MEET OUR TEAM: Data Scientist, Sara

SEPT 22, 2021

In our third edition of Meet Our Team, we will be catching up with our Data Scientist, Sara.

Meet Sara, our Data Scientist

Sara is a third-year mechanical engineer student at Imperial College London, where she learnt to code. Sara’s job as a Data Scientist is varied but mostly focuses on software development using code. At the moment, Sara is working on creating an app that locates buildings for pop-up stalls to sell DG Brownies in ‘I usually spend half a day working on the app and spend the other half analysing data from our advertisements’ she explains.

As a student studying mechanical engineering, how are you finding your first position as a Data Scientist?

I’m really enjoying it. My degree involves lots of data analysis and coding. When I code for university work, it is usually hypothetical, which we call a ‘thought experiment’. At DG Brownies, the code I create is actually getting used. Being able to put this into use in a job is really fulfilling, especially as it is the part of my degree that I love the most.

Can you tell us a little bit about coding?

One branch of DG Brownies is pop-up stalls in different buildings in London. For my most recent project, I have been constructing a piece of code for an app. If you enter a location and a radius into the software, it will generate the addresses of all of the office buildings in the area. This allows our team to reach out to offices for pop-up stalls. I call this piece of technology the Office Locator App or OLA for short.

What have you learnt from DG Brownies?

My coding knowledge has grown exponentially. I’ve had to learn how to make an app, enhancing my coding skills which benefits my degree too.

How have you navigated the male-dominated industry of mechanical engineering at university?

Despite the fact that women only constitute 18% of my cohort at Imperial, its actually been okay, but has been trying at times. Luckily, all the women stick together and have supported each other, which has been invaluable.

Have you always wanted to work with data or be a scientist?

I’ve always liked maths and science, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do exactly. When I was little I wanted to be an astronaut. I chose my degree because I like maths and science, and mechanical engineering is the broadest that brings these elements together. I know I picked the right course as I really enjoy it.

What is your coding language of choice?

Python 🐍

What motivates you at work?

Creating technology that makes people’s lives a bit easier. I have the skillset to create an app (and much more), so I’m glad that my knowledge is being put to good use!

Where are we most likely to find you outside of work?

In a bubble tea shop. I love bubble tea, particularly this one called Osmanthus, which is a flower flavour. It also comes with grass jelly, but don’t worry – it doesn’t actually taste like grass, but instead gives it this jelly-like consistency (and is vegan friendly).

What do you get up to in your spare time?

If I wasn’t studying to be an engineer, I would be studying fine art. I really enjoy painting and drawing portraits, which I do to relax and take my mind off my degree, as it can be intense at times.

What is the worst present you’ve ever received?

I think my uncle forgot my 15th birthday. He went to TK Maxx and clearly panicked about what to buy me and ended up buying me a packet of pasta. I wasn’t impressed.

What is something that most people don’t know about you?

I can disassemble and reassemble a rifle in under a minute.

Thank you Sara, for taking time out of your day and speaking with us!

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Written By Fiona Philp