Science to Data Science and Beyond!

Anna Peng is the Senior Data Scientist at MVF, a pioneering integrated media and marketing company. She did her PhD in Computational Cognitive Science and also has a background in fine arts, working as an interior designer before. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening and making stained glass. ACM Membership: https://www.acm.org/membership LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-peng-phd-b091...

Fiona Reid is currently the Senior Data Scientist in Cognitive Computing at Lloyds Banking Group. She did her PhD in Earth Sciences at Oxford and spent over 20 years working in academia before transitioning to data science. In her spare time, she enjoys hillwalking and climbing and has climbed all the Munros 3 times, Compleating the SMC Full House of Hills. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fi...

Laurens Geffert is Head of Science at Ocean OS, an environmental services company devoted to making ocean AI models for actionable insights. He received his PhD in Geography at Cambridge and has worked at many notable companies, including Google in their geospatial team. In his spare time, he enjoys gardening, exercising, and time with his wife and children. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/l...

Thank you for listening to Science to Data Science and Beyond! No episode this week, but we'll be back in 2 weeks again! Please leave your questions and comments below.

Ryan Varley is a Data Engineering Fellow at Magnite, the world’s largest independent sell-side advertising platform. He was previously the Senior Vice President of Technology at the education technology startup Boclips, responsible for the Data, Product and engineering Teams. He did his PhD in Astrophysics at UCL and talks about how to make brilliant people work brilliantly together on his LinkedI...

Theresa Offwood-le Roux is the Senior Principal Data Scientist at NetSuite, the world’s first cloud company founded in 1998. She has a PhD in Financial Mathematics and worked as a quant in a bank for 3 years in South Africa before moving to London and transitioning to data science. Theresa is a mother to 2 beautiful little girls and loves spending her free time with them. LinkedIn: https://www.lin...

Andy Symonds is a Data Scientist at Thoughtworks, a global tech consultancy blending design, engineering, and AI to help businesses thrive through innovation. He did his PhD in Neuroscience and Zoology at the University of Western Australia and spent over a decade at King’s College London as a Research Associate. In his spare time, he strives to maintain a good balance between work and raising you...

Alexander Hampton is a Data Scientist at the London North Eastern Railway (LNER), one of the UK’s leading long-distance train operators. He did his PhD at Durham University in Synthetic Organic Chemistry. In his spare time, he enjoys travelling, snowboarding, and watching American football. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-hampton-758398a0/ Pivigo: pivigo.com S2DS: s2ds.org

Godfrey Leung is a “full-stack” data scientist, or as he prefers, a data “magician/wizard”, at Collinson, a customer services company dedicated to helping people travel with ease. He has a PhD in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics and is originally from Hong Kong but has spent over 14 years now living in England. He is an avid football fan and has actually seen Stephen Hawking in person during h...

Neri Van Otten is the CEO and Founder of Spot Intelligence, a fast and secure document processing platform that uses state-of-the-art artificial intelligence to extract crucial business information. She has participated in several S2DS programmes as both a technical mentor and a project partner. In her spare time, she enjoys running, travelling, and spending time in nature. Spot Intelligence: http...

We'll be taking a break, but expect the next episode back from us on 14 May!

Sonia Ingram is a freelance AI consultant, currently the interim Global Director of AI at the world’s largest jewellery brand, where she leads their AI transformation. Her PhD was focused on biomedical immunology, and her data science career includes many notable names such as Lloyds Banking Group and Harrods. In her spare time, she enjoys snowboarding, scuba diving, and hiking. LinkedIn: https://...

Eyal Kazin is a Lead Data Scientist at Zimmer Biomet, global manufacturer of medical products and technologies. He is an ex-cosmologist turned data scientist with 20 years experience in solving challenging problems and a colleague of his once said that one of his strengths is “facilitating stakeholders to make data driven decisions”. His claim for fame is living in four different continents betwee...

