The May issue of Fast Company magazine has an article, "Barneys and Friend," that highlights the talents of a genetics researcher to discern consumer online patterns for their email marketing.

Quote from the researcher, Sheldon Gilbert, whose academic history includes studying molecular biochemistry and biophysics at Yale and a stint at the Cornell Medical College and the Rockerfeller University Laboratory for Molecular Genetics and Informatics:

"Scientists understand how complex systems work. I’m a pattern hunter, so I created a system that was looking for patterns and was adaptive and self-learning."

Gilbert set up his own company, Proclivity, to apply his pattern hunting to commerce. I took a look at his site (nice, clean design, BTW) and one of the best things is this tagline:

Predict Behavior. Drive Revenue.

Entrepreneurial boundary crossers build new businesses….gotta love it.