Jinjiang ‘J.J.’ Lian | Data Science

Jinjiang ‘J.J.’ Lian first realized he wanted to become a data scientist while working as a data manager for clinical research at a university healthcare facility in the US. “I noticed that many healthcare workers lacked the skill set to collect and interpret patient data correctly, which negatively impacted patient care,” he recalls. “I decided that whether I ended up in healthcare, tech, or another industry altogether, I wanted to use my data skills to help people.”

As J.J. flipped through graduate program brochures, Waterloo’s Masters of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (MDSAI) program caught his attention. “There are a lot of programs in computer science in Canada, but I saw how much effort Waterloo put into designing its MDSAI program,” J.J. remembers. “Professors even offer different versions of the same course to meet the needs of students with different backgrounds.” Attracted by the level of personalization available to students, as well as the abundant co-op opportunities, J.J. joined one of the first cohorts of MDSAI students at Waterloo Math.

Read more about J.J's experience.