Brandon Head ’25 — one of Berry’s first students to major in data science — got a taste of corporate life when he took a summer internship with Dassault Systèmes, a French software company that develops 3D design and simulation tools for a number of industries, from aerospace to health care. Based near Charleston, South Carolina, he served on a sales and tech team charged with creating and managing education modules for clients.
“Our overall project was increasing activation rates of licensees,” Brandon says. “As content was distributed, we ensured data was appropriately used.” He stepped into the role with training in data science, computer science, math and research as well as time-management and leadership skills cultivated as a lacrosse player. However, he was eager to experience a company setting and work on products launching six months to a year down the road.
“In a semester-long project, you get to know the nitty-gritty,” Brandon explains. “But in corporate, you may work on parts of a project. You have to document execution, and you have to consider the scope and value statement. You’re exposed to project management.”
Currently weighing paths in industry and graduate school, he says the internship opened his eyes to how he might combine his interests in data science and health care. Brandon cites Dassault Systèmes’ Living Brain Project, which focuses on creating a “virtual twin” (or model) of the brain that enables surgery simulations, identification of electrical signals related to conditions like epilepsy and development of ways to facilitate early detection of neurogenerative diseases. A tool like this “would allow surgeons to create a model just for their patient and run simulations before doing invasive surgery,” he says.
The internship was a full-circle moment. Initially a pre-med student with an interest in neurological disorders, Brandon explored business management, finance and data analytics before diving into data science — "the tech side, how a model works, why it works and how you make it work.”
He says, “Data science is a combination of math and computer science and domain expertise. It boils down to problem-solving, mathematically or through a coding progression. It’s a competitive major.”
Also drawn to machine learning, artificial intelligence and engineering, Brandon has received close mentoring from Assistant Professor of Computer Science Xiaomeng Ye, Assistant Professor of Applied Mathematics Garner Cochran and Department Chair Nadeem Hamid. He says, “The professors at Berry are so positively involved in your life. They will ask about a game — or how you’re doing or developing as a person.”
Whatever life brings after graduation, Brandon will value not only his intellectual growth but also relationships forged while playing lacrosse. “Team sports are satisfying,” he reflects. “Once you’re at practice, you forget about everything else. You manage together. I’ve learned to manage stress and put it aside. Most recently, we’ve had STEM majors on the team, focused on improving on and off the field. We do a lot together.”
