Mathematician Job Kit

CAREERS

withSTEM JOB KIT ™

MATHEMATICIAN Solve real-world problems in health, cyber security, finance, engineering and more

Real is investigating, analysing and solving industry problems.

Study mathematics at QUT to access unique work-integrated learning opportunities with real industry projects.

QUT Bachelor of Mathematics TEQSA Provider ID PRV12079 Australian University | CRICOS 00213J | © QUT 2025 27132

FOREWORD

A career you can count on Mathematics is everywhere – shaping science, technology, health, and finance. And it’s not just about numbers; it’s about solving real problems and making a difference tony roberts professor + head of school, mathematical sciences, QUT One of the biggest myths about maths is that you have to be a genius to succeed. That’s simply not true. Being good at ma ths is about learning how to think logically, tac kle problems and understand how to develo p models of how the world works.

Another myth? That ma ths careers are limited to being a teacher or an academic. Maths leads to some of the most cutting-e dge jobs in fields like energy market analysis, business consulting, dat a science, statistics, softw are development, medic al research and artificial int elligence. If you enjoy solving puzzles, spotting patterns, or using data to make decisions, maths can take you anywhere.

In this job kit, you’ll get a closer look at what it’s like to work in mathema tics and statistics. You’ll read about people using maths in their jobs, see how maths applies to eve ryday industries, and learn what steps to take if this sounds like a career for you. If you love a cha llenge, enjoy thinking logically, and want a car eer that’s always evolving , maths might just be the perfect fit.

IMAGE: SUPPLIED

M

ry day without ost people use maths eve it’s estimating er even realising it. Wheth cking tra e, how long a trip will tak statistics ing ret erp a savings goal or int se of the sen ke ma us p in the news, numbers hel tistics to sta d an ths ma ng world. Now, imagine usi fut s, manage the ure protect endangered specie ve athlete performance, electricity network, impro gnose diseases faster. or even help doctors dia maticians do.

That’s exactly what mathe is about solving At its core, mathematics gain from a maths degree problems. The skills you d in demand across are practical, powerful an luding technology, inc a wide range of sectors ting, government, finance, insurance, consul lth. At QUT, our education, defence and hea real-world projects with students apply maths in ve helped businesses industry partners. They’ nds, found better ways understand shopping tre , designed more efficient to protect native wildlife ughts, and modelled how water systems during dro ough groundwater. contamination moves thr

Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Mathematics)

Professor Tony Roberts Head of School, Mathema tical

Sciences, QUT

the skills you gain from a maths degree are practical and powerfu l” Master of Commerce

PhD, Applied Mathematics

Professor and Head of School, Mathematical Sciences, QUT

Check out CareerswithSTEM.com for more insights, information, inspiration and advice about maths careers!

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MATHEMATICIAN

DEEP DIVE

S S E C C U S R O F A FORMUL Mathematicians don’t just work with numbers – they solve real-world problems, shape industries, and power some of the most exciting careers in finance, technology, health and business

F

thematicians orget the stereotype of ma on. In reality, lati iso in crunching numbers jor advancements maths is at the heart of ma ke smarter decisions, – helping businesses ma dicting climate patterns, improving healthcare, pre ure of artificial and even shaping the fut ths and statistics, you intelligence (AI). With ma ustry, tackling can work in almost any ind difference. l challenges that make a rea wing – it’s gro t Mathematics isn’t jus reer.gov.au, four rca you to booming. According s in Australia rely of most in-demand career civil engineers, on a whole lot of maths – g engineers and software engineers, minin inistrators. But database and system adm from banks and tech employers everywhere – agencies and nt companies to governme erts who can exp d research labs – also nee ms and build ble pro ve sol interpret numbers, thematics. smart solutions using ma

What do mathematicians do?

Mathematicians work on real-world challenges in a range of fields:

Maths myths vs reality

Applied and Computational Mathematics

work alone, Myth: Mathematicians solving equations. orative and Reality: Maths is collab h engineers, wit rk wo s mathematician erts to scientists and business exp . ms ble pro solve real

Solve scientific, engineering and business problems using maths and computing.

Operations Research Optimise transport routes, hospital staffing and energy distribution.

ut numbers.

Myth: Maths is just abo , Reality: Maths powers AI e, enc sci ate clim , rity ecu cybers . on ati lor finance, and space exp genius.

Myth: You have to be a persistence, ut Reality: Maths is abo blem-solving pro d an logical thinking p.

