Student testimonial
Student Michelle van Alst - MSc Data Science for Food and Health
"After 2 years, I have successfully completed the master's programme in Data Science for Food and Health and look back on an enjoyable and enriching experience. My studies covered a wide range of subjects, providing me with valuable and comprehensive knowledge.
I am eager to apply my expertise in the field of health sciences and data science to make a positive impact on public health
In the first year, I began by acquiring additional knowledge in the field of nutrition since I transitioned from a Bachelor's programme in Nutrition & Dietetics. I took courses such as Intro to Epidemiology and Public Health, Nutrition Research Methodologies, and Advanced Statistics. These courses laid a strong foundation in epidemiological research and public health, enhancing my understanding of disease spread and health challenges, as well as the execution and analysis of nutrition studies.
After those nutrition-related courses, I focused on Data Science courses, including Data Science Ethics, Societal Health Challenges, Data Science, Data Science for Healthy Lifestyles, Statistics for Data Scientists, Data Science Concepts, and Data Science for Health: Principles. These courses opened up a whole new world of data science, allowing me to apply complex statistical methods and gain insights from scientific research. Additionally, I learned how to ethically apply data science and address societal health issues through innovative solutions.
In the first half of the second year, I delved into machine learning through a literature review. I analyzed studies related to undernutrition in children under five years in low- and middle-income countries. The findings indicated a need for improved transparency and reproducibility of the employed machine learning methods by adhering to study protocols like the TRIPOD checklist for future machine learning research in this domain.
During the last half of my studies, I interned at Unilever, where I built a database containing information about micronutrient deficiencies in different countries. I utilized data science techniques such as Web Scraping to gather relevant datasets and created an interactive micronutrient dashboard in Power BI. This dashboard can potentially support product claims in the future.
My master's program equipped me with a diverse skill set and knowledge in both nutrition and data science. I am eager to apply my expertise in the field of health sciences and data science to make a positive impact on public health. Starting in September, I will be working as a research assistant, contributing to the development of a digital tool for individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). I am excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to furthering my career in research and making a meaningful contribution to society.”