Curriculum Vitae

Hi, I'm Nijiati.

Data Scientist Biochemist Indie Builder
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About Applying machine learning, bioinformatics, and data analysis to real-world problems. Skilled in predictive modeling and large-scale data work — driving insights and impact across healthcare and education.
3Degrees
6Publications
6Work roles
15Awards

Skills

Programming
Python R SQL Java HTML
ML / Data
scikit-learn pandas NumPy PyTorch Keras matplotlib
Methods
Bioinformatics Biostatistics Predictive modeling ETL Pipelines
Tools
Jupyter MS SQL Server VS Code Django
Languages
English French Chinese Uyghur
Sep 2023 — Jul 2024
Kelowna, BC

Master of Data Science

University of British Columbia Okanagan

GPA 95.3  ·  Scholarship 5000

Focus Python/R , Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Statistical Analysis, Bayesian Statistics

  • Lung Disease Classifier (Keras, deep learning)
  • Diabetes Prediction Model(scikit-learn, healthcare analytics)
  • Milk Quality Prediction (scikit-learn, predictive modeling)
OutcomeCapstone delivered a deployable PHQ-9 prediction model for GreenspaceHealth from 140K+ EHR records. Course projects (Lung Disease Classifier, Diabetes Prediction, Milk Quality Prediction) became standalone case studies.
Sep 2014 — Feb 2017
Kelowna, BC

Master of Science in Biochemistry

University of British Columbia Okanagan

GPA 92  ·  Scholarship 24000

Focus Bioinformatics, Experimental Design, Scientific Writing

  • Thesis: The Effects of Lipid Diets on Gut Microbiota
OutcomeThesis on lipid diet effects on gut microbiota became the foundation for first-author Nutrients (2019) publication and feeds into the broader research program (six peer-reviewed papers to date).
Sep 2010 — Jun 2014
Kelowna, BC

Bachelor of Science

University of British Columbia Okanagan

GPA 84.4  ·  Scholarship 17000

Focus Medical Concentration

OutcomeMedical concentration prepared the biochemistry foundation that later supported transition into bioinformatics and ML for health data.
Feb 2026 — Present
Remote (West Kelowna, BC — working with Montreal HQ in French)

Data Scientist

AGEL Assurance (Montreal)

WhatInsurance brokerages juggle data across multiple carrier portals and Applied Epic agency-management systems, with no unified view of customers, policies, or claims. The mismatch costs hours of manual reconciliation per week and hides risk patterns.
HowLead data integration between major Canadian insurance carriers and the company's Applied Epic system, building the sync layer that flows customer, policy, and claims records into a single source of truth. Built and deployed the corporate website (Django + PostgreSQL on Render) including the content management backend. Operate cross-functionally in French with the Montreal HQ from a remote BC office.
OutcomeUnified data layer replaces brittle manual reconciliation; the deployed website runs on the same Django stack the team can extend. Working bilingually with the Montreal team established a remote-first integration model.
Feb 2025 — Jul 2025
Kamloops, BC

Contract Research Associate — Brain Tumor Methylation

Mamatjan Lab — Thompson Rivers University

WhatGlioma subtypes have radically different survival curves, but standard methylation-array classification costs ~$2,000 per sample and takes weeks. Survival modeling on top of subtype call is rarer still.
HowDesigned and built a leakage-controlled ML pipeline for diffuse-glioma subtype classification (Astrocytoma, Oligodendroglioma, Glioblastoma) and survival risk modeling from Illumina 450k and EPIC methylation profiles. Trained a multi-class XGBoost classifier on 462 samples that compressed 404,954 features to a 70-feature signature with 97–99% test accuracy. Co-developed a Cox survival framework on 711 samples (256 events) reaching C-index 0.796 and identified HMGA2, RHOBTB3, and POMT1 as novel prognostic loci.
Outcome70-feature panel could enable faster, cheaper subtyping in clinics without full methylation infrastructure. Manuscript in progress with the Mamatjan Lab.
May 2024 — Sep 2024
Kelowna, BC

