Hi, my name is Simren!

I recently transitioned from a career as a software development consultant in fintech to pursue my passion for data science. With a background in computer science and an interest in knowing more about the world of data, I decided to do a three-month intensive bootcamp to jumpstart my journey into data science.

My Background

My bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and AI has given me a strong foundation in programming, algorithms and data structures. For the past four years I worked as a software developer responsible for platform (Avaloq) implementation in addition to data reconciliation, migration and reporting. While I enjoyed my work, I wanted a new challenge. I remember when I was at university the topics I most enjoyed were those which involved machine learning and data analysis. Having now gained greater confidence in my coding abilities from my work experience, I decided to pursue a three-month bootcamp in data science.

Choosing the Bootcamp

I wanted a bootcamp with in-person teaching since I tend learn better in a classroom setting compared to online. After researching various bootcamps in London, I chose BrainStation. Its data science curriculum appeared to be the most comprehensive and seemed to align with what I wanted to learn in addition to offering a hands-on approach that I was looking for.

Bootcamp Experience

The bootcamp covered a wide range of topics including Python/SQL programming, data wrangling, big data, machine learning and data visualisation. A key part of the bootcamp was completing a self-directed project to tie together concepts learnt. For my project, I chose to do a computer vision project and developed a machine learning model for interpreting sign language. I will be uploading a separate blog post to cover this project in further detail!

Throughout the bootcamp, I gained proficiency in SQL and Python, including libraries such as Pandas and Scikit-learn for data manipulation and machine learning. I also learned about big data technologies like Hadoop and AWS and explored advanced machine learning concepts such as neural networks, embeddings and ensemble learning.

Aside from technical skills, I further developed my problem-solving and communication abilities, especially regarding translating data insights into meaningful business findings.

Future Plans

Since completing the bootcamp, I’ve been working on some personal projects to build out my portfolio. For an overview of my projects, please visit my GitHub Profile.

Currently, I’m focused on refining the skills I have learnt and ensuring I have a solid foundation in data science. In the coming month, I will be looking for junior data scientist opportunities where I can apply all the skills I have developed and contribute to a team.

I am excited to see where my journey into data science leads. Although I’ve found parts to be challenging, I’m pleased to have found a career path that excites me as much as data science does. Every project I complete is enjoyable and look forward to having the opportunity to do this every day!