Class of 2024

Master of Data Science Computational Linguistics Daniel Jimenez

Daniel Jimenez, MDS Computational Linguistics, Class of 2024

“The program has prepared me well for a career in data science and computational linguistics by providing a solid foundation of knowledge and skills. It has also instilled the discipline necessary to continuously update my expertise, which is crucial given the rapid advancements in these fields.”

Previous Degree: Master’s in Information Technology, Computer Science from Universidad de Los Andes
Program: MDS Computational Linguistics, Class of 2024

I was very interested in pursuing a career in Natural Language Processing and Artificial Intelligence. The UBC Master of Data Science program in Computational Linguistics teaches the last trends in NLP unlike other programs and it has advanced my understanding of NLP.

About Daniel Jimenez

Prior to entering the MDS Computational Linguistics program, Daniel Jimenez was working as a software developer with Amazon. Daniel’s favourite course during the MDS Computational Linguistics program was ‘Trends in Computational Linguistics’ because it taught the advancements in NLP.  Outside of classes, Daniel joined UBC’s Surf Club that allowed him to explore different parts of British Columbia and have fun while meeting new people. Daniel can also be found using UBC’s Aquatic Centre’s hot tub to help him recharge. Read Daniel’s story.

Master of Data Science Vancouver John Shiu

John Shiu, MDS Vancouver, Class of 2024

“Tiffany [Timbers] greatly inspired me during the program. Her enthusiasm and dedication to advancing industry practices in data science are truly remarkable. I was fortunate to collaborate with her on the capstone project, which provided me with invaluable insights into the best practices in the data science field.”

Previous Degree: Master's of Philosophy in Physics from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Program: MDS Vancouver, Class of 2024

Over nearly a decade, I self-taught necessary skills in data science and software development. However, to overcome professional growth limitations and solidify my expertise for long-term success, I decided to strengthen my foundation through another master's program.

About John Shiu 

Before (and even throughout) the MDS program, John worked as a Portfolio Manager at CryptAM.fund, a specialized cryptocurrency hedge fund. This role involved significant data analysis related to financial data, the development and maintenance of in-house trading systems, and business decision-making with senior management. John is taking what he has learned in several MDS courses and applying it back to his organization. When not studying data science, John enjoyed driving, Muay Tahi and skiing around Metro Vancouver. Read John’s story.

Master of Data Science Computational Linguistics Claudia Beth Ong

Claudia Beth Ong, MDS Computational Linguistics, Class of 2024

“The MDS Computational Linguistics program has helped me so much to kickstart my career in NLP, which is something I always aspired to do but didn’t have enough experience when I had just graduated from my Bachelor’s.”

Previous Degree: Bachelor’s in Science, in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence from Nanyang Technological University Singapore
Program: MDS Computational Linguistics, Class of 2024

My interest in data science actually stemmed from my interest in Linguistics. When choosing my Bachelor’s degree, I only chose Data Science because I wanted to do something related to both Mathematics and Linguistics, and in a very convoluted way, I ended up finding out about Natural Language Processing, which then led me to Data Science.

About Claudia Beth Ong

Claudia completed her Bachelor’s in Science, in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence from Nanyang Technological University Singapore in 2023. After finishing her undergraduate degree, Claudia had a dilemma: accept a job offer or accept UBC MDS Computational Linguistics offer. In the end, Claudia chose attending the MDS Computational Linguistics program to further her education in NLP and gain overseas experience. Outside of MDS Computational Linguistics, Claudia enjoys going to spin classes, going to beach and walking around downtown Vancouver as it reminds her of her native Singapore. Read Claudia’s story.

Master of Data Science Vancouver Merete Lutz

Merete Lutz, MDS Vancouver, Class of 2024

“I love my MDS cohort, and I think the greatest benefit of this program is how much time you spend together and how comforting it is to be with this big group of people who are learning and struggling with the same things as you. Everyone here comes from a unique background, and it’s been so interesting hearing about their journey to data science and the unique domain they come from.”

