Testimonials

 During the two years that I attended the Data Science master's degree, I was able to complement my analytical skills with sophisticated tools, not only to acquire a solid foundation in machine learning but also deepening my knowledge in more specific disciplines such as time series, data streams and network science. Undoubtedly, the master's degree enriched my range of skills and also opened up new opportunities for me, not only at a business level but also in research.

 Coming from abroad, I wanted to do a data science program that would allow me to find relevant work experiences while doing my Masters. Out of my choices, the MDS program at DCC-FCUP gave me the best response to my queries. It encouraged me to find possible collaborations with labs that could provide me with the opportunities I was looking for much earlier than I expected. As a result, I was part of several (paid) projects while I was already doing the program. Currently, I am a data scientist at a company where I initially worked as an intern while on a research grant. As an international student, I find the environment very welcoming and supportive. The courses are all very well planned and delivered. The academic guidance has helped me grow my professional skills over the years. I would greatly recommend the program to anyone, especially international students with the same goals as mine.

 My first contact with data science was during my PhD in Civil Engineering, where I developed anomaly detection algorithms for bridge damage detection. One year after I finished my PhD and although I consider that I had a successful career in the field of Civil Engineering, I was unhappy with my job at the time, and I decided to quit and enrol in the Master's in Data Science (M:DS) at FCUP. Today, I believe that this was the best decision that I have taken not only in my career but also in my life! At FCUP and in the M:DS, I had the opportunity to build the solid background in Data Science that I was looking for. I found a very active and dynamic Department of Computer Science (DCC) and several opportunities to participate in research projects involving real-case studies. Participation in research projects allowed me to speed up my learning curve. During the M:DS, I also had the opportunity to go to the Technical University of Eindhoven in the Netherlands on the scope of the Eramus+ mobility programme, which was an enriching experience. At DCC and M:DS I also meet a group of high talented colleagues from several backgrounds with the same passion for uncovering new ideas from data, from whom I have learned a lot. I couldn't be happier, and all my high expectations about the M:DS were all exceeded.

 After 5 years of experience as a software developer, I decided to pursue a career in data science. The Master in Data Science (M:DS) gave me not only the tools and techniques needed for that path but also a structured way of learning and applying them to projects from multiple fields and applications. Moreover, it allowed me to form connections with people with the same interests and ambitions, but who come from very different backgrounds. It was the decision to apply to M:DS that allowed me to have a career that I love and that makes me feel fulfilled.

 "I chose the Master in Data Science (M:DS) because I was looking for something that differentiated me in the job market and, mainly, to stimulate my curiosity about the" world of data ". The M: DS offers a holistic view of Data Science, from all the families of algorithms indicated to solve the most diverse problems, to the infrastructure needed to run these algorithms on large volumes of data. There is not only a focus on theoretical foundations but also on their practical applications in a real environment through the realization of several hands-on projects. At the end of my first year at M: DS, I got my first job as a Data Scientist in the healthcare industry. I believe that it was only possible due to the experience obtained in the master's degree, which endowed me with the necessary know-how to perform my professional functions daily and with the mindset of monitoring the state of the art to be in constant evolution. I am doing my dissertation at Unilabs, which consists of applying unsupervised learning techniques in clinical analysis results to predict patients at risk or laboratory errors by detecting abnormal relationships between tests and extreme values.

 My intention to do a master's degree in the field of Data Science came shortly after I started my post-doc. It seemed to be the right marriage between my aptitude for the world of computers and data analysis. At the same time, even though I am not literate in the subject, it seemed evident to me the direct application of the methods in my work and in the field of research that I do, in the area of ​​Astronomy. Choosing FCUP was a natural process: the faculty is located in my city and, above all, it is a house that I know well, giving me guarantees of a solid and quality training. M: DS is quite comprehensive, offering a wide range of fundamental options both in the field of Mathematics and in the field of Data Science and Computational Learning. The exigence is high and appropriate to the amount of knowledge that needs to be mastered in this area. Being such a versatile course, I hope to apply the knowledge that I have acquired not only to Astronomy, but also to teaching and, perhaps, to the business world.

 Before entering college, I was never part of students who, as long as they remember, knew what 'they wanted to be when they grow up'. I remember seeing in science and mathematics, the possibility of describing facts and explaining acts. I worked for with this philosophy. It was during my degree that I discovered the world of data science. Bit by bit, I have contacted one and another area that I fell in love with until I found that together they had the name Data Science. Therefore, when the first news about the master came out, the choice was evident. When I entered the master's program, I expected to see a strong alliance between mathematics, namely statistics and computer science. Definitely, it met my expectations. The master was able, assisted by a group of teachers specialized in the subjects they teach, to work on our instincts to be able to deal with any type of data, in varied contexts, always motivated by the discovery of new opportunities. The entire theoretical component, always combined with real examples, gave us another vision and the ability to work in any sector. As a science, in addition to opening doors to a data-driven world, it has provided us with the essential tools so that we can create them if circumstances so require. Now I know what I want to be when I grow up!

 After graduating in Biology, I decided to apply for a Master's Degree in Data Science (M: DS) at FCUP because I was looking to learn not only how to deal with various types of data but also how to extract correct and quality information from them. I realized that it was the right choice because the current job market needs people with this type of skills in many areas. M: DS was undoubtedly an excellent way to obtain the training you were looking for. In addition, the fact that students have different basic backgrounds gives a very interesting dynamic to classes and group work, as it encourages interaction between people with different ways of thinking, something that I consider crucial in an area as interdisciplinary as data science. Choosing M: DS proved to be a great challenge that certainly lived up to my expectations.