About
Yan (Stella) Si described her journey to the
MS in Data Science Program (MSDS) as “unconventional.” During her time at the clinical psychology lab at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), she discovered the power of data in answering complex questions and saw the applicability of data science as a discipline.
With her goal of pursuing a PhD in psychology, she saw the MSDS program as a stepping stone to becoming a better psychology researcher.
Tell us a little bit about your background before coming into the MSDS program.
My journey to the program was unconventional. I attended Boston College and obtained a degree in psychology and philosophy, conducting research in social and clinical psychology. In my sophomore year, I became fascinated by understanding the human mind. I joined a clinical psychology lab at MGH and a social psychology lab on campus and delved into psychological principles and experimental design. I became aware of the power of data in answering complex questions. Determined to pursue a PhD in psychology, I saw a master’s in a data-focused program as a stepping stone to becoming a stronger psychology researcher.
Did you have any professional experience in the field of data science before coming to BU?
Through my research in psychology, I worked with data regularly with the hopes of extracting useful information on human cognition and decision-making. I have never worked in a corporate setting with data.
What drew you to the MSDS program at the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences?
I was most drawn to the freedom of the residential MS in Data Science program (MSDS). I liked the interdisciplinary nature of the faculty and the flexibility to design my curriculum. In addition, I hit it off with the CDS
Assistant Director of Graduate Affairs, Dan Yang, during my visit after getting my offer, which solidified my decision to choose
Boston University. The diverse faculty and students at BU were another big draw for me.
How did you become interested in data science?
I saw data science as a tool to become a rigorous researcher in psychology, which is the field I am most interested in.
What excites you about data science?
I like the applicability of data science as a discipline. You can adapt it to any field and answer any questions. I see it as an auxiliary tool of persuasion.
What areas of data science are you most interested in?
I am most interested in the intersection of psychology and machine learning. I believe the capacity of data represents cognition. I also believe that by incorporating machine learning methods like neural networks, we can enhance theories in psychology and cultivate a new field in psychology.
What advice would you give to prospective students interested in an MSDS program?
Since the MSDS has so much freedom and it is a relatively short program, I would gain clarity before attending what I would like to get out of the program and where I would like to go after.
What are your goals post-graduation?
At the MSDS program, I am honing my statistics and coding skills. I was also fortunate to find a
CDS faculty member to continue my research in psychology, and I was admitted into the CDS PhD program after working with
Professor Joshua Peterson this year. I plan to continue driving my research in psychology and machine learning with his guidance.
Fun or interesting facts about you.
Music is a huge part of my life. In my free time, I play the guitar and piano. I love songwriting and performing my songs for friends and at open mics.