Previous Degree: Master of Science in Epidemiology from Stanford University
Program: MDS Vancouver, Class of 2024

My interest in data science comes from studying epidemiology, which in a way is the data science of medicine. While studying epidemiology you learn lots of statistics, especially causal inference, and you learn how best to set up experiments to investigate research questions. I learned how to code in R, and I wrote my master’s thesis on some models I had created while looking for an association between personal-best mile time and bone stress injuries in collegiate cross-country athletes. I loved all the classes that I took in that program, but I also graduated wishing I had taken more statistics, and that I knew how to code in other languages.

About Merete Lutz

After graduating with a Master’s in Epidemiology from Stanford University, Merete pursued a career as a professional volleyball player playing in leagues in Italy, South Korea, and Japan. After retiring from the sport, Merete wanted to further her education and saw data science as a way to learn more about what she loved about epidemiology. Merete chose the UBC MDS program because it was in Vancouver, only 10 months long, targeted towards those without data science backgrounds, and really seemed to be focused on preparing students for careers in data science. Outside MDS, Merete enjoys playing tennis, doing pottery (hobbies she picked up during the program) and cooking. Read Merete’s story.

Master of Data Science Computational Linguistics Max Ahluwalia

Max Ahluwalia, MDS Computational Linguistics, Class of 2024

“The capstone project was a key factor in my decision to choose the MDS Computational Linguistics program since it provided a valuable opportunity to apply my knowledge and skills in a real-world setting. As a professional degree, the capstone perfectly combined academic learning with practical application, allowing us to use what we had learned in a professional context.”

Previous Degree: Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Systems from the University of British Columbia
Program: MDS Computational Linguistics, Class of 2024

During my Bachelor’s degree, I spent one year abroad at Leiden University in the Netherlands where I took several courses from the Digital Humanities program. This was when I was introduced to many topics in computational linguistics and data science, including text mining, data visualizations, database creation, and formal modeling. The crossroads of these two fields began my passion for computational models of language and I later continued this after I returned to Canada to finish my degree.

About Max Ahluwalia

Max completed his Bachelor of Science in Cognitive Systems from the University of British Columbia. Max wanted to pursue a Master’s in Computational Linguistics because he sees the value of preserving languages and how technology provides the opportunity to protect the loss of languages and speakers through lasting, digital models. After completing the MDS Computational Linguistics program, Max i interested in pursuing jobs that focus on working with low-resource languages, machine translation, or developing educational tools to apply his computational linguistics skills to make a meaningful impact in this area. Read Max’s story.

Master of Data Science Vancouver Sandra Gross

Sandra Gross, MDS Vancouver, Class of 2024

"MDS is the optimal choice for anyone looking to delve into data science. Its concise structure and practical focus—rather than theoretical research—opens doors for individuals from all backgrounds, regardless of their prior technical expertise and academic background."

Previous Degree: Bachelor’s of Science in Management and Technology from Technical University of Munich
Program: MDS Vancouver, Class of 2024

For my bachelor's thesis, I used statistical techniques to estimate the costs of diseases—an essential aspect of the German health insurance system. This thesis provided me with a real-life example of the importance of data science. Generally, in healthcare, the potential for data science is immense, with numerous applications ranging from medical imaging and pharmaceutical development to predictive modeling based on historical patterns of disease spread. All these factors undoubtedly steered me towards a deeper engagement with data science.

About Sandra Gross

Sandra completed her Bachelor’s of Science in Management and Technology from Technical University of Munich. While doing her Bachelor’s, Sandra participated in an exchange to UBC and wanting to gain some knowledge in the world of data science, took UBC’s DSCI 100 (Introduction to Data Science). The concrete concepts learned really piqued Gross’ interest in data science and gave her an idea of what all is possible with data science. This led her to apply to the UBC MDS Vancouver program. Outside of MDS, Sandra enjoys running, which helped her manage her stress levels. Read Sandra’s story.

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