Students and Alumni

UBC MDS attracts bright minds from a wide range of backgrounds. Find out more about our students and alumni read about what they were doing prior to joining the program, their experience during the program, and their journey ahead.

Vancouver

Alumni

Employment Status 6 and 12 Months After Graduation

Employment Positions

Data Science Consultant/Contractor Software Engineer
Software Developer/Data Engineer Research and Innovation Intern
Data Scientist Machine Learning Engineer
Data Management Engineer Consultant
Data Manager Technical Business Analyst
Data Engineer Analyst
Data Analyst Faculty, Operations Management
Research Analyst Application Architect
Faculty/Data Analyst in Residence Artificial Intelligence Industry Analyst Intern
Computational Biologist Business Intelligence Engineer
Senior Data Analyst Data Intelligence Platform Analyst
Business Insights Analyst Quantitative Analyst
Manager Finance and Strategy Fraud Modeler
Machine Learning Developer Senior Data Scientist
Director of Data and Technology Specialist of the Department of Analysis and Strategy
Predictive Analyst Machine Learning Developer
Simulation Manager Director, Compensation Data and Research
Associate Director of Marketing Analytics Manager, Visualization and Support
Investigative Trading Analyst Senior Policy Analyst
Knowledge Engineer BI Analyst
AI Engineer Pricing and Cost Analyst

Job Location

Alumni Incomes

Top Industries Worked In

* Based on MDS Vancouver alumni survey responses 6 months and 1 year after graduation since the class of 2017.

Students

Previous Degree

Where Students Come From

Previous Degree Level

Gender Identification

Years Since Last Degree

Class Size

* Based on all MDS Vancouver cohorts since the class of 2017.

Okanagan

Alumni

Employment Status 6 and 12 Months After Graduation

Employment Positions

Senior Analytics Specialist Data Analyst, Enterprise Business Intelligence Team
Data Science Research Assistant Data Developer
Public Health Epidemiologist Data Analyst
Research Analyst Data visualization analyst
Senior Data Scientist Director Industry AI
Quality Assurance Engineer Machine Learning engineer
Director, Research and Data Science Data Scientist & Engineer
Data Scientist  

Job Location

Alumni Incomes

Top Industries Worked In

* Based on MDS Okanagan alumni survey responses 6 months and 1 year after graduation since the class of 2019.

Students

Previous degree

Geography

Previous Degree Level

Years Since Last Degree

Gender Identification

Class Size

* Based on all MDS Okanagan cohorts since the class of 2019.

Computational Linguistics

Alumni

Employment Status 6 Months After Graduation

Employment Positions

Data Analyst Developer
Agile Developer Data Scientist
Machine Learning Engineer - Speech Recognition Applied Data Scientist III
Software Developer Data Science Intern
Business intelligence developer NLP/Deep Learning Engineer
Language Engineer Machine Learning Engineer
NLU Language Consultant Data Engineer
NLP Machine Learning Engineer AI Developer
Data Extraction Developer Marketing Data Scientist
NLP Data Scientist Software Engineer - NLP/NLU
Computational Linguist Senior Data Analyst
Senior AI Engineer Prompt Engineer

Job Location

Alumni Incomes

Top Industries Worked In

* Based on MDS Computational Linguistics alumni survey responses 6 months after graduation since the class of 2020.

Students

Previous Degree

Geography

Previous degree

Years Since Last Degree

Gender Identification

Class Size

* Based on all MDS Computational Linguistics cohorts since the class of 2020.

Student and Alumni Profiles

All

Class of 2023

Master of Data Science Okanagan Ricky Heinrich

Ricky Heinrich

"I appreciated the fact that the UBC MDS program did not require a statistics or computer science undergrad, but rather accepted interdisciplinary backgrounds. This meant not only I could apply, but my peers were sure to come from varied and interesting backgrounds."

