Stevens Department of Mathematical Sciences Hosts Second Annual Industry Connection Series Event
The event offered Stevens students the opportunity to engage with alumni working with artificial intelligence and machine learning across different fields
What connects a creative technologist, a senior principal data scientist, a data analyst and a software engineer? Aside from all being speakers at the Stevens Institute of Technology Department of Mathematical Sciences’ second annual Industry Connection event in April, each one applies artificial intelligence and machine learning (ML) in their daily work.
Stevens students eager to build connections and explore careers at the intersection of academia and industry filled the packed venue. Building on the success of last year’s inaugural program, this year’s gathering drew an attendance of 101 people in person and 22 online, creating a lively, engaging atmosphere where mathematics met real-world innovation.
Special guest speaker Stella Jia and Stevens alumni Jian Hui Mai ’22, Mohammad Nikouei ’19, and Jerry V. Thomas ’23 shared how AI and ML inform their tasks, such as automating design workflows, developing predictive models and analyzing complex data sets. They also discussed the insights, challenges and triumphs they’ve encountered, offering valuable perspectives for current students and aspiring professionals.
“In sharing their stories across a spectrum of career paths — from creative technology and autonomous AI to healthcare analytics and data engineering — current Stevens students got fresh perspectives and inspiration for their own career journeys,” said Hadi Safari Katesari, teaching assistant professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences, noting that, due to a shortage of seats, around 15 students had to remain standing in the room.
A showcase of experiences across various industries
Creative Technologist Stella Jia, senior director of application development at Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP), shared her passion for building intelligent systems that enhance user experience and drive innovation. In her talk, “Code Meets People: The AI-Powered Future of HR & Payroll — and Why Developers Matter More Than Ever,” she discussed her 20+ years of experience and strong focus on AI and ML over the past four years. According to Jia, AI and ML are reshaping everyday workflows, and developers play a key role in building systems that streamline data tasks and improve user experiences.
During his talk, “From LLMs to Agentic AI,” Mohammad Nikouei discussed his journey toward his dual Ph.D.s — including his computer science doctoral degree from Stevens — and his work as a senior principal data scientist at Dun & Bradstreet. He illustrated how today’s AI agents move beyond fixed rules to make adaptive decisions and shared insights on how to measure their real-world impact. In addition to his role in industry, Nikouei teaches generative AI and big data technologies at Stevens.
In the healthcare analytics talk, “Transforming Healthcare through AI/ML,” Jian Hui Mai, AI/ML engineer in the health services industry and a graduate of Stevens’ master’s of data science program, discussed how he pivoted from querying databases and building dashboards to designing AI tools. He emphasized that modern AI shines at summarizing information and answering questions, but warned that ensuring the accuracy of AI/ML models can be costly and prone to mistakes, so careful oversight is essential. While AI/ML is growing in adoption in healthcare, traditional forecasting techniques remain important, according to Hui Mai.
In his talk, “Introduction to Data Engineering and Medallion Architecture,” Jerry V. Thomas, a software engineer at a consultancy firm and also a graduate of Stevens’ master’s of data science program, walked through some of his tasks in his current role: from setting up and maintaining data pipelines to building mathematical models. Drawing on his journey, he explained the “medallion” approach of refining data in layers — keeping the model simple and scalable while improving quality. He also candidly addressed trade-offs: extra storage needs, upfront planning and a focus on modern data platforms.
“By meeting with industry professionals, students gained honest career insights, helping them build confidence in their career journeys and forge valuable connections,” said Katesari, adding that the event underscores the department’s commitment to turning mathematical theory into industry-ready expertise.