POONAM JAIN TALKS ABOUT THE VARIOUS OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE WHILE PURSUING A CAREER AS A MATHEMATICIAN

   Mathematics is increasingly become a super cool profession. With so much of data and information generation many companies are looking for breakthrough patterns that will aid their business. Maths makes this possible because it is the most fundamental science. The work of a mathematician falls into two broad classes — pure mathematics and applied mathematics. Mathematicians use mathematical theory, computational techniques, algorithms, and the latest computer technology to solve economic, scientific, engineering, physics, and business problems.
   Sometimes the work of theoretical mathematician may not have a direct bearing to aspect of practicality, but their findings aid the work of an applied mathematician.

MAIN AREA OF WORK

Shivam Doshi, Student, National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) runs us through the various careers that Mathematicians can take to.
   Teaching and research responsibilities: “Mathematicians who work in academia conduct research alone or in close collaboration with other mathematicians. They are involved in ‘pure’ mathematics,” says Shivam.

   Part of interdisciplinary teams: These applied mathematician work with economists, engineers, computer scientists, physicists, technicians etc. They formulate and solve practical problems in business, government, engineering, and the physical, life, and social sciences. For example, they may analyse the cost-effectiveness of alternative manufacturing processes, mapping
   out ad campaigns, Internet companies using data to profile customers, or the efficient way of scheduling airline routes between cities.

   Cryptanalysts: These are applied mathematicians who work in industrial research and development. “They analyse and decipher encryption systems—codes—designed to transmit military, political, financial, or law enforcement-related information,” says Shivam.

   Bachelor’s degree holders in mathematics usually are not qualified for most jobs, and many seek advanced degrees in mathematics or a related discipline.

   Math entrepreneur: Neal Goldman is a math entrepreneur. His firm - Inform Technologies LLC - combs through press articles and blog posts in English. Like him, many companies (like IBM, Yahoo, Google, etc.) – are enlisting skilled mathematicians and computer scientists to read through patterns on unstructured data. Neal Goldman sold his previous math-based startup for USD 225 million. Another duo, Amit and Balraj Singh, sold Perabit Networks -- a company that developed algorithms for genetic research -- to Juniper Networks for USD 337 million.

NATURE OF WORK

Deadlines, overtime work, special requests for information or analysis, and prolonged travel to attend seminars or conferences may be part of their jobs.
  
ENTRY AND ELIGIBILITY   

A PhD in mathematics usually is the minimum educational requirement. Master’s degree and PhD holders with a strong background in mathematics and a related field, such as computer science or engineering, should have better employment opportunities in related occupations.
  
JOB PROSPECTS   

Individuals with the title of a mathematician usually work as theoretical mathematicians, and are employed as university faculty, dividing their time between teaching and conducting research.
   Mathematics is the foundation on which so many other academic disciplines are built. Statisticians, actuaries, and operations research analysts do much work in applied mathematics. Engineers, computer scientists, physicists, and economists are among those who use mathematics extensively. They may usually collaborate with a mathematician to find common solutions to problems.

   The central government require the services of skilled mathematicians, especially in the department of defence. In the private sector, major employers include scientific research and development services and management, scientific, and technical consulting services. Some mathematicians also work for software publishers, insurance companies, and in aerospace or pharmaceutical manufacturing.

REMUNERATION

Entry-level job candidates usually must have  at least a bachelor’s degree with a major in mathematics. However, bachelor’s degree holders in mathematics usually are not qualified for most jobs, and many seek advanced degrees in mathematics or a related discipline. “The starting salary for a mathematics professor at IISc is anywhere between Rs 17,000 to Rs 24,000, depending on any extra experience they bring along,” says Shivam.

INSTITUTE LISTING

Below is an indicative listing of some institutes that offer Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Mathematics:

• IISc – Bangalore

• NIAS – Bangalore

• National Institute of Technology Rourkela

• Malviya National Institute of Technology

• Periyar University

• Banaras Hindu Univeristy