Previous Degree: Bachelor of Science in Physical Science from University of Alberta 
Program: MDS Okanagan, Class of 2023

I realized that my favourite parts of my courses as well as my work experience were the data parts: gathering data, analyzing it, getting insights, visualizing trends and results … I liked my analytical chemistry courses the best, where we needed to replicate experiments with high precision and gather data to analyze. I enjoyed the reports that required use of regression modelling. Getting trained in data science would give me skills to go work anywhere and with anybody.  

About Ricky Heinrich

Ricky obtained their Bachelor of Science in Physical Sciences (and minor in business) from the University of Alberta. Ricky appreciated that the MDS Okanagan program did not require a statistics or computer science background but accepted those from interdisciplinary backgrounds. The program provided Ricky a great base of skills that are widely applicable and they wouldn’t have been able to learn as many relevant skills to data science in the 10 months without it. Outside of MDS, Ricky loves to go climbing, and in the winter enjoys ice-skating and skiing. Read Ricky’s story.

Master of Data Science Computational Linguistics Kai Maurin-Jones Headshot

Kai Maurin-Jones

“The content covered in the program is specifically chosen by staff to be not just what is fundamental and necessary to the field, but also exactly what is most sought-after in-industry at the moment”

Previous Degree: Bachelor of Arts – Language and Intercultural Relations, French & Language and Cognition from Toronto Metropolitan University
Program: MDS Computational Linguistics, Class of 2023

I’ve always been a very analytical person, and though I came from a qualitative background I wanted to fulfill the part of me that was curious about the quantitative side of things. Combining my interest in linguistics with my interest in quantitative methodologies, MDS Computational Linguistics seemed like a perfect fit. 

About Kai Maurin-Jones

Kai completed his Bachelor of Arts in Language and Intercultural Relations, French & Language and Cognition from Toronto Metropolitan University. During his second year, he worked as a Research Assistant working on a project investigating multilingual codeswitching practices in the Philippines, which introduced him to the world of data science. The top benefits of the program for Kai included the diversity of the students coming into the program, the breadth of content covered in such a short time, and the non-academic resources available to the students. In his free time, Kai enjoys keeping active and music, where in another life he was an audio engineer and has recorded music professionally. Read Kai’s story.

Master of Data Science Okanagan Lili Tang

Lili Tang

“The MDS program at UBC offers an accelerated 10-month curriculum that covers all stages of the data science value chain, providing me with a comprehensive skill set in a relatively short period of time. Moreover, the program's structure allows me to quickly return to the workforce after completing my studies.”

Previous Degree: Master of International Business, International Trade and Investment and Financing Management from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics 
Program: MDS Okanagan, Class of 2023

In today's era, the advancements in computer technology have opened new possibilities for data analysis, leading to the growing significance of quantitative analysis in the financial industry. With a strong desire to explore the optimal synergy between human insights and machine capabilities, I was eager to transition my focus to Quantamental (Quant & Fundamental) analysis. This professional ambition places high demands on my analytical expertise, critical thinking, and decision-making skills. Therefore, pursuing a master's degree in data science had become a pressing priority for me.

About Lili Tang

Prior to joining the MDS Okanagan program, Lili was a fundamental analyst in bulk commodities, focusing on price trend predication and providing arbitrage strategies for trading based on futures and derivatives markets. Lili’s time in the MDS Okanagan program gave her the ability to effectively leverage data science skills to solve practical problems. Outside of MDS, Lili enjoys hiking and cooking. Read Lili’s story.

Michelle Yun, Master of Data Science in Computational Linguistics

Michelle Yun

“I was intrigued by the MDS Computational program because it offered me the chance to step out of my comfort zone and gain new skills in coding and working with data.” 

Previous Degree: Bachelor's in Speech Science from the University of British Columbia   
Program: MDS Computational Linguistics, Class of 2023

While I’d initially planned on pursuing a masters in speech-language pathology, I was intrigued by the MDS Computational Linguistics program because it offered me the chance to step out of my comfort zone and gain new skills in coding and working with data. After tackling some small projects related to data science and learning about cutting-edge developments in the field of NLP and Computational Linguistics, I realized this was a career I felt passionate about.

