What kinds of companies have research-y jobs in statistical modeling/machine learning and how difficult is it to get one with an MS, not a PhD?
I don’t have a good gauge on difficulty, but I know OpenAI has a fellowship open to non PhDs, and I don’t think the Google research residencies specifically require a PhD. Microsoft has the NERD AI Program that says a B.S. would be fine. If you’re looking for more traditional statistical modeling or ML specifically, tons of the F100 have research groups where M.S. degrees are pretty common. I’m looking for a more academic environment and just have a B.S at the moment, so after I’m done with my Master’s, I’ll definitely be trying for at least the programs I listed above.
Those are not research positions. They are training so you can be code monkey in ml.
Which programs/groups would you say are more research oriented—what about D.E. Shaw Research or the IDA?
It is difficult even for someone with a phd from a top 5 school! You have to have a name or know someone there. People do this by hanging out at conferences. It’s not fair but that’s how it works. I know from personal experience. Impeccable cv with papers, phd from top 5, github with ml training code, etc. doesn’t turn any head. All i am getting are applied research, i.e. code monkey.
Papers at NIPS, ICML, etc? Isn't it always about who you know?
Yes and yes