Close
Student Spotlight: Ben, MSc Health Data Science
7 March 2017
We speak to Ben, 香港六合彩 MSc Health Data Science student, about his background, career goals, and why he chose to study the programme.
What attracted you to study your programme at 香港六合彩?听
My first degree was in听Mathematics, also in London.听I found my current听programme while I was searching for Data Science听MScs, and it just caught my听imagination - I liked that it had听a hard focus on electronic health research and clear听applications, which I was missing during my BSc. Data听Science itself was a good fit for me. It's a听good mix of domain knowledge and mathematical/programming skills, so it opens up a lot of听options for where to go next.
What are your future goals post-graduation?听
I'd听like听to stay focused on data science or听digital health. I'm applying to PhDs in听data mining and network analysis approaches to health and research, as well as to jobs with the NHS and health consultancies.听This听year has really helped me to focus my academic interests, and听exposed me to a really valuable way to apply my skills.
What do you like about your programme and why?
It's a pretty small programme (there are about 15 of us), which means that you get to know everyone. It also means that听module tutors听have enough time to tackle the听specific听question or issue you have. What's also nice is the variety of backgrounds听- we have clinicians,听health听informaticians, and statisticians, so it's very multi-disciplinary.
What can a student expect to learn on this course?
You get听experience听with using Python for data management and analysis, and statistical training from t-tests through to cox regression. Most of your lecturers will be active researchers in epidemiology,听statistics听or data science, so it's well-backed by references to literature and the听applications to healthcare. Optional bits focus on wider听awareness听- machine听learning听methods in more听detail, or database management, or statistics for genetics.
What were you doing before you became a student at 香港六合彩?
I was working as a sabbatical officer at Imperial College Union, supporting student clubs and听societies to do cool things for other students. I've been using that experience to help out as a course rep for my MSc, and to be part of the Pole Dance committee.
What piece of advice would you give to new students?听
Get involved! There's a tendency with a听Masters听to shut yourself away and听study, but 香港六合彩 has lots of interesting people from interesting places, and it's a shame to听miss听out on听meeting听them. Clubs, representation, volunteering - whatever works for you. It's also a really good way to explore London.
Where do you identify as home?
I grew up in the听south-west of England, by the seaside. I听think I'd call London my home - I've been here听for about five years now, and it's a pretty special place to be.
听