Nijiati Abulizi
MDS Okanagan, Class of 2024
Attending UBC Okanagan’s Master of Data Science (MDS) Program was an easy decision for Nijiati Abulizi, who had completed both his Bachelor’s and first Master’s degrees at UBC Okanagan.
“I’d developed a strong connection to the UBC Okanagan Campus and its community and had grown accustomed to the high quality of education and supportive learning environment that we have here ” says Abulizi.
From programming in Python and R, to exploring machine learning algorithms and big data analytics, Abulizi says he found the course content both challenging and fulfilling.
“Each course was designed to teach us how to tackle real-world problems individually, and as part of a team,” says Abulizi, adding that professors were by his side to provide frequent feedback along the way.
“Looking back, I do think the smaller cohort really allowed for a more personalized learning experience, and for greater access to faculty,” he says, noting professors were approachable, responsive and encouraged students to ask questions and seek clarity.
As part of the program, Abulizi completed a capstone project with Greenspace Health—a mental health service provider based in Toronto, Ontario.
Tasked with improving the company’s platform, which enables clinicians to track and predict patient progress using mental health score data, the team got to work.
Given a dataset of approximately 130,000 patient records, they began by extracting and processing data from multiple SQL tables using Python. Then, the team worked to develop machine-learning models that would benchmark historical patient health questionnaire scores, predict future ones, and provide valuable insights for treatment planning.
Applying a range of models, including linear models and Temporal Convolutional Networks, the team was able to realize its goal of improving the platform—and patient care.
“It was inspiring to see how applying advanced data science techniques to a real world challenge could improve the lives of so many. I found it to be really meaningful work.”
Abulizi aspires to work in the healthcare sector as a data scientist or bioinformatician.
Nijiati’s Top 3 Tips on Suceeding in the MDS Okanagan Program:
- Learn by Doing (and Teaching): The best way to get concepts to stick is to code them out — and if you can explain it to someone else, you really get it.
- Make the Capstone Count: Use your Capstone to dive into something that matters to you. It’s more than a project — it can open doors.
- Lean on Your People — It’s Intensive: The program moves fast and can be intense, but you’re not alone. Study with your classmates, ask questions, and support each other — it makes a huge difference.