The UBC Master of Data Science programs partner computer science and statistics experts, providing the foundation for a comprehensive approach, as these two disciplines are at the very core of the emerging field of Data Science. Through active and flexible learning techniques, students will be given the opportunity to put theory into practice and to work with real-world data.
Students learn from faculty working at the forefront of their fields. Internationally respected, these leading researchers collaborate with industries, governments and organizations to develop innovative solutions and make a tangible difference to our world. These thought leaders are passionate about their work, committed to student education and eager to share their knowledge.
Meet Some of Our Faculty and Staff
All
Isabel Papadimitriou
Assistant Professor, MDS Computational Linguistics (Incoming September 2025)
"Computational linguistics is at a uniquely exciting and interesting point in its history, where language technologies are becoming massively successful, having profound impacts on society, and all the while opening new scientific pathways for studying learning, language, and cognition. At the MDS-CL, it's exciting to teach students about all sides of the fast-moving field surrounding language models and computational linguistics: the foundational knowledge, the practical skills, and the big questions for science and society."
Isabel graduated with a PhD in Computer Science from Stanford University, and was then a Kempner Fellow at the Kempner Institute for the Study of Natural and Artificial Intelligence at Harvard University. Before all that, she got degrees in Computer Science and History from UC Berkeley. In her research, she studies how language models work, and how we can use them to expand and enrich our understanding of the amazing questions behind how humans learn and represent language.
"Working with data allows MDS students to play with knowledge. The MDS program is an amazing opportunity for them to expand their skillset and knowledge and make an impact in today’s world. I’m glad to be part of this program."
My research work focuses on empirical software studies that mine the development historical data of software systems. I use a combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques to understand the problem and determine approaches that can help to solve it. Specifically, I research the technical and non-technical aspects in software engineering with the aim of improving software development processes and practices, and increasing diversity in online communities.
Alexi Rodriguez-Arelis
Assistant Professor of Teaching, MDS Vancouver
"One of the MDS program's most outstanding strengths is its background diversity within the teaching team and student cohorts. Furthermore, the program has the perfect balance of Machine Learning and Statistics courses which are complimentary. We strive to provide students with the right theoretical and practical foundations to approach real-life and crucial data-related inquiries."
Alexi Rodríguez-Arelis completed his PhD in Statistics at the University of British Columbia in 2020. Born and raised in Mexico, he pursued an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering and a master's degree in Applied Statistics at Tecnológico de Monterrey. His machine learning research focuses on computer experiments that emulate scientific and engineering systems via Gaussian stochastic processes. Moreover, he has professional experience in the financial sector along with statistical consulting. Throughout his PhD program, Alexi developed an enthusiasm for teaching Statistics in a Data Science context. He is particularly passionate about projects involving the use of Data Science for social good. Alexi commenced his current role at MDS in January 2021. Learn more about Alexi.
Andy Tai
Postdoctoral Research and Teaching Fellow, MDS Vancouver
"At MDS, we strive to bridge the gap between theoretical data science and practical application, equipping our students with the tools they need to tackle real-world challenges."
Andy Tai joined UBC's Master of Data Science Program as a Postdoctoral Teaching and Learning Fellow in July 2024. He completed his PhD in Neuroscience at the University of British Columbia, focusing on using machine learning to predict the risk of fatal overdose in addiction psychiatry. Andy has published multiple international manuscripts and collaborated with global experts.
“The need for Data Scientists has grown rapidly over a relatively short amount of time. I am proud to be contributing to a program that is keeping pace with this demand.”
Irene Vrbik completed her PhD in Statistics at the University of Guelph and is a newly appointed instructor at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. As a former NSERC Postdoctoral Fellow (UBC Okanagan) and postdoctoral researcher (McGill University), her research has covered a range of topics including: modelling the spread of fire, developing semi-supervised learning algorithms, presenting theoretical results for robust distributions, and analyzing HIV transmission dynamics with phylogenetic data.
Hedayat Zarkoob
Postdoctoral Research and Teaching Fellow, MDS Vancouver
"The MDS program is a collaboration between the computer science and statistics departments at UBC with a comprehensive curriculum that covers many crucial topics required to train a future data scientist in the industry, without ignoring the fundamentals, such as core computer science and statistics topics and ethical considerations."
Hedayat (Heddy) joined the MDS program in August 2024 as a postdoctoral teaching and research fellow. He did his PhD in computer science at UBC. During his PhD, he studied the intersection of AI and Education, focusing on using AI and technology to promote Active Learning practices in academic settings. Outside his academic life, Heddy is a nature enthusiast, a hiker, and a ski instructor.
