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MSDS Residential Student Profile: Chaitali Harge
Chaitali Harge
Education
M.S. in Data Science 2024, University of Virginia
B.S. in Statistics 2018, University of Mumbai
Hometown
Mumbai, India
Q: Tell us about your path to data science.
I was working in the automobile industry, where I saw an opportunity to utilize vast amounts of data generated from various R&D tests in vehicle automation. That was the first time I felt a need of getting formal training in data science. Since I already had a background in statistics from my undergraduate studies, that laid down the platform for data science.
Q: What do you hope to do with a data science master's degree?
I enjoy utilizing R and Python to work on statistical techniques. Playing with data and making conclusions on different aspects of data to better explain the meaning behind variables excites me. I want to become a data scientist and apply what I have learned.
Q: What has surprised you about the MSDS program so far?
I am surprised at how short yet wholesome and industry-focused this program is! Coming from a non-programming background, I started feeling much more confident about programming in just a couple of months. The program is well tailored to make you feel confident working with any type of data.
Q: What has been your favorite class so far and why?
During summer semester, I enjoyed professor Jon Kropko’s Programming for Data Science class. Live-coding sessions with the professor gave me hands-on learning experience and taught me how to build a code as you think to get desired outcomes.
In fall semester, professor Michael Porter’s Statistical Learning class is very interesting. It dives into advanced statistical modeling with the help of a variety of R packages. Understanding the behavior of data using statistical models and sampling methods is allowing me to create a base knowledge for interpretation of data and graphs.
Q: What advice would you give to someone considering a master’s in data science?
Almost all fields generate data which is valuable and can give insights of the past and future. If you know the right methods of utilizing such data, it can lead to new discoveries while saving a lot of time for the field. For anyone who wants to be a part of this revolution, an M.S. in data science would be the perfect place to start.
Q: What are some fun facts about yourself?
I am fluent in Japanese to the native level. I have traveled to 25 prefectures of Japan including all four major islands.