About Michelle Yun

Michelle received her Bachelor of Arts in Speech Sciences at the University of British Columbia. During her undergrad, took some graduate level classes in semantics and syntax where she was immediately interested in the way that language could be analyzed in a logical, mathematical way and wondered if there was a way to apply her background in theoretical linguistics to a technical field. This led Michelle to the MDS Computational Linguistics program. Read Michelle’s story.

Master of Data Science Vancouver Nabi profile

Nabi Zadeh

“MDS is a transformative and comprehensive program that will equip you with a solid foundation in data science and the necessary skills to thrive in the industry. It is intense and requires dedication and commitment to the classes and labs.”

Previous Degree: Master of Business Administration, Marketing from the University of Tehran      
Program: MDS Vancouver, Class of 2023   

As a data-driven marketer, I implemented marketing and analytics strategies and tactics to interact with users and evaluate their engagement with digital products. Simultaneously, I expanded my skills and understanding of business administration by pursuing an MBA in Marketing in 2017. In a nutshell, my career has consistently intersected with data, making the MDS program a logical next step in my professional and academic journey.

About Nabi Zadeh

Nabi holds an MBA in Marketing from the University of Tehran and believes the MDS program exposed him to a broad range of courses, from causal inference and deep learning to data visualization and communication, that has effectively prepared him for the job market and transitioned him into a data science career. Outside of the MDS program, Nabi co-hosts the "Data Science at Home" podcast, where he delves into new Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence techniques. As well, when not in MDS, you will find Nabi recharging his batteries doing several outdoor activities like road cycling, skiing, and hiking. Read Nabi’s story.

Meiyu Zheng, Master of Data Science in Computational Linguistics

Meiyu Zheng

“This program stands out due to its unique blend of data science and NLP courses, serving as a quick refresher and bridges the knowledge gap for students like me who completed their bachelor's degrees years ago and are transitioning from non-STEM fields.”

Previous Degree: Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from Zhejiang University
Program: MDS Computational Linguistics, Class of 2023

I love learning and teaching languages and I’ve also always been passionate about leveraging data to solve business problems at work. This has led me to realize that computational linguistics is the perfect crossroads of these interests.

About Meiyu Zheng

Meiyu has a Bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from Zhejiang University. Prior to entering the MDS Computational Linguistics program, Meiyu was a curriculum designer at Duolingo where she realized the she wanted to pursue a master’s degree in data science with a focus on Natural Language Processing. When not in the MDS Computational Linguistics program, Meiyu enjoys biking and learning new languages. Read Meiyu’s story.

Master of Data Science Lauren Zung Capstone Project

Lauren Zung

“There is something in MDS for everyone, regardless of where you’re starting from. Some of us were engineers or programmers before the program, while others have backgrounds in STEM, arts, business, all walks of life. At the end of the day, we all brought something different to the table and are now trained technical professionals.”

Previous Degree: Bachelor of Science in Behavioural Neuroscience from the University of British Columbia      
Program: MDS Vancouver, Class of 2023   
 

During my undergrad, I signed up for a programming course on a whim and ended up really enjoying it. I decided to take more electives over the years in data structures and algorithms, statistical modeling, database design, and applied machine learning and found a particular interest in data science.

About Lauren Zung

While completing her Bachelor’s of Science Behavioural Neuroscience from the University of British Columbia, Lauren worked as a junior data scientist for the UBC Digital Emergency Medicine lab where she was developing machine learning models to aid in the detection of lung pathologies. It was this experience that made Lauren realize she wanted to learn more in this area and found MDS’ comprehensive curriculum gave her the breadth and depth of knowledge she desired. Outside of MDS, Lauren is a big foodie and loves trying new restaurants around Vancouver. Lauren is also a film buff and gaming enthusiast. Read Lauren’s story.

Class of 2022

Christopher Alexander Master of Data Science Vancouver

Christopher Alexander

"The program is intensive. But by the end of the 10-months, you will be confident to face any challenge thrown at you in the real world."

