About Me.
Hi. I'm Zach, an aspiring Data Scientist.
Besides all things data, I enjoy hiking, skiing, strength-training, and traveling. In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with my dogs and going out to eat.
I have always been passionate about expanding my knowledge and acquiring new skills. Whether it's learning new Python libraries, comparing the time complexity of algorithms for efficiency, or even creating this portfolio website, I constantly seek out new challenges to grow my expertise in this ever-changing field.
Why Data?
I started my education at the University of New Hampshire in 2020, intending to study Computer Science. After a full year of classes that delved into JavaScript, I realized that Computer Science just wasn't for me. I needed the why?—something that general programming couldn't answer for me.
During the spring semester, I took a Data Science course with an excellent instructor who taught not only technical concepts but also critical thinking and analytical skills. Above all, he taught us how to ask the right questions. This professor required us to read a book I initially thought I wanted nothing to do with: "Weapons of Math Destruction." The book absolutely fascinated me with its exploration of the ethical challenges that come along with data. I had clearly chosen the wrong major.
What about Now?
Fast forward 3 years and I am a senior at UMASS finishing my Bachelor's degree in Data Science. I spend my time at University fascinated with learning new strategies to bridge the gap between raw data and decision-making.
Additionally, I am fascinated by the process of working with ML models and algorithms to optimize both space and time. I am also deeply interested in maintaining data quality for accuracy and employing techniques to effectively visualize data.