Thank you for listening to Science to Data Science and Beyond! We will have a new episode ready in 2 weeks time, but none this week as we were busy preparing for the start of the S2DS Spring 2025 programme. Please comment in the description about any topics you'd like to hear about or any questions you have!

Damian Rumble is the Global Head of Data Science and Analytics at Laing O'Rourke, a multinational construction company. He has a PhD in Astrophysics from the University of Exeter enjoys playing ultimate frisbee in his spare time. Last year, he even attended the European Masters Ultimate Club Championships in Vienna. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damian-rumble-69025336/ Pivigo: pivigo.com S...

Pavan Sangha is the Head of Data Science at Halfords, the UK's leading retailer of automotive and cycling products. He did his PhD in Theoretical Computer Science at the University of Liverpool. In his spare time, he enjoys playing football. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-pavan-sangha-b598b9141/ Pivigo: pivigo.com S2DS: s2ds.org

Ana Solaguren-Beascoa is the Lead Machine Learning Researcher at CoSyne Therapeutics, an AI Drug Discovery company creating precision medicine through AI. She was born in Barcelona where she did her bachelor’s and master’s before moving to Munich for her PhD in Theoretical Particle Physics. She has since spent 7 years in London before returning to live in Barcelona and enjoys cooking in her spare...

Former S2DS technical mentor Jon Leslie, now Big Data & AI Manager at Vodafone, and S2DS alum Andras Szabo, current Senior Data Scientist at Trilateral Research, join for a special Christmas episode. We discuss Advent of Code, an online advent calendar of coding challenges with fun Christmas themes that anyone can try and use to improve their coding skills. https://adventofcode.com/ Jon Leslie Lin...

Vasiliy Demchenko is a Senior Data Scientist at the Stepstone Group, a world leading online recruitment company. He did his PhD in Cosmology at the University of Edinburgh. In his spare time, Vasiliy likes to read (mostly fiction), practice yoga, and travel to see new cities or go on hikes and walks. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vasiliy-demchenko-a49aba17b/ Pivigo: pivigo.com S2DS: s2ds.o...

Aatish Kumar is presently working as Head of Data & AI at Eneco Energy Trading (EET), the trading arm of an energy utility company located in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Originally from India, he has worked in several companies and academia in the Netherlands. He has a Bachelor in Electrical Engineering and a Master in Microelectronics (both from IIT Bombay in India) as well as a Master in Digit...

Michèle Pettinato is an experienced data scientist with a multi-disciplinary background in speech acoustics, linguistics, psychology and cognitive science. She is endlessly fascinated by human interaction and how it shapes information flow. In her spare time, she likes to decompress with friends, reading, exercising, and art in all its forms. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mich%C3%A8le-pett...

Thank you for listening to Science to Data Science and Beyond! We will have a new episode ready in 2 weeks time, but none this week as we were busy preparing for the start of the S2DS Autumn 2024 programme. Please comment in the description about any topics you'd like to hear about or any questions you have!

Ross Williams is a Lead Data Scientist at dunnhumby, a customer data science company. He received a PhD in ultracold atomic physics from the University of Oxford, and worked as a post doc on quantum simulation with a Nobel Laureate at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the USA. He has also worked on quantum technologies as a Senior Research Scientist at the National Physical Lab...

Carlos Vergel Infante is a physicist with a PhD in Particles Physics from Iowa State University and with an MBA from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Carlos worked at CERN during his PhD and after completion, did the S2DS program in 2019. After that, he has worked as a Data Science - Analyst for eBay and currently as a Customer Satisfaction Data Analyst for Open Systems. Originally fr...

Adrienne Leonard is Head of Data Science at Cirium, a leader in aviation analytics. She was born and grew up in Zimbabwe and did her PhD at the University of Cambridge in Astronomy. Outside of work, she spends her spare time with her two young children. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrienne-leonard-cirium/ Pivigo: pivigo.com S2DS: s2ds.org