Previous Degree: Bachelor of Engineering, Computer Science from CMR Institute of Technology
Prior Experience: Data Scientist – Marlabs Inc.  
Program: MDS Vancouver, Class of 2022

I was working as a data scientist in India for a software firm based in New Jersey for about 2 years. The ability It holds to provide actionable insight to the businesses. It also helps me explore various industries and see how data can be of vital importance in many sectors such as health and sports.

About Christopher Alexander

Christopher completed his Bachelor’s of Engineering in Computer Science degree from CMR Institute of Technology. Christopher thanks the MDS program for helping him understand the differences between prediction, inference and causal which the industry misinterprets at most times. He also credits the MDS program for providing him the right tools to develop solutions to the data science problems. It has helped him become a more organized data scientist. Outside MDS, Christopher plays table tennis and badminton professionally and his also a food blogger and loves to explore different eateries. Read Christopher’s story.

Jacqueline Chong Master of Data Science Vancouver

Jacqueline Chong

"I believe this program has equipped me with the technical know-hows to embark on a project whenever I am called upon to do so, and be an effective conduit between data scientists / engineers and the project lead."

Previous Degree: Bachelor of Science in International Relations from the London School of Economics
Program: MDS Vancouver, Class of 2022

Several summer internship stints in the public service in Singapore made me realize that I have a knowledge gap in terms of effectively dealing with large swaths of data. As such, I felt that it was necessary to arm myself with the technical knowledge to solve organizational pain points and drive innovation when I return back home.

About Jacqueline Chong

Before the MDS Vancouver program, Jacqueline received her undergraduate degree in International Relations from London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). While studying about global politics through the lens of major theories, Jacqueline wondered why these major theories were not backed up quantitatively. Thus, the academic pursuit of data science was born for her. When not studying MDS, Jacqueline is an avid triathlete, where she spends her free time either in the pool, on the track/park, or exploring BC by bike. You will also find Jacqueline binging the latest Korean drama. Read Jacqueline’s story,
 

Nihal D'Souza MDS Computational Linguistics

Nihal D’Souza

"The UBC MDS Computational Linguistics program was lucrative as it covered a breadth of topics from computer science, statistics, and linguistics within a relatively short time frame of 10 months, allowing me to go back into the industry as soon as possible."

Previous Degree: Bachelors of Computer Science and Engineering from The National Institute of Engineering
Program: MDS Computational Linguistics, Class of 2022

I was fascinated by the advancements in human-machine interaction through natural language and how this field was developing. Some of these advancements are the applications of machine translation, sentiment analysis, and computational morphology. To be able to understand these topics and be equipped to apply them in the real world, it made sense to pursue my higher education in this field. 

About Nihal D’Souza

Prior to joining the MDS Computational Linguistics program, Nihal completed his bachelor’s degree in computer science and engineering from The National Institute of Engineering. Nihal worked for almost three years as a Software Engineer at Cisco. Nihal applied to the MDS Computational Linguistics program because of UBC’s great reputation, its vast resources, and its incredible faculty. In his down time, Nihal enjoys running, swimming and the occasional hike as well as grabbing drinks with friends on the weekends. Read Nihal’s story.
 

Class of 2020

Rob Blumberg

Rob Blumberg

“There are so many smart and friendly people from different educational and cultural backgrounds in MDS, which makes learning and collaborating so much easier.”

Previous Degree: Bachelor of Science in Physics, McGill University
Previous Experience: Data Science Intern, BMO Financial Group
Program: MDS Vancouver, Class of 2020

It was around my third year of undergrad that I started hearing and learning more about data science. My first real encounter with data science came through my passion for soccer, as I discovered articles and blog posts explaining how data science is used to inform decisions across various departments in professional clubs. I was particularly interested in learning about these models and algorithms that were capable of uncovering meaningful insights about soccer games from data which did not seem to contain obvious patterns

About Rob Blumberg

Prior to MDS, Rob obtained a Bachelor of Science in Physics from McGill University. Right before starting the MDS program, Rob interned as a data scientist at BMO, where he worked on the People Analytics team. His team analyzed employee data, and his job was to analyze employee exit surveys to find out what was driving voluntary turnover. Read Rob's story.

