After spending 8 years at the University completing his BSc and PhD in Chemistry, Panos went on to lecture in Environmental Engineering and has since pivoted to a career in Data Science. Name Panos Kolyvakis Degree BSc (Hons) Chemistry and PhD Chemistry Year of graduation 2017 and 2022 Your Time at the UniversityEdinburgh remains close to my heart! From a very young age, I was fascinated by science, which led me to pursue a degree in Chemistry. Student life in Edinburgh was wonderful, offering so much to do. In my first year I stayed at Pollock Halls, where I met many incredible people. Living in the Newington area was a blessing - everything was within walking distance. There were great nightclubs, amazing facilities at Pleasance, and a fantastic library where I could study with friends and enjoy fun breaks in the central area.I took a multidisciplinary approach in my electives, studying both biological and physical chemistry modules. Like most undergraduates, I was unsure of my career path in the early years. The final years were certainly demanding, but they were also immensely rewarding, especially when everything worked out after the finals. I ended up staying in Edinburgh to pursue a PhD and later spent an additional year as a Teaching Fellow at the Graham Bell Building, where I lectured in Environmental Engineering. After nine incredible years at Edinburgh, including my time at the King’s Buildings, I was fortunate to meet amazing people, teach at a world-class university, and grow into the person I am today. Eventually, it was time to move on, but Edinburgh will always hold a special place in my life.Your Experiences Since Leaving the UniversityAfter completing my time at university and even during my early academic career, I realised I wanted to transition into Data Science. During my PhD, I had worked on regression models and statistical analyses (including basic programming) and foresaw the growing demand for Data Science and AI. Determined to pivot into this field, I began teaching myself the fundamentals needed to secure a position. Transitioning into a new career was far from easy. There’s a significant difference between achieving a goal with clear steps, like preparing for an exam with a defined syllabus, and navigating a career change where the path is often unclear. It’s easy to feel unmotivated when competing against thousands of highly qualified individuals. However, perseverance is key — as long as you put in the effort, the rewards will follow.Today, I am a Data Scientist and ML Engineer working on conversational AI and computer vision models. But were all those years studying chemistry and other sciences at the University of Edinburgh a waste? Absolutely not. A degree teaches you how to learn, approach problems from multiple angles, dive into complex topics, and find creative solutions. My time at UoE instilled these invaluable skills in me, and for that, I will always be grateful.Alumni WisdomIf there’s one thing I’ve learned on my journey, it’s this: trust the process. Anything worth doing will inevitably be challenging. The road to success is rarely straightforward, and often, the hardest part is staying committed when progress feels slow or uncertain. This article was published on 2025-01-16
