Profile Stories
Vinamra Mathur: Hands-On Experience Made SMU the Right Choice for Data Analyst
Faculty of Science
Vinamra Mathur, MSc CDA’23
With multiple degrees and years of international professional work experience under his belt, Vinamra Mathur knew what he was looking for as he researched master’s programs.
A native of Delhi, India, he has engineering and science degrees and post-graduate diplomas in data science and business analytics. To further advance his studies he researched programs in the United States, United Kingdom and across Canada, choosing the Master of Science in Computing and Data Analytics (MSc CDA) at Saint Mary’s because of its focus on hands-on learning.
After talking to Dr. Pawan Lingras, director of the MSc CDA program, Vinamra knew that the program would be the right place for his next career move—a decision he is still happy he made now that he has graduated.
Crediting the projects and groupwork in the MSc CDA program for his success in learning both the technical and leadership sides to the data analytics field, Vinamra says that he loved working with classmates from a mix of backgrounds.
"Some were experienced, some just out of undergraduate degrees, and with a variety of computing and liberal arts experience,” he says. “The best part of the program was learning to work in groups, and succeed.”
Vinamra enjoyed participating in hackathons, and suggests that even as a graduate they’re still a good way to maintain skills and stay current with ever-changing technology.
He also landed his first internship with RBC when his team won a hackathon sponsored by the banking institution, one of Canada’s largest major banks. The internship turned into a full-time position, which led to his current Senior IT Specialist, AI position at the Canada Revenue Agency.
Along with the technical skills gained in the CDA program, Vinamra appreciates the advice from faculty in navigating the professional world in Canada, and the exposure to many industry experts who share their advice and experience with students at meetups and talks—all part of the program.
Dr. Lingras advised us to “just get a foot in the door, then build a personal brand,” he said. “Companies want to know what you can bring to the table.”
Vinamra is now working in Toronto, but loved Halifax, which is the “best city in Canada, with so many startups and wonderful people,” he says. Now that he has permanent residency in Canada, he’s happy to stay and keep growing in his career in data science.
In many large corporations and institutions data scientists are responsible for pulling relevant information from large amounts of data in ways that can benefit their organizations. Data scientists use artificial intelligence, mathematics, computing science and engineering, machine learning and software to give their teams up-to-date, relevant data.
A background in engineering and computing science has helped Vinamra excel as a data analyst. The ability to pull knowledge from various complementary fields and turn raw data into useful information is a key ability of a top data scientist. Communication skills are equally vital in working with colleagues to discover the ways that data can be used effectively.
“From day one the faculty at Saint Mary’s allayed my fears, and they taught me the technical and soft skills I use every day to succeed,” says Vinamra.