Careers in Data Science (in-person)

Audience: Beginner to Intermediate

This workshop is perfect for newcomers and those who have a foundational understanding and are looking to expand their skills. This session will be aimed at undergraduate, master's, and PhD students, as well as anyone considering options for their data science career.

Session Information:

This event will explore data science career options – and routes into employment that undergraduate, Masters and PhD students might take after graduation. We will hear from a panel of data science professionals, each providing a brief overview of their career choices, working life and the realities of being a data scientist in an industrial setting.

This will include a recent University of Bristol PhD graduate, who will speak about their experiences of transitioning from university to the workplace. The panel will then discuss their contrasting career experiences with Professor of Data Science Nick Whiteley before participating in an audience Q&A.

All students and graduates are welcome – as is anyone else interested in data science. It should be a valuable opportunity to learn about careers beyond academia, helping shape aspirations and goals for after graduation.

Agenda

• 50-minute panel discussion
• 10-minute break
• 30-minute panel Q&A
• 1-hour optional networking with refreshments

Learning Outcomes:

• Increased knowledge of data science career options and routes into employment.
• Insight into the daily working lives of current data science professionals, including recent University of Bristol graduates.
• Understanding of which elements of your course and your wider experience might be most valuable for future career choices.

Speaker Information:

Left to right: Danny Williams, Sarah Taylor Knight, and Tom O'Connor

Danny Williams Machine Learning Engineer, Weaviate AI University of Bristol graduate!

Danny is a PhD graduate from the Compass CDT - an EPSRC-funded centre at the University of Bristol. He now works at Weaviate, a vector database company, as a Machine Learning Engineer in Developer Growth. He mostly works on cool, fun coding projects, but also educates his team on the latest developments in Artificial intelligence (AI) and is involved with the company's social media. Danny’s PhD was focused on statistical density estimation for unnormalised models, with applications to truncated density estimation primarily. In his spare time, he worked on Natural Language Processing (NLP) projects, and an NLP internship in Bristol.

Sarah Taylor Knight Data Science Manager, LV= General Insurance University of Bristol graduate!

Sarah is a Data Science Manager working in the Allianz Personal, leading a team of eight data scientists and engineers to deliver machine learning models to improve the claims journey for insurance. She joined the team in June 2020 after graduating from the University of Bristol studying engineering, initially working on implementing Conformal Predictors within the insurance pricing space. More recently, she has worked on an award-winning project within PetPlan that has drastically improved the speed and efficiency of making a claim on pet insurance, improving the experience for customers and vets.

Tom O'Connor Lead Data Scientist, Ministry of Justice

Tom is the Lead Data Scientist for the AI for Linked Data team in the BOLD (Better Outcomes for Linked Data) programme at the Ministry of Justice. Tom leads an applied AI team developing tools to support decision-making and enhance justice system services. His team's work includes using large language models to convert unstructured text data into structured insights for policymakers and creating digital products aimed at improving outcomes for victims. Tom’s background is in physics, data science, and machine learning.

Bristol Data Week 2025

This event is part of Bristol Data Week 2025, organised by the Jean Golding Institute taking place from Monday 2nd June - Friday 6th June. Bristol Data Week is a leading platform for learning, discussion, and collaboration in data science and AI. It brings together researchers, industry experts, policymakers, and community groups to explore the latest advancements in data and technology, addressing real-world challenges and shaping the future of responsible AI.

This year, we will be running a week long series of events featuring:

• Expert-led workshops and training on cutting-edge data science and AI topics.
• Thought-provoking panel discussions with leading voices in the field.
• Opportunities to network with researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers.

Keep up to date with activities happening throughout Bristol Data Week on the Jean Golding Institute website, follow us on Bluesky, LinkedIn and tag us with #BristolDataWeek2025 or #BDW2025.

Please be aware that photography and recording of the sessions may be taking place. Please let us know if you would not like to be filmed by contacting jgi-admin@bristol.ac.uk

Code of Conduct

Please look at our Code of Conduct for all online and in-person events organised by the JGI.