Isaac S - Tutor in Rosebank

2017-01-16 - 2023-12-31

Junior Data Scientist

My current work is focused on applying data science tools and techniques to analyze radio astronomy data from the MeerKAT telescope. I have developed a framework that statistically analyzes the Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) environment for the MeerKAT site. This involves high-performance computing programming skills as well as project management, that I have mastered and I am confident is a critical asset for the above-mentioned position. For the past three years, I have been working at South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) under the Square Kilometer Array Africa (SKA-Africa) project as a Junior Data Scientist. During my engagement with SARAO, I have grown and gained valuable knowledge and skills such as understanding statistical techniques, software pipeline development and data science. I had an extensive range of responsibilities including the processing of raw data, data collection techniques, data interpretation, data visualization, statistical modelling and communication skills. I was required to communicate my findings to the management of the company. I have also participated in the National System Engineering competition whereby our team won first place. Here, I have learnt about the Systems Engineering process of which I believe each data scientist should have. This process helps in acquiring requirements for a certain project and helps to avoid omissions, make invalid assumptions, helps to manage real world-changing issues, produce the most efficient, economical and robust solution.

2015-01-05 - 2016-12-16

BSc Hons Astrophysics - University of Cape Town

Title: Investigation of the link between solar activity and terrestrial weather. The study was aimed to try to establish if there is a statistically significant correlation between solar activity and terrestrial weather. Local climate data in combination with solar activity data dating back from 1963 until 2013 from Hermanus Magnetic Observatory (SANSA) was used to establish as to whether there was any significant correlation between space weather and terrestrial weather.

2017-01-01 - 2019-12-31

MSc Astrophysics and Space Science - University Of Cape Town

Title: The MeerKAT Radio Frequency Interference Environment. My work aims to investigate a probabilistic approach to characterise the RFI environment around the MeerKAT radio telescope. In order to achieve our goal, we designed the MeerKAT Historical Probability of RFI (KATHPRFI) framework. The KATHPRFI produces a 5-dimensional array database of the RFI probability as measured by the MeerKAT telescope. Our results provide the first highly detailed view of the MeerKAT RFI environment allowing us to track the historical evolution of the RFI, both on average, and as a function of frequency, baseline and direction.

2011-01-10 - 2013-12-31

BSc Physics and Chemistry - University of Limpopo

2011-01-10 - 2013-12-31

BSc Physics and Chemistry - University of Limpopo