– skills anyone can develo

WORDS: GEMMA CHILTON | IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK

Statistics Analyse data to guide decisions in business, government and health.

Data Science Work with AI, machine learning and predictive models to drive innovation.

limited.

Myth: Maths careers are are in high s ian tic ma the Reality: Ma e range of demand and work in a wid from industries – everything ch. healthcare to space resear

Financial Mathematics Assess risk, forecast market trends and build economic models.

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Money talks

What to study

Here’s what you might earn starting out in a maths career, according to SEEK.

QUT has a lot of great option s if you’re keen on kickstarting your maths + data study and career path. You could enrol in a Bachelor of Mathematics, majoring in App lied and Computational Mathematics , Operations Research or Statistics. Or sign up for the Bachelor of Mathematics / Ma ster of Data Science, which will allow you to graduate with both a bachelor and master by just adding one more year of studies. You ’ll graduate with a competitive edge, all while combining your love for mathematics with adv anced data science skills.

QUT also offer a modern, com putationally focused mathematics degree with real-world components, including a sem ester-long collaborative project with an industry par tner.

And guess what? Staff have also been awarded more early career research fellowships in mathematics than any other Australian institution, and the uni hosts the only Queensland node of an Australian Centre of Excellence in Mathematics .

Mathematician

$80k–$100k Data scientist

$115k–$130k Statistician

$100k–$105k Business intelligence consult ant

$100k–$120k Operations analyst

$80k-$95k

Where can maths take you?

Mathematicians work in every industry – even if their job n”. titles aren’t “mathematicia Careers include:

Skills checklist

Problem-solving

Tackle complex issues and find solutions.

Logical thinking

Finance & bankinge risk and Predict stock trends, manag strengthen cyber securit y.

Tech & AI

e learning Develop AI models, machin lysis. ana a algorithms and big dat

Identify trends and patterns in data, and evaluate differ ent options to find the best sol ution.

ility Energy & sustainab grids and

Computational skills

Health & medicinedisease

Communication

ing Business & consultcien cy and

Use sof tware like Py thon, R, and MATLAB to model scenar ios.

Explain findings to industry leaders and decision-make rs.

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Optimise renewable energy predict climate trends.

Analyse medical data, model tments. outbreaks and improve trea

Use analytics to improve effi ies. strateg y for major compan

MATHEMATICIAN

REAL PEOPLE

Maths meets medicine

technology, and l and Molecular Bio of Mathematics, with

majors in Cel

B

nection bet ween her two rynn didn’t always see the con biomedicine. “They were biggest interests – maths and ted in separately, only originally things I was interes l they worked together!” to find out later on how wel d how maths can break she says. She’s always love s and models. everything down into pat tern d by rke Biomedicine came later, spa r 10.

Yea in n itio a neuroscience compet Brynn uni, a ose cho to e When it came tim the g ndin atte r afte QUT ut was excited abo thing e “Th p. cam rs ato eler Acc 2020 Young was how nice that really drew me to QUT student everyone was, especially the studying ambassadors,” she says. Now s and atic a double degree in Mathem that same nd fou ’s Biomedical Science, she so many met e “I’v t. men welcoming environ staf f.” and ts den stu ndly frie wonder ful and QUT community too.

Brynn is an active par t of the visits high schools to help As a student ambassador, she the ys. “My favourite thing about students explore study pathwa can uni s, rier that, no mat ter the bar job is helping students realise in en Wom ’s also President of the be for them!” she says. She es events, builds industry anis org Maths Club, where she er students. connections and suppor ts oth

Scan here to explore AMSI

brynn mackie al mathematicS + biomedic T Science STUDEN Her biggest goal? Advancing brain cancer treatment. “It’s a cause that’s very close to my heart and affects many Australian families,” Brynn explains.

For students wondering where maths can take them, Brynn says, “Pretty much anywhere!” She points out that many maths careers don’t have “mathematician” in the job title – graduates often become analysts or consultants across industries like sport, health and business. Her last tip? Check out the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute (AMSI). “It’s got a guide to all the different jobs in maths – you’ll see how much diversity there is!”

e Using maths to solv medical problems elling in medicine comes from al mod Brynn’s passion for mathematic arch. “There’s still so much we rese its potential to revolutionise licate says. “Mathematics lets us rep don’t know in medicine,” she es.” urc reso ensive or limited experiments without using exp

MathS lets us experiments without replicate using expensive or limited re sources”