Alistair Clark

Alistair Clark

“I chose the MDS program as a way to quickly build the skills and credibility I needed to transition into data science. I could have tried to build these skills while working at my previous company, but that would have taken longer and would have made it difficult to break into the job market.”

Previous Degree: Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, Queen's University in Kingston, ON
Prior Experience: Lead Product Developer and Head of Product, I Will Teach/GrowthLab and Management Consultant at Accenture Strategy
Program: MDS Vancouver, Class of 2020

At the startup I worked for prior to MDS, I was facing big questions around our product and market strategy. We had plenty of data from our 40,000 customers and 500,000 email list subscribers, but we were only performing superficial analysis. I knew there were insights we were missing, but no one had the skills or experience to use and interpret the data effectively. I discovered the field of data science while looking for new tools and techniques to analyze our data.

About Alistair Clark

Prior to the MDS program, Alistair was the Lead Product Developer and Head of Product for I Will Teach/Growth Labs, an online e-learning startup. He also worked for 4 years as a management consultant with Accenture Strategy focused on financial modelling and business cases. Alistair came to the world of data science while looking for a better way to analyze customer data and make decisions about product and market strategy. Alistair holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Queen's University at Kingston.

Cari Gostic

Cari Gostic

“I’m finishing the program with confidence that I can pick up on new platforms, languages, methodologies, and frameworks on the fly.”  

Previous Degree: Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell University
Previous Experience: Analyst, Consulting Team, Risk Management Solutions (RMS)
Program: MDS Vancouver, Class of 2020

I decided to pursue data science because it combines everything I like about research -- uncovering insights, the thrill of discovery, working with new and interesting data -- but is extensible across all fields. I love the idea that I can apply this skill-set effectively in completely different topics from day to day. It makes the future very exciting, because rather than looking for a specific type of job, I can instead look for a specific type of company whose mission and values I really believe in.

About Cari Gostic

New York-native Cari came to the MDS program after previously working as an analyst on the consulting team with Risk Management Solutions, a catastrophe modeling company. While working with RMS, Cari worked to streamline the integration of RMS software into clients’ workflows and complete custom projects like in-depth analyses of exposure or custom app development. Cari holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Atmospheric Science from Cornell University. Read Cari's story.

Reiko Okamoto

Reiko Okamoto

“The MDS program concisely covers a broad range of topics in data science [and] I appreciated how the capstone project guaranteed industry experience.”

Previous Degree: Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia
Program: MDS Vancouver, Class of 2020

[During my Master’s of Science in Public Health], in one class, students were instructed to conduct a literature review on a topic related to public health. I don’t exactly remember why I decided to do this, but I chose to write about the challenges and opportunities in the implementation of data science techniques in healthcare. A few days after I submitted the assignment, I attended a Meetup event on the application of machine learning to biomedical imaging and diagnostics. As I sat in the audience listening to the keynote speaker, I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in data science.

About Reiko Okamoto

After completing her Bachelor of Science degree in microbiology and immunology from the University of UBC, Reiko wanted to study diseases beyond the molecular level so she moved to Sweden to pursue a master’s degree in public health to learn more about the application of epidemiological methods to improve population health. However, it was during her time in Sweden that her interest in data science was sparked. Read Reiko's story.

Class of 2019

Carrie Cheung

Carrie Cheung

“The MDS program gave me the confidence to explain and reason through data-related decisions.”

Previous Degree:  Bachelor of Arts, Double Major in Computer Science and Psychology, University of British Columbia
Program:  MDS Vancouver, Class of 2019

When I looked at the [MDS] curriculum, it was a really good range of relevant topics that I could tell was carefully designed and curated to fit within a ten-month window and also included a capstone project. That timeline really appealed to me as someone who was coming in as a working professional wanting to take that plunge but not wanting to do it for two or four year.

About Carrie Cheung

Prior to the MDS program, Carrie worked for Boeing Vancouver in various roles including one as a data scientist. While at Boeing, Carrie analyzed flight sensor data, which opened her eyes to a world where programming and math can be applied to data to solve business problems. Carrie holds a Bachelor of Arts, Double Major in Computer Science and Psychology from the University of British Columbia. Since graduating, Carrie is now a data scientist for NuData Security – A MasterCard company.
Read Carrie's story.

