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MDS Spotlight: Meet John Shiu, MDS Vancouver, Class of 2024

For over 10 years, John Shiu taught himself the necessary skills in data science and software development. However, to overcome professional growth limitations and solidify his expertise for long-term success, John decided to strengthen his foundation through another master's program.

For Shiu, the UBC Master of Data Science (MDS) Vancouver program aligned perfectly with his needs for three main reasons.

The first was the curriculum.

Master of Data Science Vancouver John Shiu

One of Shiu’s favourite courses were DSCI 522 (Data Science Workflows) and DSCI 524 (Collaborative Software Development)

“They were super useful and exactly why I applied for this program. I am now introducing those practices to my team, to improve the research reproducibility and technology risk,” he added.

The second reason was the program's collaboration with varied external capstone partners.

And the third reason was that the program was only 10 months.

Other benefits that John enjoyed about the program was the diversity of its cohort.

“I feel fortunate and am truly grateful to have learned from my peers, each bringing unique expertise, ranging from software development to management. Their diverse skills in presentation, communication, and collaboration significantly contributed to my growth and understanding,” he noted.

As well, Shiu found the MDS alumni network to be very beneficial. “Access to a broad network of alumni has provided valuable connections and insights into various industries and roles that utilize data science.”

In fact, as soon as Shiu accepted his offer to the MDS program, he proactively connected with MDS alumni to understand the program's pace and workload.

As well, Shiu researched and began studying materials for the more challenging courses like DSCI 512 (Algorithms and Data Structures) and DSCI 553 (Bayesian Statistics) to ensure he was well-prepared for the demands of the program.

“I firmly believe that early preparation simplifies future challenges. This philosophy not only guides my strategy toward the MDS program, but is also my approach to life in general,” he explained.

Shiu added that learning all these courses in-person was invaluable as it allowed him to engage directly with others. “People are less likely to initiate conversations in an online setting. By studying data science face-to-face, we not only gain knowledge from textbooks but also learn from the experiences of our peers.”

Throughout the program, Shiu attended numerous career workshops the MDS program provided. He said attending these workshops gave him valuable insights into aspects of the Canadian workplace culture that he might have been unaware of.

Post program, Shiu will return to his role as a portfolio manager at a specialized cryptocurrency hedge fund. There are several things that John has learned throughout the MDS program that he will be bringing to his organization.

“I am implementing the best practices in data science workflow and collaborative software development that I learned from the program with my team,” he added. “Some of the machine learning models I studied will be applied to address challenges in quantitative analysis on cryptocurrency.”

In addition, John is considering pursing academic opportunities alongside his current role.

“My motivation for pursuing academic opportunities is to keep refreshing my knowledge and continually learn about state-of-the-art developments. This allows me to bring innovative ideas back to my company and foster a productive exchange of feedback between academia and industry,” he explained.

John’s Top 3 Tips on Succeeding in the MDS Program:

  1. Be open-minded, learn and grow with adaptability, resilience, and authenticity: Talk to people, learn from them, and strive to build long-term relationships. Success often comes from these connections, and you might find that others are more experienced and insightful than you initially thought. Instead of being stubborn like a rock, remember Bruce Lee's famous advice: 'Be water, my friend'.
  2. Strategic time management and self-study capabilities: Despite the intense demands of the MDS program, I successfully managed to secure two days off each week through careful planning and execution. Right from the start, I scheduled my entire routine for the duration of the program: I previewed lectures on Sundays, began labs on Mondays, and aimed to complete them by Thursday. This strategy allowed me to fully disengage and enjoy my leisure activities on Fridays and Saturdays. Instead of waiting to start your labs post-lecture, begin them beforehand! This approach requires a strong self-study habit, which not only help you excel within the program but is also a crucial skill highly valued by employers today.
  3. Try to connect what you learn with real-world problems: Never underestimate the practical applications of course materials. Consider how you could have used them in previous projects or imagine new side projects where you can implement what you've learned. This strategy not only deepens your comprehension beyond the textbooks and simplifies quiz preparation in the program, but also equips you to articulate your learning effectively during interviews or in discussions with potential employers.
     

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