Ba

Science/Bachelor chelor of Biomedical

WORDS: GEMMA CHILTON | IMAGES: SUPPLIED / SHUTTERSTOCK

tional Mathematics, Applied and Computa

QUT

Brynn Mackie is combining her love of maths and biomedicine to help shape the future of medical research

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Maths that moves the world ing maths Rob Lucas has built a career us efficient, from planning to make public transport more ising rail schedules bus and train networks to optim

rob lucas rail scheduling ment, + train crew manageork tw ne il brisbane ra

R

problems. At ob always loved solving maths thanks school, he was drawn to o encouraged to supportive teachers wh school and was eager his interest. “I did well in ed,” he says. He to pursue something I lov and Computationa l went on to study Applied in Chemistry and rs Mathematics, with mino Spatial Science. rted working After graduating, Rob sta ng on trains and in public transport, focusi o a field called buses. Later, he moved int th mines and power optimisation, working wi nt schedu les and plants to develop efficie improve operations. schedu ling and train Now, Rob works in rail ing his love for crew schedu ling, combin mathematical public transport with his me to utilise the skills. “This role allows isation while skills I acquired in optim c transport, bli pursuing my love for pu and ne sba Bri helping to improve changes g itin exc the Queensland with ns. lai ahead,” he exp

Build a commun during your lecturesity and your degree”

WORDS: GEMMA CHILTON | IMAGES: SUPPLIED / SHUTTERSTOCK

Maths beyond the classroom One of the best things about studying maths, Rob says, is its versatility. “As long as you can articulate problems mathematically and find solutions, you can work in any field,” he says.

He has seen friends go into cyber security, finance, engineering, and AI, all using the same problem-solving skills.

And real-world maths isn’t just about equations. “Another crucial aspect is defining the problem accurately,” he says. “This involves engaging with professionals who work in the field and make strategic decisions.” Rob adds that he finds it incredibly satisfying when his work transforms slow, manual processes into fast, automated solutions that save time His advice? Make connections! “Build a community during your lectures and your degree; it will pay off in the future,” he says. “Get involved in any industry-related opportunities you can find, as even a little experience can make a significant difference.”

Bachelor of Mathematics (Applied & Computational Mathematics), QUT Optimisation specialist (mines & power plants), private sector

7

Public transport planner, Queensland Government Rail scheduling and train crew management, Brisbane Rail Network

MATHEMATICIAN

Get the job!

Subject checklist

ure Here’s how to prep for your fut maths study and career path

These high school su bjects will set you up nicely for a career in mathematics! ✔ Mathematics ✔ Physics ✔ Chemist ry ✔ Computing

Is this career for you?

You might love a career in maths if you:

Explore more: Maths resources and inspo

• Enjoy solving puzzles and thinking logically.

• Like working with numbers, patterns, and data.

• Want a career that’s flexible and in demand across many industries.

• Like using technology and software to solve problems.

Want to see where maths can take you? These super fun and easy-to-understand resources will help!

Other to-dos • Go to uni

Consider QUT’s Bachelor of Mathematics and its majors, or the Bachelor of Mathematics / Master of Data Science.

•G et hands-on experience

Internships, research project s, and coding challenges will give you an edge.

•K eep learning

Programming (Py thon, R, MATLAB) and data skills are a big plus.

•M ake connections

Join industry groups and attend STEM events to mee t future employers.

WORDS: GEMMA CHILTON / IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK

Discover how real CSIRO researchers use maths to solve big challenges, with interactive lessons based on real-world projects: mathseducation.org.au/ online-resources/maths-inside

Khan Academy Short, engaging lessons on everything from algebra to problem-solving. khanacademy.org

Podcasts and videos

MathsTalk Podcast (AMSI Schools) A podcast where maths experts chat about cool maths ideas, how maths is used in real life, and tips for understanding tricky topics. calculate.org.au/mathstalk-podcast/ Fun maths puzzles and fascinating facts! youtube.com/numberphile

ac Young Technologists Scholarship

Books

Available for students in dat a science and related fields.

•C urious: Life Hacks Through Maths by Lily Serna

QUT Adeline Arts and Science Scholarship

• T hat’s Maths: The Mathematical Magic in Everyday Life by Peter Lynch

s.

QUT Indigenous and Wome n in STEM scholarships

Financial support for diverse student

Maths Inside

Numberphile (YouTube)

Scholarships and support Westp

Supports women in mathem atic

Websites and online learning

• T he Maths Book: Big Ideas, Simply Explained by DK

s.

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This edition was published on 1 May 2025.