From LSBU to Cambridge: How one grad is using AI to unlock the power of language
Ever wondered how you can turn a passion for data into a career at one of the world’s top universities? Meet Data Science graduate Sebastian Obeta, who's now a Data and Insight Analyst at the University of Cambridge – using AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to solve real-world problems every day.
Can you tell us about your current role and what a typical day looks like?
I work as a Data and Insight Analyst specialising in Natural Language Processing (NLP) at Cambridge University. My role involves using data science techniques to derive insights from textual data – everything from processing academic publications to analysing internal communications and feedback. A typical day might include writing Python scripts for text preprocessing, training NLP models, visualising trends in large datasets, and presenting findings to stakeholders across departments. It’s a dynamic role that blends technical work with strategic impact, and I love the challenge of turning unstructured text into actionable insights.
LSBU laid the foundation for where I am today.
How did your time at LSBU help you reach your career goals?
LSBU’s MSc in Data Science laid the foundation for where I am today. The programme gave me a deep understanding of machine learning, data wrangling, and especially NLP, a field I developed a passion for during the course. What helped was the focus on applied learning. Through assignments, internships, and projects, I got hands-on experience with real datasets and tools that I now use daily in my job. LSBU also taught me to think critically and approach problems with a structured, analytical mindset.
The lecturers were incredibly supportive and brought current industry knowledge into the classroom.
What were the key benefits of studying your programme at LSBU?
The balance between theory and practical application was a big advantage. We weren’t just reading about models – we were implementing them, validating them, and learning how to evaluate them in real-world scenarios. The lecturers were also incredibly supportive and brought current industry knowledge into the classroom. Another big plus was the diverse cohort; working with people from different backgrounds gave me broader perspectives and improved my collaboration skills.
What were the highlights of your course?
One standout experience was my dissertation, where I worked on an NLP project titled A Comparative Study of Long Short-Term Memory and Gated Recurrent Unit on social media text. It combined everything I enjoyed: data cleaning, modelling, visualisation, and storytelling. It also ended up being a great talking point in job interviews. Another highlight was the guest speakers LSBU brought in; hearing from data professionals helped me understand what employers were looking for and how to position myself in the job market.
The academic staff were very approachable and genuinely invested in our success.
What kind of support did you receive as a student?
The academic staff were very approachable and genuinely invested in our success. Whether I needed help understanding a technical topic or feedback on a project, there was always someone to turn to. The career services were also helpful; they offered workshops on CV writing, LinkedIn, and mock interviews, which helped me build confidence as I transitioned into the job market.
What advice would you give to future students considering your course?
Take full advantage of every project – use them to build a portfolio that shows off your skills. If you’re interested in a specific area like NLP or computer vision, tailor your assignments to reflect that. And don’t underestimate the value of soft skills – communication, teamwork, and storytelling are just as important as technical expertise. Most importantly, stay curious. The field of data science evolves rapidly, and LSBU gives you a strong foundation to keep learning and growing.