Randell Cotta

Randell Cotta has a diverse work experience spanning various roles and industries. Randell started as an Industrial Engineer at Ultratech Industrial Systems, where they drafted and designed process systems for the food and packaging industries. After this, they worked as an Undergraduate Research Assistant at UC Santa Barbara, where they received an award for outstanding research in String Theory.

Following this, Randell worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Stanford University, where they prepared materials for lectures and discussions. Randell then joined SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory as a Graduate Research Associate, conducting research in theoretical and phenomenological particle physics, including giving impactful talks at conferences and seminars.

After their graduate research, Randell worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at UC Irvine, conducting research in theoretical and phenomenological particle physics and publishing multiple research articles.

In 2013, Randell joined Drawbridge Inc. as a Data Scientist, designing and delivering predictive models for ad campaigns. Randell later became a Senior Data Scientist, leading the redesign of algorithms for cross-device user identification. Randell then became the Director of Data Science, leading cultural changes and establishing practices to enhance scientific communication and reputation. Drawbridge was acquired by LinkedIn in 2019.

At LinkedIn, Randell served as a Staff AI Engineer, designing AI systems to detect and prevent fake and hacked accounts. Randell led initiatives around label modeling and profile content modeling. Randell then became an AI Engineering Manager, leading AI initiatives for Marketing Identity, Offsite Ads, and Creative Optimization, as well as integrating Drawbridge Tech into LinkedIn.

Lastly, Randell is currently working as the DS/ML Lead at X, the moonshot factory, where they are responsible for leading data science and machine learning initiatives.

Randell Cotta completed a Bachelor's degree in Physics from UC Santa Barbara, starting in 2004 and ending in 2007. Randell then pursued further education at Stanford University, where they obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Physics from 2007 to 2012. In 2019 to 2020, Randell attended the Stanford University Graduate School of Business and obtained a Stanford LEAD: Corporate Innovation Certificate in Organizational Leadership. Additionally, they received a TeamOps Certification from GitLab in November 2022.