Anna’s Experience

Anna Verbytska

S2DS Alumni Autumn 2024

Participating in the Science to Data Science (S2DS) Bootcamp Autumn 2024 was a long-awaited opportunity for me – a chance to peek beyond the ivory towers of academia and immerse myself in a company project. Unlike academic research, where timelines often stretch and results are more abstract, this project had a defined timeline, a clear end goal, and the exciting prospect of an immediate user deployment – a rarity in academic settings.

Explore Your Worth

Yet, stepping into this new realm wasn’t without its challenges. I was gripped by a powerful sense of impostor syndrome. Imagine a philologist – someone who meticulously analyses word choices and their nuanced meanings – now navigating the world of data science! But as the days passed and I delved deeper into our business case, the initially subtle connections between my linguistic background and data science grew stronger and more apparent. What once felt like an uneasy alliance became an integrated blend.

Drawing from my previous experience of analysing news articles with Natural Language Processing techniques, I found myself perfectly aligned with the commercial project presented by Deutsche Welle, a German broadcasting company. Their challenge? To dive into the complexities of sentiment bias within media coverage – an issue that resonated deeply with my academic pursuits. This project not only allowed me to apply my skills in a commercial setting but also introduced me to the new possibilities of applying supervised machine learning.

Time for Insights

Reflecting on my S2DS experience, several key insights stand out.

Insight 1: Our Backgrounds Do Matter

Diverse perspectives are invaluable when approaching a familiar problem. Each team member brought a unique lens to the table, allowing us to explore sentiment bias from angles I hadn’t previously considered. This blend of experiences enriched our approach and ultimately led to more robust solutions.

Insight 2: Immersion Drives Balance

Working for a company demands full engagement, every single day. This level of involvement was both stimulating and balancing. Unlike academia, where inspiration often ebbs and flows, and deadlines serve as the primary motivator, the consistent pace of this project fostered a steady rhythm. Surprisingly, it brought more work-life balance, as the structured environment minimized procrastination and maximized productivity.

Insight 3: Collaboration is a Superpower

When minds unite, mountains move – and quickly. Collaborating with a team of six meant ideas were not just generated rapidly but were also tested and refined with incredible efficiency. We had the freedom to experiment with different proof-of-concept models, selecting the most effective ones through collective effort. This collaborative spirit was complemented by wise management from our partners at Deutsche Welle, who balanced our creative freedom with strategic guidance. The S2DS mentors were pillars for technical support and psychological encouragement. Scrum meetings became safe spaces to voice doubts, share breakthroughs, and navigate challenges together. Our tech mentor, fondly dubbed our ‘tech mama’, was always there to steer us through complex coding hurdles while offering words of encouragement whenever we faced obstacles.

Ultimately, S2DS taught me the delicate art of balancing exploratory research with the practical needs and timelines of a business partner. It was a transformative journey that empowered my confidence in the necessity of bridging the worlds of linguistics and data science to bring data-driven solutions for companies.

What Now?

S2DS doesn’t just offer a chance for a career shift, it thoroughly prepares you for it! It provides a vibrant community of like-minded individuals, all at various stages of transitioning from academia to industry – a journey that often feels daunting and complex. However, this new network serves as an invaluable starting point, opening doors towards your career in data science.