SDS 493: Bringing Data to the People — with Anjali Shrivastava

Dual Degrees

Anjali Shrivastava's educational journey at UC Berkeley is marked by her pursuit of dual degrees in Data Science and Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (IEOR). She shares how the data science program, a blend of computer science and statistics, was still evolving during her time, leading her to take graduate courses and related classes to fulfill her degree requirements 1. Anjali's IEOR studies complemented her data science education, providing her with a deep understanding of optimization and machine learning algorithms 2.

I was really lucky because I was an IEOR. There was quite a significant overlap between the two tracks.

--- Anjali Shrivastava

This unique combination of disciplines equipped her with a versatile skill set applicable across various industries.

   

UC Berkeley

Anjali's time at UC Berkeley was transformative, not only academically but also personally. She highlights the university's emphasis on self-learning, particularly through mastering documentation and new libraries, which prepared her for diverse challenges in data science 3. During the pandemic, her lifestyle shifted, with yoga classes being replaced by the demands of a new puppy, CJ, a black lab who became a significant part of her daily routine 4.

Having a puppy is like, honestly requires a lot of cardio exercise, like every day because he just is like this ball of energy.

--- Anjali Shrivastava

These experiences at Berkeley shaped her both as a data scientist and as an individual.