 |
- Alana
- VP, Systems Administrator
- Princeton
- AB, Astrophysics
|
| |
|
Employee Profiles
- What’s your role at the firm?
- What are the people and the culture like?
- What do you do outside of work?
I support the firm’s software, hardware, and infrastructure needs as part of the Systems group. When I joined the D. E. Shaw group, right after earning my bachelor’s degree in astrophysics, I was eager to find a challenging position that stressed analytical aptitude and encouraged creative thinking and intellectual growth. A friend encouraged me to apply here, and several interviews later I was convinced that this is where I wanted to be. I love the work environment. Peers and mentors provide unlimited support and encouragement, as well as a great sounding board for new ideas. Resources are readily available, including access to conferences, research material, and the most current technology. I have the freedom to develop my own path, choose work that interests me, and take ownership of projects that make a real difference to the firm. In my experience here, growth and success are only limited by the time and energy spent earning them.
The people are intellectual but not arrogant, driven but not single-minded, and always friendly. Despite our large size, there’s still the feeling that we’re a small company, that our jobs are interconnected, and that we’re all working together to make the whole venture a success. The firm itself places a lot of emphasis on quality of life. As one small example, every winter we have a year-end event at a new location around New York City, which is always a lot of fun. Memorable experiences include watching a private performance by Cirque du Soleil and enjoying the amazing space shows at the Rose Center of the American Museum of Natural History.
Since earning my degree, I’ve tried to stay active in one way or another in the realm of space science and engineering, including contributing to research papers, volunteering at the Rose Center, and visiting observatories and conferences around the country. Outside of that, I enjoy playing soccer and volleyball on the group-sponsored teams as well as on other teams in the area. I also enjoy fiddling around on the piano, and I am learning to play guitar.
|
