Sara Koochagian

First Destination
Leidos Inc., Quantitative Analyst / Data Scientist (Arlington, VA)

Education
M.S. in Data Science 2023, University of Virginia

B.S. in Mathematics 2022, Christopher Newport University

Q: Walk us through what you've done at work recently. 

This week, I have been working on an effort to help bridge data discrepancies for my client. This has involved a lot of team working sessions going through a variety of data sources to ensure that reports are mapping to the correct information. Since the data is mainly financial, incorrect data mappings can lead to results that are not entirely accurate to what the client is asking or looking for. 

Q: What did you learn in the M.S. in Data Science (MSDS) program that you have found most useful in your career so far? And what do you wish you had learned? 

What I learned that has been the most useful is working in Python and team collaboration, hands down. The use of Python is new to the team I am currently working on, so we have been able to show the capabilities and how efficient Python can be. This has provided opportunities to teach Python to my team on group tasks, which I have enjoyed! Since our team works on a lot of tasks together, the group projects I did at UVA prepared me for how to do group work proficiently. I have always enjoyed working in groups, and learning how to work with many people on assignments has been very helpful in my work. 

One thing I wish I had learned was more SQL. While my position does not directly use SQL, my team works closely with the database team who are taking our Python work and moving it into SQL. We did learn some SQL in the program, but I wish we had the opportunity to learn more complex and advanced ways to query. 

Q: How did the MSDS Capstone project prepare you for your current work? 

My Capstone project helped me prepare for my current role in many ways. I think for my project in particular, we started with our data and had the freedom to do any type of analysis that would answer the question our client proposed. So, I learned how a project can drastically change over time and does not always lead to the answer you think it will. 

A lot of the analysis I do in my work doesn’t have a clear-cut path of what needs to be done. Because of that, I am always looking at my work from different perspectives and trying different things to see what works best. 

Q: Were there specific classes, projects, or professors that you found particularly influential in preparing you for your career? 

I think the two classes that were influential in preparing for my career were Practice and Application of Data Science and Data Visualization. I came to graduate school with little coding experience, so when I took Practice and Application of Data Science over the summer, it gave me a boost of confidence in my coding skills. Using real-world datasets, giving access to online resources for code specifics, and creating an environment that allowed students to ask a lot of questions helped strengthen my coding skills. I think that was my favorite class in the program!

Data Visualization showed me how there is a creative side to data science. I love art in my personal life, and seeing that data science can be turned into creative graphics and imagery caught my interest. It showed me that you can look at data through a lot of different lenses, and I use that a lot in my job today! 

Q: What networking opportunities or alumni resources played a role in securing your current position or aiding your professional development? 

While I was in school, I utilized Career Services when I started my job search. They were able to help me build the confidence to apply for roles that I was hesitant about, provided me resources to help me prepare for interviews, and showed me other websites besides LinkedIn that had job postings. I was fortunate to secure my current position from my friend and classmate from Data Science (shout out Rory!). I am very thankful to have found my position that way, and now I have a coworker who is also a UVA MSDS alumna. 

Q: How do you perceive the impact of your MSDS degree on your career advancement and opportunities? 

For me, my MSDS degree gave me a lot of classroom knowledge, but also so much more. It first gave me a set of tools to become a data scientist that I would not have had with just my bachelor’s degree. My degree has also given me access to a vast network of other MSDS graduates, a great career center, and networking opportunities to meet with other alumni. I have not been able to make the DC networking events yet, but I am excited to go and connect with local Hoos soon.

Q: Was there a student experience or classmate/cohort interaction during your time at the School of Data Science that stands out as particularly memorable or transformative for you? 

I think for me the time spent with the cohort outside of classes was the most memorable. Whether it was working until the early hours of the morning in Elliewood on Bayes homework, or hanging out around Charlottesville on the weekends, I cherished all of it. It helped give me a sense of community, made me a better student, and gave me friendships I still have to this day. 

With a program like the MSDS Residential, taking breaks from homework and projects with a busy schedule helped promote work-life balance, even if it was just to grab a Bodo’s bagel for lunch. 

Q: As you look ahead, where do you envision yourself professionally in the next 5-10 years? Are there specific career goals, projects, or milestones you aspire to achieve in the coming years? 

I think in 5-10 years I hope to be working with NASA in the realm of data science. I remember we were asked during orientation at what places we wanted to see ourselves working in the future. My answer back then was NASA, and it still is!