From her primary school days in Ukraine to her senior year as an exchange student at Perrysburg High School, math has long been a favorite subject for Iryna Snahoshchenko.
“Math stood out to me because it could be applied to so many different areas,” Snahoshchenko said. “I like it because it’s very effective in solving problems.”
Iryna Snahoshchenko, a data science junior, is the president of the new student club UToledo Data Community.
She followed this interest to The University of Toledo, drawn by its reputation for strong offerings in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Shortly after enrolling in fall 2022, she discovered a new area to apply math that’s brought her ultimate career plans into a tighter focus — data science.
“I took a couple of classes at first and I really liked them. I was fascinated by the idea that you can get so many answers from what can look like boring rows of data,” said Snahoshchenko, who recently launched the new student club UToledo Data Community. “It was something that I quickly found a passion for.”
Data science is a rapidly growing field, with a wide range of industries seeking to hire data-savvy professionals who can make sense of vast troves of information. Data scientist employment is expected to increase by more than a third between 2023 and 2033, with the median salary topping $100,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
UToledo offers several academic programs that prepare students to meet this demand, including undergraduate degree programs in data science and data analytics. An online master of science degree in data science is currently in development.
These and other data-centric offerings are supported by the School of Interdisciplinary Data Science, newly established in the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. As a hub for data science programs and activity on campus, it’s designed to foster innovation and collaboration among faculty experts who teach and research on data in departments and colleges that span the University.
The interdisciplinarity of the field is a key attraction for Snahoshchenko, now a junior pursuing a bachelor of science degree in data science.
In line with her program’s curriculum, she’s taken courses ranging from calculus and statistics to object-oriented programming in the College of Engineering. A favorite course this semester is in the Department of Economics: Benefit-Cost Analysis, exploring how economists determine whether projects are worth undertaking.
“I really like the data science program because it allows you to look at things from different angles,” Snahoshchenko said. “In the economics department, we look at problems from the perspective of an economist. In the computer science department, we look at problems from the perspective of an engineer.”
Snahoshchenko established the UToledo Data Community to bring together students who share her interest in data science, regardless of their academic discipline. Following an initial workshop this semester on convolutional neural network, a type of machine learning model, the new club hopes to organize speakers, networking opportunities and other activities to foster community and advance their career potential.
“The UToledo Data Community extends the collaboration and innovation that we’re fostering with the School of Interdisciplinary Data Science,” said Dr. Bill Kalies, a professor of mathematics and director of the new School of Interdisciplinary Data Science. “Iryna has been a driving force behind it. She’s an excellent and highly driven student with a bright future ahead of her in the field of data science.”
Snahoshchenko has enjoyed campus involvement opportunities beyond the UToledo Data Community. She’s gearing up for an election this semester with Student Government, which she joined her first semester on campus, and for two years she has been helping first-year students adjust to life on campus as a resident assistant in the Office of Residence Life.
One thing she always recommends to these new students? Get involved.
“I’ve really benefited from being involved and learning outside of the classroom,” she said. “So, I’ve really enjoyed helping other students find a community on campus as well.”