Health Research Data Analyst

University of Calgary

WhatA multi-PI microbiome project needed reproducible statistical workflows that an MD, a PhD, and a registered dietitian could all act on — but lab notebooks were one-off scripts that broke between researchers.
HowCollaborated directly with the MD, PhD, and dietitian to design a shared analysis pipeline. Ran db-RDA analysis to surface the dominant relationships between microbiome composition and demographic variables, and built reusable R/Python workflows that automated the data processing they had been doing manually.
OutcomeAutomated workflows replaced ad-hoc scripts; statistical findings were directly translatable into actionable healthcare research insights for the clinical collaborators.
May 2024 — Jul 2024
Kelowna, BC

Machine Learning Data Scientist (Capstone)

GreenspaceHealth

WhatFamily-medicine clinics see depression symptoms scattered across thousands of EHR fields, but PHQ-9 scoring requires a separate visit. By the time clinics flag a patient, severity has often escalated.
HowLed the UBC MDS capstone team for GreenspaceHealth. Processed 140,000 patient records across 14 SQL tables and engineered features from messy multi-clinic data. Trained Random Forest, Temporal Neural Network, and XGBoost models, capturing 78% variance in PHQ-9 prediction. Delivered an inference pipeline with feature-importance reports and presented findings to the company's CEO and faculty.
OutcomeDemonstrated that PHQ-9 severity can be flagged from existing EHR data alone, opening the door to passive screening between visits. Executive summary and technical report shipped to GreenspaceHealth as a deployable artifact.
Sep 2023 — Jul 2024
Kelowna, BC

Research Data Consultant

University of British Columbia Okanagan

WhatGraduate researchers across UBC Okanagan needed Python and R for statistical modeling but didn't have a central resource — they were stuck on Stack Overflow and supervisors couldn't scale to one-on-one teaching.
HowDesigned and led Python and R workshops for 30+ researchers across departments, plus one-on-one consultations on tough datasets. Covered statistical modeling, data wrangling, and visualization tailored to each project's actual data.
OutcomeCut researchers' analysis time by 40%+ and improved the methodological quality of downstream publications. Built a reusable training curriculum that other consultants could deliver.
Mar 2018 — Aug 2023
Kelowna, BC

Biochemistry Laboratory Technician

University of British Columbia Okanagan

WhatA biochemistry teaching lab needs reliable infrastructure — working equipment, stocked reagents, trained TAs, animal-care compliance — or experiments fail and students lose lab time.
HowRan the day-to-day operations of the teaching lab over five years: managed the animal care facility, chemical inventory, equipment procurement, and TA training. Set up and tore down dozens of practical sessions per term and tested protocols before they hit students. Built educational YouTube content on biology fundamentals to extend reach beyond the classroom.
OutcomeTeaching labs ran without disruption across five years and multiple courses. Inventory and procurement systems set during this tenure were still in use after departure.
2025

Multimodal Gene Expression and Methylation Profiling Reveals Misclassified Tumors Beyond Histological Diagnosis

Electronics · Co-author · ML pipeline · DOI ↗

Mamatjan Y, Abulizi N

Multi-modal ML pipeline integrating gene expression and DNA methylation that flags tumors misclassified by traditional histology.

2025

The adoption of a westernized gut microbiome in Indian Immigrants and Indo-Canadians is associated with dietary acculturation

npj Biofilms and Microbiomes · Co-led microbiome analysis and visualization pipeline (Python / R) · DOI ↗

D'Aloisio LD, Ballal M, Ghosh S, Haskey N, Abulizi N, et al.

Co-led the gut microbiome analysis and visualization pipeline that connected dietary acculturation patterns to compositional shifts in the gut microbiome of Indian immigrants.

2024

A Gut Microbiome Transition: The Journey from India to Canada

Journal of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology · Statistical comparison lead · DOI ↗

D'Aloisio LD, Haskey N, Abulizi N, et al.

Designed and executed the statistical comparison of pre- and post-migration microbial communities.

2019

Gut Mucosal Proteins and Bacteriome Are Shaped by the Saturation Index of Dietary Lipids

Nutrients · First author · DOI ↗

Abulizi N, Quin C, Brown K, Chan YK, Gill SK, Gibson DL

Ran the bioinformatics workflow on host gut mucosal proteomic and microbiome data.

2017

Linking the Gut Microbial Ecosystem with the Environment: Does Gut Health Depend on Where We Live?

