This spring I received my PhD in mathematics studying geometric group theory. Even before I graduated, I decided to leave academics and after graduation went to work for a "big 4" company as a researcher. However, I'm finding that the work I'm doing is mostly statistical modeling and business analysis ( because our group is new and small we don't have the leverage to do projects without immediate business value). I feel unfulfilled and bored.
Are there any companies doing research into machine learning? I don't mean research into how they can use current ml technology to their benefit, but actually researching new technology and methods, and publishing papers. Is my only option to go back to graduate school?
EDIT: I should say I don't want to go back to pure math: I miss being on the cutting edge of a field, but I'd prefer it to be a field that's much closer to being useful some day. I'd also like to stay in Seattle.
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