Ayla Pearson

Ayla Pearson

“The MDS program was exactly what I wanted to be able to do with data, which is to turn data into meaningful actions and be able to create decisions from them.”

Previous Degree: Bachelor of Science, Chemistry – University of Victoria
Prior Experience: Resource Clerk, Province of British Columbia
Program: MDS Vancouver, Class of 2019

I've been looking for data science master's programs for months. Nothing really clicked and as soon as I read the MDS program description, it was exactly what I wanted to do and that is being able to use already collected data to answer decisions to create solutions and to try and get new information out of it which was everything that I was trying to do in my work already but didn't really have the skills to do it or the confidence.

About Ayla Pearson

Hailing from Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Ayla initially wanted to pursue a master’s in biology but couldn’t find the right program. Ayla realized that she preferred to do the data analysis side of biology versus going out in the field and collecting the data but she didn’t think that she could. A conversation with her mother made Ayla realize that she could separate those careers. Ayla enjoyed the fast-paced environment of the MDS program and the small classes allowed her to engage with other students and faculty on a one-to-one basis. Ayla will be returning to her role as a resource clerk with the Ministry of Forests Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development but hopes to transition into a data science role within the organization in the near-future. Ayla holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry from the University of Victoria. Read Ayla's story.

Birinder Singh

Birinder Singh

“[MDS’] extensive and comprehensive curriculum was not being covered at any of the other programs within this short span of ten months.”

Previous Degree: Integrated MTech, Geophysical Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee
Program: MDS Vancouver, Class of 2019

I was already curious and reading articles about the developments in machine learning and doing Kaggle competitions and some online courses. If I was only doing online courses, I would have missed a lot. MDS taught me what skills were important and how to connect the dots while providing guidance that is missing from online courses.

About Birinder Singh

Originally from Amritsar, India, Birinder worked for Schlumberger for almost 5 years as a Petro Technical Engineer. It was falling oil prices that prompted Birinder to find a way to better utilize available data to create value for its clients. Birinder holds an Integrated MTech, Geophysical Technology from the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. Since completing the program, Birinder is now a data scientist for Integra Data and Analytics Solutions, a Calgary-based company that provides data science solutions to the oil and gas industry.
Read Birinder's story.

Heather Van Tassel

Heather Van Tassel

“The years of knowledge and expertise that the MDS teachers have is priceless. Even if I did sit down and try to learn data science, I wouldn't know where to start or what to focus on.”

Previous Degree: Bachelor of Science, Integrated Science: Biochemistry and Neuroscience, University of British Columbia
Program: MDS Vancouver, Class of 2019

Even though at first I was skeptical about whether the MDS program would be worth the investment, and also extremely nervous about the intensity of the program, given my limited coding skills, I could not be happier with the knowledge, experience and job opportunities I have gained through the program, and would recommend it to anyone looking to challenge themselves and help shape their career towards utilizing these exciting, powerful and innovative data science tools. I have learned so much in such a short amount of time and am inspired to continue adding diversity to the field as a woman in data science.

About Heather Van Tassel

As Heather was completing her biochemistry and neuroscience degree at the University of British Columbia, she took a biostatistics course which became her doorway into data science. A MDS alumna and UBC professor encouraged her to apply to the MDS program. What appealed to Heather the most about the MDS program was how inclusive it was in accepting students from all backgrounds who don’t necessarily have a strong background in computer science. Heather feels that the MDS program gave her the hands-on skills and knowledge to actually be able to help businesses find value and insights from their data for real-world impacts.
Read Heather's story.

Class of 2018

Jordan Dubchak

Jordan Dubchak

“Having the support of a very dedicated team of instructors along with the environment of your fellow students who have all such different backgrounds is my favorite thing of the program because you're learning so much not only from your instructors and your TA’S but also the people around you because they have different specialized skills.”