Frontiers in Microbiology · Statistical analysis (R) · DOI ↗

Tasnim N, Abulizi N, Pither J, Hart MM, Gibson DL

Contributed environmental-driver statistical analysis in R.

2016

Dietary Lipid Type, Rather Than Total Number of Calories, Alters Outcomes of Enteric Infection in Mice

The Journal of Infectious Diseases · Proteomic experiments + analysis · DOI ↗

DeCoffe D, Quin C, Gill SK, Tasnim N, Brown K, Godovannyi A, Dai C, Abulizi N, Chan YK, Ghosh S, Gibson DL

Ran proteomic experiments and contributed to downstream data analysis.

Sep 2024 — Oct 2024
Kelowna, BC

Sessional Lecturer

University of British Columbia Okanagan

WhatMaster of Data Science students arrive from biology, economics, and humanities backgrounds — and need to be writing production-grade Python and R within weeks. Most introductory programming courses move too slowly for the MDS pace.
HowTaught Programming in Python and R to 37 UBC MDS students. Designed labs and exams that emphasized real data-science best practices (vectorization, reproducibility, testing) over rote syntax, and built grading rubrics that rewarded clean code rather than just correct output.
OutcomeStudents moved from no-code-experience to confident pandas/dplyr usage within the term. The course materials are reused in subsequent MDS cohorts.

Courses

  • Programming in Python and R for Data Science
May 2024 — Sep 2024
Kelowna, BC

Excel Workshop Instructor

University of British Columbia Okanagan

WhatResearch staff across departments needed Excel and Power Query skills for project work but couldn't take a full course — they needed targeted, project-specific training.
HowWorked with department staff to identify the specific Excel and Power Query gaps blocking each project, then ran tailored sessions plus self-paced video modules. Sessions covered live data, not toy examples.
OutcomeResearchers got unblocked on their specific bottlenecks within hours of training rather than searching documentation for days. Self-paced videos extended the reach beyond the live cohort.

Courses

  • 1. Excel 2. Power Query
Sep 2012 — Aug 2014
Kelowna, BC

Undergraduate Teaching Assistant

University of British Columbia Okanagan

WhatFirst- and second-year STEM courses (intro biology, chemistry, physics) are the gatekeeper classes for science majors — but instructors can't scale to give every student lab help and feedback.
HowServed as a TA across seven courses spanning biology, chemistry, physics, and biochemistry over two years. Led lab sessions, tutorials, and exam reviews; graded assignments and lab reports with detailed feedback.
OutcomeSupported the full first- and second-year STEM core curriculum across multiple departments. Repeated TA appointments across departments evidence the consistency of student support.

Courses

  • 1. BIOL 116, Biology for Science Majors I (2014 Summer Term 2)
  • 2. PHYS 122, Introductory Physics II (2013/2014 Winter Term 2)
  • 3. BIOC 393, Biochemistry Laboratory (2013/2014 Winter Term 2)
  • 4. CHEM 111, Principles of Chemistry I (2013/2014 Winter Term 1)
  • 5. PHYS 111, Calculus-Based Physics I (2013/2014 Winter Term 1)
  • 6. PHYS 102, Electricity, Light, and Radiation (2012/2013 Winter Term 2)
  • 7. PHYS 112, Introductory Physics I (2012/2013 Winter Term 1)
Sep 2014 — Aug 2016
Kelowna, BC

Graduate Teaching Assistant

University of British Columbia Okanagan

WhatLarge biology lecture classes (BIOL 116/125, anatomy & physiology BIOL 131/133) leave students without one-on-one help on tough concepts — lab sections are where the real understanding happens.
HowLed lab sessions, tutorials, and discussion sections across four courses (BIOL 116, BIOL 125, BIOL 131, BIOL 133) over two years. Graded exams, assignments, and reports with substantive feedback rather than just marks.
OutcomeHundreds of biology majors received structured lab support during the foundational courses. Course coordinators repeatedly assigned high-enrolment sections.

