Alex Liu

 

Alex Liu Headshot Current Position: Data Scientist, Netflix

PhD Dissertation Title: Statistical Analysis of Online Eye and Face-Tracking Applications in Marketing

PhD Advisor: Dr. Michel Wedel

Application Area (during AMSC studies): Applied Statistics

 

What is your current position? How did you come to know about this position, and what do you like about it?

I am currently a Data Scientist at Netflix. I originally discovered this opportunity through a referral from a fellow AMSC alum, which speaks volumes about the strength of our network.

What I love most about my role is the ability to conduct experiments that have a direct, tangible impact on our members. I work closely with Product Managers and Engineering teams to design and run A/B tests that optimize the entire user sign-up journey, helping reduce friction and improve the overall experience.

We also focus heavily on personalizing how we communicate new shows and movies to users, ensuring they receive updates that truly matter to them. Beyond running experiments, I find it incredibly rewarding to help engineering teams scale their experimentation capabilities by providing statistical guidance and tools that allow them to operate more independently and effectively.

It’s this combination of deep statistical work and meaningful real-world impact that makes my role especially fulfilling.

 

Alex Liu Graduate School What are your favorite memories of your graduate school experience? What about from the AMSC program specifically?

My favorite memories are a mix of intellectual discovery and the deep friendships I formed throughout the program.

A major highlight was my research journey. My advisor, Michel Wedel, helped me find a project that perfectly matched my biology background with my interests in eye-tracking and face-tracking. He also facilitated a unique opportunity for me to collaborate with Professor Thales Teixeira at Harvard Business School on my dissertation. This interdisciplinary experience became a cornerstone of my graduate education.

I also have fond memories of preparing for qualifying exams with my peers. We would gather in the Math department, working through difficult problems while sharing desserts and encouraging each other. Those late-night study sessions built friendships and support systems that continue to this day.

 

In what ways did the AMSC program help prepare you for your current position?

The AMSC program’s interdisciplinary structure gave me the flexibility to choose advisors and projects that aligned directly with my career goals in industry.

For example, my research on face-tracking for movie trailers extended beyond academia into real-world experimentation with Netflix users. We collaborated with researchers across institutions to test new approaches to video content marketing. This work ultimately led to our published paper, "Video Content Marketing: The Making of Clips," which received the Donald R. Lehmann Award.

AMSC provided both strong theoretical training and practical experience, giving me the domain expertise and applied skills needed to transition smoothly into a data science role in the tech industry.

 

What advice would you give to current students?

Leverage AMSC’s interdisciplinary flexibility. Choose advisors and projects that align with your interests and long-term goals. The ability to connect mathematics with real-world applications is incredibly valuable.

Seek industry experience early. Internships help bridge the gap between academic theory and industry practice. They also make the transition into full-time roles much smoother.

Invest in your peers. Your classmates will become your lifelong network and support system. The friendships you build during graduate school are just as valuable as the academic training itself.