Previous Degree: Bachelor of Science - Biology, University of British Columbia
Program: MDS Vancouver, Class of 2018

I took my first computer science course in the last term of my undergraduate degree, which lead to a change in career path. The switch to data science began through self-learning, and my curiosity lead me to the MDS program. I was initially drawn to the program by the accelerated format and believed the structure of the fundamental data science materials would best set me up for success in my new field.  

About Jordan Dubchak

Between Jordan’s undergraduate and MDS degrees, Jordan worked as a preschool teacher. Since MDS graduation, Jordan has been working as a consultant for Slalom Consulting - Silicon Valley,  helping Fortune 100 companies solve their data problems. 

Ted Haley

Ted Haley

"Coming from a Civil Engineering background, I was initially unsure if the MDS program would benefit me. My uncertainty was quickly put at ease seeing more and more industries leveraging the benefits of Data Science. There is tremendous opportunity to use the skills learned in the MDS program and apply them to solve hard problems in traditionally low-tech industries."

Previous Degree: Bachelors of Applied Science in Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia
Prior Experience: RJC Engineers
Program:  MDS Vancouver, Class of 2018

I came to the UBC MDS program because I knew that I wanted to learn as much about Data Science as I could and I wanted to broaden my skill set. The UBC MDS program accomplished this by supplying students with world-class educators and by providing engaging labs to apply this theoretical knowledge, in a hands-on environment. I learned a lot this way in the short 10-month program, but I also can attribute this to having helpful and knowledgeable peers, and thought-provoking work. This program attracts brilliant people from all over the globe, and I'm very pleased to have them as friends and potential future colleagues. 

About Ted Haley

Ted is a civil engineer with 6 years of experience in construction management and consulting industries. He has experience managing construction projects from minor renovations to multi-billion dollar design-build projects. He hopes to apply his skills from the MDS program in conjunction with his experience from the consulting industry to solve tough problems facing society and industry. Since graduating, Ted is now an applied software and materials engineer with the University of British Columbia where he has developed a data management platform for an automated robotics platform using Python.

Class of 2020

Toshiko Shibano MDS Computational Linguistics

Toshiko Shibano

“If you are like me and enjoy devising solutions to real world problems, have a desire to transfer knowledge and skills from a previous job to the digitized world, or are passionate about language, this program is worth the money and time.”

Previous Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of British Columbia
Prior Experience: Executive Vice President, Senior Translator and Programmer, Simulingual Inc.
Program: MDS Computational Linguistics, Class of 2020

“If you are like me and enjoy devising solutions to real world problems, have a desire to transfer knowledge and skills from a previous job to the digitized world, or are passionate about language, this program is worth the money and time.”

As a professional translator, I have always been interested in machine translation. In particular, I wanted to know how linguistic data were processed in deep learning models. I wanted to be able to test out my hypotheses about how to improve the current machine translation models.

About Toshiko Shibano

Prior to the MDS Computational Linguistics program, Toshiko ran a translation business in Japan, which specialized in financial accounting and her clientele included major international audit firms, listed companies, and multinational corporations. Toshiko picked up programming to automate routine processes so that she could spend more time on translation. After handing over her business, Toshiko moved to Canada and pursued a Bachelor of Art degree in Psychology from the University of British Columbia. Read Toshiko's story.

Aaron Tian MDS Computational Linguistics

Aaron Tian

“The biggest benefit you get coming into this program is you get to work with a lot of people with different backgrounds, in terms of the fields they come from, and who tend to approach the same question from different angles.”

Previous Degree: Master of Science in Computational Finance, DePaul University
Program: MDS Computational Linguistics, Class of 2020

With MDS CL, the data science courses are very essential to becoming a computational linguist. The program gives us a solid foundation for us to use our linguistics skills and put them into practice.

About Aaron Tian

Originally from China, Aaron has a Master of Science in Computational Finance from DePaul University. Coming from the finance industry, Aaron noticed that a lot of people were using Natural Language Processing tools to measure sentiment of the market to make better investment strategies. Seeing this, Aaron saw that the MDS Computational Linguistics program would give him the skills in sentiment analysis that he can apply to the finance industry.