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MSDS Student Profiles: August Lamb and Will Tenpas on Balancing Swimming and Graduate School
From coding enthusiasts to swimmers with an eye on project management, these master's in data science students are not just making waves in their respective fields but also in the data science landscape. Balancing athletic commitment and academic rigor, they’re navigating a path that’s as challenging as it is rewarding.
August Lamb
Hometown: Charlottesville, VA
Education: B.A. in Computer Science 2023, University of Virginia
What drew you to data science?
I was in high school when the School of Data Science was announced, and my initial plan was to major in the subject. Unfortunately, I arrived at UVA a bit too early as the BSDS was only just approved in September. However, I enrolled in the minor as soon as it was announced, and I really enjoyed it. I thought it was an interesting application of some of the things I was learning as part of the computer science curriculum, and I was curious to dive deeper into the subject as part of the master’s program.
What are the challenges of balancing life as a graduate student and athlete?
Time management is the biggest challenge. I’m a swimmer for UVA, and our team trains right around the maximum allowable time (20 hours) per week by the NCAA. However, training and competition are not the only obligations we have. We obviously have a full course load to manage, in addition to proper sleep and recovery, student activities such as clubs, and more. It leaves us very little free time. That being said, it’s also an amazing lesson in time management that could be very helpful down the line, in the workforce for example. I wouldn’t say my life is much different as a graduate student than it was in undergrad. The main difference is that classes are more difficult, so there is some added stress, but I feel that the past four years have prepared me well for this moment.
What do you hope to do with your data science degree?
At this point, I’m just focused on getting a job. Data scientists are in high demand right now across a broad range of industries, so the possibilities really are endless. I’m not sure where I want to end up right now, but I’m enthusiastic about the opportunities available to me because of this program. The field is very young, so new data scientists such as myself and others in our cohort will have a lot to contribute to issues such as data privacy, ethical practices, and the application of data science for the improvement of people’s lives. I’m excited to see where we all end up.
What has been your favorite class or professor so far and why?
I really enjoyed professor Rafael Alvarado’s course on Programming for Data Science. As a computer science major in undergrad, I feel very close to that component of data science, and this course was a great way to exercise that connection. We had a few interesting projects during the class. Our final project was my favorite, as it integrated basically everything we had learned over the semester. We wrote a Python library implementing a simple Monte Carlo simulator, including full project documentation, error handling, and more. It was a fun challenge to finish out the class, and professor Alvarado was very knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor.
What advice would you give to someone considering a master’s in data science?
I would say make sure you are a people person. It’s a very collaborative field, and UVA has designed the program with this in mind. Our cohort spends a lot of time with one another, whether in class or studying/having fun between classes at Elliewood or the Dell. The cohort system here was a big draw for me when I was looking for master's programs, and it really is central to how the MSDS at UVA operates. Fortunately, we have a great group this year, and I’ve made a lot of good friends and good connections thus far. It’s been a very positive experience.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I am interested in flight simulation. When I have free time, I like to use the Microsoft Flight Simulator on my computer. I’ve spent most of my time learning my way around the Airbus A320neo, which is available as a study-level aircraft in the program. I’ve also been learning the ins and outs of communicating with air traffic control—there is a community of real controllers who provide service to the simulator, so it’s a very realistic experience. Eventually, I want to get my pilot’s license and learn to fly for real. In the meantime, while I’m sure it’s not true at all, I feel confident enough in myself that I could fly one of these machines if I ever had to. This is actually a phenomenon that has been studied by psychologists called the Dunning-Krueger Effect. I still think I’m built differently and could do it, though!
Will Tenpas
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Hometown: Chevy Chase, MD.
Education: B.S. in Mechanical Engineering 2023, Duke University
What drew you to data science?
I am drawn by how many industries data science can be applied to— from sports to manufacturing and am also really excited to build my skill set with coding and data analysis. I think that there are a lot of really interesting applications of data science in mechanical engineering in industry and research that cannot be unlocked without knowledge of the data science field.
What are the challenges of balancing life as a graduate student and athlete?
Time/energy management! On a typical day we are in the weight room at 7 a.m. and then have a swim after that as well as a swim in the afternoon. Combined with class, that takes up most of the day, so it’s really important to use any gaps in the day I do have and be efficient at nights. It’s also tough to have energy to stay focused with four hours of exercise a day and class, so I’ve found it important to limit access to distractions when I am doing work— otherwise I don’t always have the discipline and motivation to stay focused.
What do you hope to do with your data science degree?
I would love to do project management on a product that combines mechanical engineering and software development. I think that would combine my skillsets very well and let me use a lot of what I’ve learned the last five years.
What has been your favorite class or professor so far and why?
I really enjoy professor Don Brown’s instruction. He teaches a very challenging course but is engaging and friendly. He knows almost everyone’s name and is constantly asking questions, which makes a hard class a lot friendlier.
What advice would you give to someone considering a master’s in data science?
I would say to look for applications around you in your daily life where you could use data science and try a project. Doing little projects help gets your feet wet and makes you more motivated in courses when you can think of where you want to apply things.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I have seen every season of “Survivor” and would love to be on the show.