Assistant Professor, MDS Computational Linguistics
"I am thrilled to be teaching the MDS-CL program at a time when Natural Language Processing (NLP) is advancing at a rapid pace. With breakthroughs in deep learning, we are witnessing a revolution in the way machines understand and process human language. As an instructor, I am excited to share my knowledge and expertise with the students, and to guide them as they explore the latest NLP techniques and technologies. It is an exciting time to be at the forefront of this field, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for NLP and its applications."
Jian Zhu received his Ph.D. degree in Linguistics and Scientific Computing from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 2022. After his Ph.D., Jian had conducted NLP research both in the industry and in the academia. Before joining UBC, Jian was a post-doctoral research fellow in the School of Information at University of Michigan, working on the large-scale computational sociolinguistics. His current research interests lie in teaching machines to recognize spoken languages across the world and unstanding people's linguistic behavior in the online communities through large-scale computational methods.
Director, Program Operations and Student Management, MDS Vancouver
"Nearly all the employers I talk to are starting to recognize [or appreciate] the real need for trained and knowledgeable staff who can help them not only make sense of, but also develop the thread of a story, from the vast amount of data that is out there."
Milad Maymay received his Bachelor of Science at the University of British Columbia. He has over 17 years of experience managing projects and programs in both the non-profit and public sectors. At UBC he has managed the Work Study/Work Learn program, the NSERC Undergraduate Research Awards, and the launch of the CareersOnline management system. A trained career educator, he has experience in helping students explore career options, write resumes and cover letters, practise interview skills, and negotiate salaries. Over the years he has built excellent relationships with the local employer community, which helps MDS students achieve their ultimate goal of a fulfilling career as a data scientist.
Jean Caballero
Program Manager, MDS Vancouver
"I am passionate about the field of data science and look forward to connecting with employers, program alumni, and enthusiastic students who share my dedication to this exciting discipline."
Jean Caballero is an accomplished professional with over 7 years of experience in an administrative support role at UBC. Holding a Bachelor of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University, she has a strong academic foundation. Previously, Jean served as an executive assistant to the Computer Science Department Head, refining her organizational and administrative skills. In her current role as MDS Program Assistant, her focus is on supporting program operations, assisting students, and ensuring a seamless learning experience for all involved.
Kenna McEwan
Program Manager, MDS Computational Linguistics
“I’m inspired by the work ethic and drive of the MDS students and am excited to support students in creating a healthy learning environment as they delve into the study of data science”
Kenna McEwan is born and raised in British Columbia and received her Bachelors in Linguistics at the University of British Columbia. Prior to taking on the Masters of Data Science - Computational Linguistics Program Manager role, she has worked at UBC in both undergraduate and research-based graduate programs, where she gained skills in navigating post-secondary administration. Kenna is committed to supporting students in having a positive experience during their time in the program, from application to graduation.
Vancouver
Joel Östblom (On Leave)
Assistant Professor of Teaching, MDS Vancouver
"In addition to the core statistics and machine learning courses, MDS emphasizes the importance of data ethics, reproducibility, and open collaboration, which are crucial skills for a successful, sustainable data science career. Together with the diversity of educational backgrounds among students and instructors, this makes MDS an exciting place to both learn and teach!"
During his PhD, Joel developed a passion for data science and reproducibility through the development of quantitative image analysis pipelines for studying stem cell and developmental biology. He has since co-created or lead the development of several courses and workshops at the University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia. Joel cares deeply about spreading data literacy and excitement over programmatic data analysis, which is reflected in his contributions to open source projects and data science learning resources. Learn more about Joel.
Tiffany Timbers (On Leave)
Associate Professor of Teaching, MDS Vancouver
"We teach cutting-edge tools and techniques that are used by data scientists out in the wild."
Tiffany Timbers received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Carleton University in 2001, following which she completed a doctorate in neuroscience at the University of British Columbia in 2012, which focused on the genetic basis of learning and memory. After obtaining her doctorate, Tiffany carried out data-intensive postdoctoral research in behavioural and neural genomics at Simon Fraser University (published in PLoS Genetics). During this time, she also gained valuable experience teaching computational skills to students and scientists through her work with Data and Software Carpentry, the SFU scientific programming study group, and teaching a course in computation in Physical Sciences at Quest University. Tiffany began her teaching role in the MDS program at UBC in the summer of 2016.
