A STATISTICIAN’S LIFE
Journey to a Career in Industry
Robert Starbuck Tells His Story
I
became aware of the statistics Institute, with whom I arranged
field when I was an under- a chat when I visited NC State in
graduate student at Miami the spring of my senior year at
University in Oxford, Ohio. I Miami. I mention this because
signed up for a statistics course in these contacts were important
which Donald Weber proctored in confirming my career path.
one of the exams. He told me (I would encourage statistics
about a linear models course he departments to increase the level
would be teaching the next of contact between their students
semester and showed me some of and industrial and government
the course content. As a math statisticians, which would give
major, I liked math a lot, but I students a better basis for decid-
had no idea how I might use a ing their career paths.)
math degree to get a job in indus- I earned my master’s and PhD
try, which is where I wanted to degrees in statistics at NC State.
spend my career. Statistics seemed As I was finishing my master’s
Starbuck
‘real world’ to me, so I signed up degree, I interviewed with a state
for Weber’s course and, based on agency. It was tempting to con-
that experience, took every other sider an employment opportu-
statistics course Miami offered. nity because I was married with
Weberw— ho became a friend two young children, but I ulti-
and mentor—advised me to mately chose to stay in graduate
apply for an NDEA fellowship school because I thought it would
and recommended I take a look be difficult to earn a PhD while
at the statistics graduate pro- employed. I definitely made the
gram at North Carolina State right decision.
University, where he earned his While at NC State, I taught
PhD. I took his advice and was an undergraduate introductory
fortunate to be awarded the fel- statistics course to nonstatistics
lowship and gain admittance to majors. That experience gave
NC State. me confidence in public speak-
Prior to going to NC State, ing and a better idea of what it
I had only met two statisticians would be like to be a university
from industry—one at Procter instructor. I also heard an applied
& Gamble while I was at Miami statistics talk by Mike Free, who
and one at the Research Triangle worked at the Smith, Kline, &
SEPTEMbER 2009 AMSTAT NEwS 51
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