Hometown: Larkspur, CA
Major: Applied Math, concentration in Data Science
Data Science in Six words: discovery, community, adventure, exploration, exciting, eye-opening
As an Applied Math major, Keiko finds appeal in the tangible applicability of her data science concentration. After dabbling in introductory computer science and economics classes, she pivoted to data science and spent her four years at Berkeley exploring the vast research and student engagement opportunities. Keiko joined the Division as a developer, and eventually a team lead – collaborating on new modules in topics from neuroscience to civil engineering. In her various roles, Keiko has been able to communicate directly with professors and collaborate with other data-oriented students.
I’ll remember most fondly the community that the Division has built.
“I’ll remember most fondly the community that the Division has built,” she said of her experience working with Data Scholars and Data Discovery. Community was something Keiko found more in her data science cohort than in any other classroom. Since her peers in the Division often came from different majors and areas of expertise, she could engage with them in a diverse, inclusive space, all while speaking the same languages of computer science, statistics, and data science.
After graduation, Keiko is considering research or industry work. To prospective and current Berkeley students, she recommends actively seeking out extracurricular opportunities to network and apply skills. “Research is where it matters to have a data science degree,” she said. “You work with real data and real problems, and you get to meet people who are just as interested in data science as you are.”