faculty of Science Co-op Office will talk about the kinds of work that co-op students have been involved in on their work terms and how students can apply to participate in the co-op program.

Kyle Ershler
Recruitment and Retention Coordinator
School of Graduate Studies

Kyle is responsible for graduate prospect management, student recruitment, student statistical data, information sessions and webinars, and campus visits. He will discuss graduate and career opportunities for science students.

GIS, Environment and Conservation Career Talk - June 2018

Deidre Puddister
Environmental Manager
Pennecon Limited

For more information about Deidre's career path, please visit her LinkedIn profile found here.

Mark Squires
GIS Research Analyst II
Newfoundland & Labrador Centre for Health Information

For more information about Mark's career path, please visit his LinkedIn profile found here.

Laura King
Conservation Biologist
Stewardship Association of Municipalities

For more information about Laura's career path, please visit her LinkedIn profile found here.