When you’re a data scientist, you kind of get used to things moving at the speed of light. For recent graduates of the University of Delaware Graduate College’s interdisciplinary data science master’s program, that’s just about how fast their careers seem to be moving. 

Just ask Kaitlin Canalichio, who quickly leveraged her data science degree into a fellowship, then soon snagged a great job close to home in Delaware. Or consider Shivali Nadupalli, who came to Newark from India, and in just two years was fielding job offers from a leading semiconductor firm — even before she got her diploma. 

The degree is even opening doors for Blue Hens who find themselves seeking an entirely new path: After returning to UD for his master’s in data science, former chemical engineer Ian Heffner was able to gracefully pivot into a role at a major bank immediately after getting his master’s diploma. 

These graduates and others are finding speedy success as they ride the decade’s onrushing wave in big data and artificial intelligence. From 2023-2033, data science jobs are expected to grow 36% in the United States — much faster than the average for all occupations — with median salaries pushing past $108,000. 

UD has become a great place to make that promising career a reality. The master’s in data science program is ranked 24th in the nation this year by Fortune magazine, which also called UD’s program the most affordable in the country.  

Yet the true value of the UD degree can be hard to measure by statistics and salaries alone: Graduates say they were given crucial skills in practical problem-solving, along with room to explore the niche areas that inspired them. Designed to maximize flexibility, the program can be completed in three to four semesters, either as a full- or part-time student. 

“I really loved the freedom of the master’s degree,” said Heffner, 28. “I was able to customize my degree to an extent and bring in some environmental policy, which I’m passionate about. It was exciting and interesting because I felt like I was finally doing work again that I enjoyed.”

Today, Heffner is a senior analytics solutions associate at JPMorgan Chase, a role that seems worlds away from his previous position. He was able to get his master’s in just over a year, and by the time he graduated, he had a job offer in hand. 

Graduates agreed the program’s emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning gave them practical skills that would be crucial for success in their early careers. 

“The projects I worked on at UD really prepared me for the roles I’ve had,” said Canalichio, now a Newark-based data analyst at CAI, a global technology services firm. “The master’s program offers a lot of hands-on project work where you’re really trying to pick real questions to answer with data science. That kind of applied perspective is what really prepared me for how to approach problems, how to do exploratory data analysis and know where to start with data.” 

Now more than ever, the young scientists can appreciate that UD was able to give them more than just knowledge: They gained a project-tackling mindset that would suit them well in the “real world,” along with the confidence that flourishes with close support from faculty and advisors. 

“I had the best advisor ever,” said Nadupalli, 24, who came to the U.S. to become a Blue Hen after hearing her stateside cousin’s rave reviews of UD professors. Nadupalli is now a silicon design engineer at AMD semiconductors in Austin, Texas.  

“When I started off as an international student I was really clueless about what was expected,” Nadupalli added. “My advisor was the one who actually encouraged me to apply for a teaching assistant position. He has been with me every step of the way. Imagine having no idea of how things work in a different country and then you can have someone who can guide you through everything. It’s a blessing.” 

For both Nadupalli and Canalichio, that crucial guidance was provided by the first director of the data science master’s program, which began in 2019, now-retired mathematical sciences professor Richard Braun. At the time, Canalichio was a quantitative biology undergraduate working under Braun’s direction on his research project, but she was still uncertain what her next steps should be. 

“Dr. Braun mentioned the data science program with the 4+1 option [which lets students complete their bachelor’s and master’s in five years],” Canalichio said. “So I looked into the program, and I decided, oh, I actually really want to do this!” 

To her delight, Canalichio had found a challenge that neatly combined her passion for math, computer science and statistics. 

“I also really liked that it was interdisciplinary,” added Canalichio, 25, originally from Dover, Delaware. “Having the 4+1 available was really awesome — I saved so much time and money being able to complete both my master’s and undergrad in five years.” 

She would go on to supplement her master’s by completing the Project Management Certificate program offered by UD’s Division of Professional and Continuing Studies, giving her skills that would soon prove relevant: After completing a fellowship at the Data Innovation Lab — run by the nonprofit Tech Impact at UD's STAR Campus — she would be asked to stay full time. 

But her next big step wasn’t far away. Last year she took a role at CAI that deftly combines her skills in data science and project management, and she knows that more possibilities lie ahead. 

“There is definitely not a lack of job openings out there,” she said. “A lot of people say, ‘Oh, my college degree taught me nothing for my job.’ But I would definitely not say that. I think the master’s program especially really did prepare me well for this career.”  

For more information, visit the master of science degree in data science website.