Elina Shirolkar (’24SPS, Applied Analytics) still remembers what she thought when she first began using Google, the world’s most popular search engine, when she was very young.
“I wondered about who built it, how they built it, and where they stored all the data they collected,” she recalled. “I couldn’t imagine the thought processes that go into building something so grand.”
As an undergrad, Elina double-majored in statistics and computer science, and although that gave her solid technical skills in coding, after graduating, she decided to pursue a master’s degree to learn how these skills could be applied to real-world datasets. When she discovered Columbia’s M.S. in Applied Analytics program, she found that the dynamic curriculum was exactly what she had been looking for.
Elina’s path has now come full circle. She is currently working as a data scientist for Google Search, a dream she has had since that first encounter with the platform. We recently spoke to Elina about her capstone project, the value of an M.S. in Applied Analytics, and how she’s applying what she learned in the program to her work at Google.
What is your current role?
I am a data scientist at Google and currently work on Google Search. It has always been a dream of mine to work on something with so much global impact. Within Google Search, some product areas I have worked on are Google Lens, the Search Results Page, and the Suggest/Autocomplete functions. I was a 2023 summer intern at Google and was offered a full-time position right after that. I cannot believe I’m here, working on a product I’ve used most of my life.
What skills did you gain from the Applied Analytics program?
The Applied Analytics program allowed me to build my knowledge of machine learning, data management, data storytelling, and text mining. It also helped me learn a lot about the business side of the field, like how to be an effective leader within your organization, how to be assertive about your ideas, and how to lead change and communicate technical information. I’m grateful the program included that.
What attracted you to the program? What was the most valuable part of the experience?
I was particularly excited about the opportunity to take courses on machine learning, where I expanded my knowledge of concepts like clustering, anomaly detection, time series, and recommender systems. I was also able to take a course in natural language processing [NLP], which involves analyzing text data. I worked on several interesting NLP projects. I collected tweets from Twitter [now X] and coded an algorithm to discern if they were positive, negative, or neutral in sentiment. I also analyzed Yelp reviews for a New York City restaurant and offered recommendations based on that analysis.
What advice do you have for incoming students?
Take advantage of the opportunities and resources Columbia provides. I was part of the Columbia Women in Data and Tech organization, and I became president in my final year. I’m really passionate about increasing interest and awareness for women in STEM fields. As an advocate for diversity in tech, I organized a panel discussion with Columbia alumni in top tech companies and facilitated other career development opportunities. That experience taught me a lot about leadership.
When I was applying for internships, I took advantage of the career coaching at the Career Design Lab, which is available to every student in SPS. They helped me with a variety of tasks, from how to word an email to interview preparation and résumé design.
What was your capstone experience like?
The capstone project gave me an incredible opportunity to work as a graduate data scientist for a global company that provides individuals, governments, and businesses with financial intelligence and analytics. We conducted a comprehensive risk assessment to evaluate the impact of climate change on real estate assessments. We worked with data from other organizations to build regression/forecasting models and presented our recommendations to executives. The work was collaborative, so it helped me connect meaningfully with my classmates and learn a lot from them. It was like having another internship—the experience was that valuable.
About the Applied Analytics Program
Columbia University’s Master of Science in Applied Analytics program prepares students with the practical data and leadership skills to succeed. The program combines in-depth knowledge of data analytics with the leadership, management, and communication principles and tactics necessary to impact decision-making at all levels within organizations.
