Eric Fitzgerald has over 10 years of experience in data science and physics research. He currently works as a Data Scientist for Backcountry.com, where he has developed models and tools to improve customer retention, attribution of marketing spend, and analytics reporting. Previously he held research positions at Brandeis University, MIT, and the University of Oregon, conducting experimental particle physics and publishing his PhD work.

1. Eric Fitzgerald
(503) 819 – 5893
eric.av.fitzgerald@gmail.com
3474 S 2000 E
Salt Lake City, UT 84109
Summary
Seasoned Data Scientist in the Marketing Department of Backcountry.com, a large online retailer.
Cross-team collaborator who improves spending efficiency and key performance metrics by apply-
ing advanced statistical techniques to analyze customer behavior. PhD in experimental high energy
physics earned searching for new particles at CERN, the world’s leading high-energy physics facil-
ity. Effective communicator across departments and stakeholders to encourage buy-in and results.
Designed and wrote dozens of projects and thousands of lines of analysis code in C++/Python with
regular version control. Quick and avid learner of new tools and techniques, whether breaking new
ground or optimizing existing projects.
Skills
Programming: Python (SciPy/NumPy), SQL (Oracle), C++ (ROOT), Shell Scripting
Software: Spark, R, Excel, Git, Adobe Analytics (Omniture), OS X, Linux/Unix
Analytics: Statistics, Modeling, Machine Learning, Predictive Analytics, Data Mining
Professional Experience
Data Scientist, Marketing, 6/2015 – Present
Statistical Analyst, Marketing, 9/2014 – 6/2015
Backcountry.com
• Created and implemented unique efficiency algorithms using Bayesian statistics, decision
theory, and linear algebra in an analytic hierarchy framework for the Search Engine Mar-
keting (SEM) team to increase customer retention. This helped drive an additional 12%
increase above expected growth in the customer base, and a 6% increase in new customer
retention (re-order) rates.
• Developed a non-linear customer-level model with per-click behavior to attribute revenue and
marketing spend across channels beyond last-click attribution, saving thousands of dollars
over third-party consultants.
• Built reporting and analytics tools for the Retention and Acquisition teams, harmonizing
myriad data sources and outputting directly actionable numbers for peak retail holiday
traffic, resulting in the best holiday peak and overall quarter in Backcountry.com history.
Collaborated with the SEM and Business Intelligence (database) teams to build a new set
of reporting tables in the Oracle EDW, assisting with both engineering inputs and resulting
insights.
• Tested collaborative filtering recommendation algorithms for on-site and email personaliza-
tion projects, with >200% increase in click-through-rate and 10% increase in revenue over
the third-party vendor. Continued to refine the features and segmentation of these models.

2. Research Experience
Research Assistant, Brandeis University, Department of Physics, 6/2011 – 2/2014
• Modeled the large expected backgrounds in the LHC environment using the ROOT software
with a multivariate regression to fit over control regions and extrapolate to poorly understood
regions. Isolated key features and variables to improve performance of selected events; my
recommendations led to a 15% gain in selection efficiency and up to 8% gain in measurement
precision.
• Produced the final data files and Monte Carlo pseudo-data for analysis team, with appro-
priate error measurement and propagation. Set world-leading 95% confidence level limits on
several hypotheses of Beyond the Standard Model physics. Created the final visualization
plots for presentation.
• Developed and managed the muon channel of the flagship analysis of the Exotics group
in the ATLAS collaboration. Presented to the relevant working groups and collaboration
meetings and incorporated their feedback, with the results approved for publication and
collaboration use. PhD work published in peer-reviewed publication (Phys. Rev. D 90,
052005; ArXiv: 1405.4123).
Research Fellow/Assistant, MIT, Department of Physics, 9/2004 – 5/2011
• Calculated energy level shifts in a diatomic molecule due to the Casimir Effect.
• Computed quantum field theory corrections to spin operators in bound states.
• Numerically estimated solutions of supersymmetric gauged linear sigma models.
Undergraduate Researcher, University of Oregon, Department of Physics, 1/2002 – 6/2004
• Designed and prototyped readout circuitry for a silicon wafer detector.
• Constructed and calibrated new detector test stand.
Education
Doctorate of Philosophy, Experimental Particle Physics, February 2014
Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02453
Dissertation: A Search for New Physics in the Dilepton Channel with the ATLAS
Detector at the LHC
Master of Science, Theoretical Physics, May 2011
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139
Thesis: A Quantum Top in a Casimir-Induced Quadrupole Field
Bachelor of Science, Physics & Mathematics, June 2003
University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403
Cum Laude, Departmental Honors in Physics
DeCou Prize for Outstanding Graduating Senior in Mathematics
Thesis: Symmetry Breaking in Scalar QED