Interview with Linea Stausbøll Hedemark

Linea Stausbøll Hedemark is a Data Scientist at the Agency for Public Finance and Management (Økonomistyrelsen).

Where did you graduate from and with which degree?

I graduated with a Master’s degree in physics from Niels Bohr Institute, Copenhagen University with a specialisation in Computational Physics.

Please give a description of the work you do in your current position.

I am part of a group of data scientists and project managers that develop data tools and solutions for state institutions. We work project-based with many different kinds of collaborators and our aim is to find processes that could benefit from automation or where machine learning can be used to increase insight, and then work together to make it happen. We do projects in-house for Økonomistyrelsen and the Ministry of Finance, but also for other state institutions where they might not have their own data science team, so we get to see how many different people working for the government do their jobs, which is really cool.

What motivated you to study physics or engineering in the first place?

When I started high school I was sure that I wanted to become a lawyer, but I changed my mind when I found out that it would require too much reading and memorising for my temperament. I had taken a physics class as a required course, and enjoyed it so much that I figured I might as well pursue physics at university. It required a good amount of extra courses in maths and chemistry after I graduated high school to qualify for the physics programme at university, but the extra work also served as a test as to whether pursuing a STEM degree was right for me. Luckily, I got through the courses just fine, and after a year of supplemental courses I was ready to study physics.

Considering I stumbled into physics kind of by chance I feel very lucky, as now I can’t ever imagine having studied anything else.

What made you decide to pursue a career in the public sector?

There were two things that motivated me to apply for my current position. I wanted to work somewhere where I would be able to do ML projects, and to do that you need to work somewhere with access to a large amount of data and the willingness to use that data for something. I figured that Økonomistyrelsen would be a great place for that, since they are in charge of managing HR and finance for almost everyone that works for the Danish state government. Secondly, I find that working with AI in the public sector gives me the opportunity to advocate for the application of this technology in a responsible and reliable way, so that the hype around these methods doesn’t die out and we get to reap the rewards as a collective.

How do you use the skills you learned as a physicist or engineer in your work?

The main skills I obtained at university that are applicable in my job is obviously Python programming. I’m also really happy that I chose to do courses in statistics and fair machine learning during my Masters, as they framed a lot of my thinking in working on data science projects. I did both my Bachelor’s project and Master’s thesis in the IceCube group at NBI, where I used neural networks to analyse massive amounts of neutrino data. My advisor, Jason Koskinen, pushed me to become a better researcher by presenting my work to others and working through frustration by discussing it with the group, and I still use the skills he taught me and apply it to my work now. I try to maintain the open mindset of a researcher in my work every day.

What does being a physicist mean to you?

Deciding to study physics felt like an insane decision at first and as a first-year student struggling with exams, the thought of someday obtaining a Master’s degree was way too abstract. It still feels somewhat surreal to know that I did it; it has given me a fundamental sense of strength and pride, because the journey was so challenging at times. Becoming a physicist made me a more curious, open, and confident person. 

Even though there is no direct physics link to my current job, I still feel that physics has shaped my identity and made me approach my job and life in general in a more curious and thoughtful way.

What advice would you give to young people (in particular women and minorities) with a background in physics who would like to pursue a career in the private industry/public sector?

My best piece of advice is to listen to your gut instinct, especially during the job interview. You are probably going to spend a lot of time with your colleagues and manager, so make sure that you feel that they’re a good fit for you, not just that you’re a good fit for the job. If the personal chemistry is bad, that just makes it that much more difficult to reach out when you need help or speak up if you feel that you are being treated unfairly. Look for colleagues that inspire you and know stuff that you don’t.

Also know that we’re all making it up as we go. Being new in the workforce can feel quite daunting, because it can seem like everyone else is always working harder or knows more about the field. But as a new grad you are also adding value to your team by asking questions and adding new perspectives.