With a passion for technology and a drive to unravel the hidden insights within data, La Trobe University alumna Trang Quynh Phan’s career journey has taken her around the world and has led her to become a senior data analyst at one of Australia’s leading telecommunications companies.
Trang graduated in 2022 with a Master’s in Artificial Intelligence from La Trobe, where she honed her skills and acquired the knowledge necessary to thrive in the evolving data science field.
Trang's journey to online study
Trang’s path to data science was a natural progression, having spent eight years in the IT industry. Her interest in the field stemmed from her desire to harness the latest technology to derive valuable data insights.
‘I had been looking at the curriculum in a few universities and the curriculum at La Trobe was different because it offered deep learning, natural language processing, and computer vision subjects. The program is focused on the labs, and I hoped to get a lot of hands-on experience in both programming and technology.’
What do you learn with a degree in artificial intelligence?
Trang found the program’s emphasis on practical learning to be particularly valuable, investing more time in the hands-on aspects of the coursework than traditional lectures.
Trang said the program equipped her with a strong foundation in natural language processing (NLP), deep learning and computer vision, along with essential programming skills. These skills not only played a significant role in her job interviews but seamlessly translated into her current role as a senior data analyst.
One of the strengths of La Trobe’s Master of Artificial Intelligence program lies in its ability to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities in the field of AI.
‘Because I just graduated last year, I was taught using the latest technology at the time. It gave me the foundation to pick up and understand new technologies later.’
Why choose an artificial intelligence degree?
For those considering enrolling in a degree in artificial intelligence, Trang emphasised the importance of having a genuine passion for AI and the willingness to hone your skills. Keeping up to date with the latest advancements are paramount in the rapidly evolving field of AI, and Trang encouraged prospective students to embrace a mindset of lifelong learning.
‘You have to be willing to spend a lot of time to prepare – not only at uni, but in the future because you have to learn continuously throughout your life.’
Trang said that above and beyond technical skills, La Trobe’s Master of Artificial Intelligence offers students foundational knowledge and inspires students to learn more about the world of AI as it evolves, enabling them to stay abreast of the latest developments.
Using her Master of Artificial Intelligence degree
Looking ahead, Trang shared her excitement for the future of AI and data science. While acknowledging her status as a relative newcomer to the field, she expressed enthusiasm for generative AI technologies such as Chat GPT and Google Bard, and sees that natural language processing will be particularly useful for most data scientists, where there is a need to analyse a lot of text.
Trang’s career and education progression into her role as a senior data analyst at an Australian telco leader exemplifies the value and impact of the program on her career. The program’s comprehensive curriculum, particularly its focus on rigorous labs, equipped her with the necessary skills to thrive in the workplace. Moreover, it provided her with a broader perspective on the ethical and societal implications of AI, preparing her to tackle complex challenges with integrity and responsibility.
