The Early Career Professionals’ Network (ECPN) is a group designed to help recent graduates, soon to be graduates, or anyone newly entering the field of analytics/O.R. to build their professional networks and learn the practicalities of working in the field from experienced practitioners. The ECPN Workshop was created to reflect the fact that analytics work in the real world is challenging in ways that aren’t always taught in analytics and O.R. degree programs. The Workshop is held annually at the INFORMS Analytics Conference with a carefully selected cohort of attendees. Highlights from the program include how to land your first job, a panel of analytics executives giving perspective on their career and the marketplace, and a role-playing exercise working with “clients.”
All participants will be eligible to request a modest stipend to assist with travel and attendance costs. The actual amount will vary based on sponsorships and amount listed as needed on nomination form but in the past, it has been as much as a few hundred dollars.
We encourage everyone to also submit to present a poster at the conference. This is a great way to participate and network at the conference. Poster participants will also receive the presenter rate for attending the conference.
Nomination Deadline
Monday, February 19, at 11:59pm EST
Notification Date
March 8
When
Reception
Saturday, April 13
Workshop
Sunday, April 14
Where
Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress (Orlando)
Eligibility:
- Participants must be enrolled in or have graduated from a graduate degree program in analytics, operations research, management science, or a related field.
- The event is geared to master’s and Ph.D. students and recent graduates working in the analytics/O.R. field.
- Participants must be nominated by their university program/department, a representative from their employer, or an INFORMS mentor.
- A department or employer may nominate multiple students or employees. When nominating multiple students or employees, the department or employer should indicate a rank-order preference of nominees in the event that total nominations exceed the event’s attendance limit.
- Important to note:
- A maximum of 2 participants from each nominating university and employer will be chosen to participate.
- Previous attendees of the IPC, ECC or ECPN are not eligible to attend.
Nomination Deadline:
Monday, February 19, 2024, at 11:59pm EST
Notification Date: March 8, 2024
Nomination Package: This should be completed and uploaded by the department chair, program director, or supervisor. Packages are due by 11:59pm ET on Monday, February 19, 2024, and must include the following information about the intended participant (nominee) in the format specified:
- Letter of recommendation from the department chair, program director, supervisor, or INFORMS mentor.
- Statement of purpose from the nominee including description of career and research interests.
- Resume or CV.
- Nominee’s name, mailing address, email address and phone number.
- Other required information to include in the submission: nominee’s major field of study, expected degree (M.S., Ph.D., MBA, etc.), expected date of graduation, thesis/dissertation title (or area of concentration if nominee’s program does not require a thesis), and current employer and position.
- Estimate of financial reimbursement requested.
Note: Award amounts will be determined after sponsorships have been confirmed and will be need-based. If this request is not included in the nomination package, no consideration will be given for financial aid. Amount of aid provided will not exceed amount listed in nomination form as left to be paid by participant.
Sponsors
Sample Agenda from a previous ECPN event:
Note: This is just an example of what we have done in the past and is not the actual 2024 ECPN Workshop agenda.
Saturday
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 5:30–8pm | Networking event – off-site |
Sunday
| Time | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| 7–7:30am | Meeting Check-in & Coffee | |
| 7:30–8:15am | Session 1: Introductions of Participants and Program Committee Members | |
| 8:15–9am | Session 2: Perspectives on the Practice of O.R. & Analytics | |
| 9–9:45am | Session 3: Data Revolution | |
| 9:45–10am | Break | |
| 10–10:30am |
|
|
| 10:30–11:30am | Small group discussions with executives | |
| 11:30am–12:30pm | Lunch | |
| 12:30–2:00pm | Session: 4 Role Playing: Develop an AI/ML/DS based product and GTM Strategy or an Enhancement to a Current Product for B2B or B2C | |
| 2:00–2:30pm | Presentations from Role Playing exercise | |
| 2:30–2:45pm | Closing Remarks | |
| 2:45–3pm | Refresh and go to Career Fair |
Testimonials from Previous Attendees
Kalbe Abbas Agharia, M.S.
Spears School of Business, Oklahoma State University
Position: Associate Data Scientist, Best Buy
Peyton Cline
Master of Science in Applied Data Analytics and MBA Candidate at Appalachian State University
In April 2023, I had the opportunity to attend my first INFORMS Conference and participate in the ECPN. The Early Career Professionals Network allowed me to connect with brilliant graduate students from across the country. Along with building connections with peers, I was able to network with and gain insight from professionals that I still keep in contact with today. I learned so much about building a career in analytics and would recommend this experience to anyone who is looking to expand their knowledge and professional network!
Jose Eduardo Oros, M.S.
Pandora
Vijaya Priya Rama Vijayasarathy, B.E.
Heinz College, Carnegie Mellon University
Yulia Vorotyntseva, M.S.
The University of Texas at Dallas
Nitish Ghosal
Data Scientist, Ameritas Life Insurance Corporation
The co-chairs of the ECPN event are Heather Moe, Esri, and Qinglin Duan, Bayer Crop Science.
For more information, email ecpn@mail.informs.org.
