Podcast
From Biology to ML: Build a Data Science Portfolio with Open-Source, Computer Vision & Transformers
Open original DataTalks.Club episode
From Biology to ML: Build a Data Science Portfolio with Open-Source, Computer Vision & Transformers
Original Episode
Use these links for the canonical episode and media sources.
- Open the original DataTalks.Club podcast page
- Watch on YouTube
- Listen on Spotify
- Listen on Apple Podcasts
Episode Overview
How do you move from a biology background into machine learning and build a data science portfolio that actually gets noticed? In this episode, Isabella Bicalho — a machine learning engineer and data scientist with three years of hands-on AI development and roots in computational research — walks through practical approaches for showcasing skills with open-source, computer vision, and transformer projects.
People
Use these links to connect the episode to guest notes.
Chapter Summary
Use these checkpoints to decide whether to open the source transcript.
- 0:00 - Episode Introduction: Continuous Learning in Data Science (guest Isabella
- 7:01 - Career Overview: Transition from Biology to Machine Learning
- 8:29 - Statistics as Gateway to Machine Learning; Progression to Transformers
- 9:14 - Education: University of Maranhão and University of Marseille
- 11:14 - INRIA Internship: Biomarkers and Immunotherapy Prediction
- 14:25 - INRIA’s Role in AI Research and France’s AI Ecosystem
- 15:55 - Freelance Work: Recommendation System & Knowledge Graph Automation
- 18:52 - Career Pivot: Choosing Engineering Over a PhD
- 22:22 - First Freelance Client: CV Visibility and Networking
- 23:39 - Leveraging Open-Source & AI for Good to Gain Experience
- 26:30 - Hugging Face Community Course: Computer Vision Contributions & Review
- 31:57 - Teaching & Communication: Simplifying ML Jargon for Learners
- 34:41 - Finding Open-Source Opportunities: Communities, Docs, and Local Chapters
- 37:26 - Types of Open-Source Projects: Code, Data, and Applied Solutions
- 40:12 - Green Space Segmentation: Sentinel-2, CNNs vs Transformers, Practicality
- 42:24 - Project Work as Job-Ready Experience and Portfolio Building
- 43:28 - Soft Skills from Collaboration: Communication and Prioritization
- 45:34 - Informational Networking: Reaching Out for Role Insights
- 49:55 - Onboarding New Contributors: Low Entry Barriers and Mentorship
- 51:34 - AI Assistants in Learning: Benefits and Limitations of ChatGPT
- 53:59 - Data Like Substack: Spotlighting Women in Data and ML
- 57:27 - Featured Interviews: Bioinformatics, Fake News Detection, AI Ethics
- 1:02:16 - Connecting with Isabella: LinkedIn and Substack Contact Info