Harvard University dubbed the profession of a Data Scientist “The Sexiest Job of the 21st Century.” There are a myriad of Data Science Courses in India, and the demand for Data Science professionals is ever-rising. So what exactly is Data Science, and what roles and responsibilities does a Data Scientist have?

Definition-

Data Science is defined as an interdisciplinary field that uses algorithms, processes, scientific methods and systems to extract knowledge from structured and unstructured data. The insights gained through data science help companies develop efficient business strategies, refine existing strategies and identify new opportunities.

Pillars of Data Science Expertise-

A capable data scientist should be an expert in these four fields-

Mathematics, most importantly statistics and probability
Business/Domain
Computer Science, software, data architecture and engineering
Communication
Components of Data Science

Here are the important components of Data Scienc-.
Data Visualisation
Data Engineering
Mathematics
Statistics
Efficient Marketing Actions
Efficient Marketing Analysis
Effective Decision Making
Advanced Computing and Programming

Role of a Data Scientist-

Data Scientists design algorithms and models that extract information from data that will help a company in its various goals. The process for the gathering and analysis of data usually goes like this-

Asking the right questions and determining where to begin
Acquiring data
Clean and process the data
Integrate and store data
Data Investigation and Exploratory Data Analysis
Choose one or more potential algorithms and models
Apply techniques like machine learning, artificial intelligence and statistical modelling
Measure and improve the results
Present final result to company
Make adjustments based on feedback received

Different Roles in the field of Data Science-

There are a vast number of opportunities other than the data scientist in this lucrative field. Here are some of the job profiles of Data Science professionals-

Machine learning Engineer
Machine Learning Scientist
Data Analyst
Applications Architect
Enterprise Architect
Data Architect
Infrastructure Architect
Data Engineer
Statistician
Business Intelligence Developer
Systems Analyst

Other than the above-mentioned roles, many more jobs are available to capable Data Science professionals and MBA graduates. There is a noticeable shortage of Data Science professionals. Job opening in India is often left vacant for periods up to 60 days, combined with the steep rise in demand for Data Scientists due to the advancement in technology and evolution of business methods and strategies.

A Masters in Data Science is an excellent option for any student with a passion for mathematics, statistics and computer studies. The average package of a Data Scientist is around INR 8,15,000 per annum. Abroad, in countries like America, the average salary is $120,000 per annum.