Mikaella Mavrogeni, PhD

Mikaella specialises in the integration of GPS location data with geodemographics, and their business and service planning applications. In this article, she shares her journey into Social Data Science, her reasons for choosing UCL, and her passion for creating maps and spatial data analysis techniques.

Why were you interested in studying Social Data Science? 

I loved both mathematics and geography in high school so I knew that studying Geography with Social Data Science would combine the two perfectly well.

Why did you choose to study it at the UCL Department of Geography?

UCL is one of the top universities in the UK and I was captivated by the modules that the course had to offer.

What were some of the most interesting or engaging things you learned on the course?

The most interesting thing I learned was how to create maps and visualisations which could add a creative aspect to my learning, something that I didn’t expect to enjoy that much. I mostly enjoyed learning about spatial data analysis techniques and applying them in my research which involved understanding London’s bike-sharing system usage patterns through origin and destination matrices.

Can you tell us about any particularly memorable experiences from your time as a student with us?

As an undergraduate on the BA Geography with Social Data Science course, one of my favourite experiences was working on the Cartography module’s coursework, and combining my creativity with understanding mobility in New York City (.pdf). It was when I realised that I didn’t mind working on the project for hours as I was doing something that suited me completely.

You're now studying for your Postgraduate (Research) degree. What made you decide to do that?

I was lucky enough to be presented with the opportunity to jump straight into a PhD after my undergrad. The PhD project I applied for had the title ‘Real-time geodemographics for business and service planning’. For me, the decision to pursue a Research degree was highly influenced by the topic of the project that would combine aspects of geography that interest me the most – i.e., spatial data analysis with applications in the private and public sectors.

What do you hope to do in the future? 

After I finish my PhD I hope to work in a consultancy as a spatial data analyst where I can apply my skills to solve problems related to location analytics and be involved in projects that will allow me to travel around the world.

Would you recommend studying Social Data Science in the Department and why? 

Choosing to study Social Data Science was one of the decisions I’m glad I took as it paved the path for me to become experienced in spatial data science. I liked the challenge that the course presented me with and the multiple skills that it helped me gain – becoming proficient in R and Python, as well as learning how to use QGIS.

Interested in following in Mikaella’s footsteps? Visit our Study pages to find out more.