About this site

Hey there 👋 My name is Jill and I’m the writer behind this blog Normally Distributed. I’m so happy that you’re here! I plan to use this space to write about a wide range of data-related things, including but not limited to:

  • reviews of new tools/techniques in data science and machine learning
  • exploration of interesting datasets
  • discussions about navigating a career in tech
  • miscellaneous thoughts

If you have any ideas for blog topics (or if you want to contribute), please reach out! I love hearing about new ideas.

About Me

I'm a data scientist based in Toronto, Canada. I started my tech career as a software developer in 2015 and fell in love with data science after working on a natural language processing project at a company-wide hackathon. At first, I tried to teach myself the foundations of data science and machine learning after work but I wasn't able to fully immerse myself while learning part-time. So, I quit my job and pursued a Master's in Data Science at the University of British Columbia in 2017. I haven't looked back since.

I currently work at Shopify where I get to tackle some of the most interesting data problems in the e-commerce space. I love thinking deeply about what goes into building great software and great products. I also love learning about the latest and greatest technologies, so I'm hoping that this blog will be an outlet for me to share my thoughts and learnings about data-related topics and tooling. Excited for you to follow along!

Me enjoying the sunrise on top of Acatenango in Guatemala (March 2023).

Why Subscribe?

You might be interested in this blog if you meet at least two of the following criteria:

  • work as a data scientist
  • aspire to be a data scientist
  • consider yourself to be my friend 😉
  • are interested in machine learning topics
  • are interested in learning new data-related technologies
  • are interested in topics related to tech career growth

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