Courses

  • 1. BIOL 125, Biology for Science Majors II (2015/2016 Winter Term 2)
  • 2. BIOL 116, Biology for Science Majors I (2015/2016 Winter Term 1)
  • 3. BIOL 133, Anatomy and Physiology (2014/2015 Winter Term 2)
  • 4. BIOL 131, Anatomy and Physiology (2014/2015 Winter Term 1)
Sep 2016
Kelowna, BC

The Effects of Lipid Diets on the Gut Microbiome II

UBC Okanagan Biology Graduate Symposium

  • Won 2nd Place Poster
Mar 2016
Kelowna, BC

Omics Methods to Study the Effects of High-Fat Diets on Gut Bacteria

Bioinformatics Guest Lecturer

  • Guest Lecturer
Sep 2015
Kelowna, BC

The Effects of Lipid Diets on the Gut Microbiome I

UBC Okanagan Biology Graduate Symposium

  • Won 1st Place Poster
Jul 2015
Kelowna, BC

Techniques in Immunology

Immunology Guest Lecturer

  • Guest Lecturer
2023 Master of Data Science Graduate Program Entrance Scholarship CAD $5000
2016 Graduate Dean’s Thesis Fellowship CAD $6000
2015 UBC Okanagan Graduate Fellowship CAD $6000
2015 BC Proteomic Network Training Fund CAD $4000
2015 Best Poster Award (Health Science MSc) CAD $150
2015 The Golden Key Graduate Scholar Award USD $10000
2013 International Student Faculty Award ( CAD $5000
2014 UBC Okanagan Graduate Fellowship CAD $12000
2012 UBC Okanagan International Community Achievement Award CAD $3000
2012 International Student Faculty Award CAD $5000
2012 International Student Faculty Award CAD $5000
2012 Deputy Vice-Chancellor Scholarship for International Students CAD $500
2011 UBC Okanagan International Community Achievement Award CAD $3000
2011 Deputy Vice-Chancellor Scholarship for International Students ( CAD $1000
2011 Dean’s List
Sep 2015 — Dec 2024
Kelowna, BC

Data Mentorship

University of British Columbia Okanagan

Hours 200

WhatMaster's and PhD students often hit a wall where their statistical methods are wrong or their R/Python code won't produce publication-quality figures — and supervisors can't scale to debug each one.
HowMentored Master's and PhD students in advanced data analysis with R and Python over nine years (2015–2024). Walked researchers through statistical interpretation specifically for journal submissions — effect sizes, multiple testing, defensible model choices.
OutcomeMultiple mentees published with the analyses developed in these sessions. Several went on to lead their own labs' statistical workflows.
Sep 2014 — Sep 2016
Kelowna, BC

Education Leader

Crohn’s and Colitis Kelowna Chapter

Hours 180

WhatCrohn's and colitis patients in smaller cities lack access to specialist communities. Local awareness, fundraising, and education infrastructure has to be built and run by volunteers.
HowLed presentations on disease management, distributed education materials in clinics and community spaces, and organized the Gutsy-Walk fundraiser — the chapter's primary annual event.
OutcomeBuilt local visibility for Crohn's and colitis support; the Gutsy-Walk fundraiser ran successfully under this leadership and supported chapter programs.
May 2014 — May 2017
Kelowna, BC

Volunteer Instructor

Parkinson Recreation Center

Hours 150

WhatAdults with disabilities have limited access to recreational programs that meet them where they are — most fitness and cooking classes assume able bodies and minds.
HowCo-led adapted dance and cooking classes for adults with disabilities over three years. Adjusted activities week-to-week to participants' abilities so everyone made progress at their own level.
OutcomeParticipants built skill and confidence across multiple program seasons. Adapted lesson formats were reused by subsequent instructors.
Aug 2024 — Dec 2024
Kelowna, BC

YouTube Content Creator

BitSize Learning Channel

Hours 40

WhatProgramming and language tutorials online are mostly one-hour lectures — there's a gap for short, focused micro-lessons that people can actually finish on a coffee break.
HowCreated and edited short-form video content for the BitSize Learning channel covering programming fundamentals and language-learning techniques. Designed each video to teach one concept in 60–120 seconds.
OutcomeBuilt the video content library that supports the BitSize Learning brand and feeds the daily-lesson product. Established the visual and pedagogical voice for the channel.
Jan 2018 — Dec 2024
Kelowna, BC

Literacy Volunteer

Kelowna Project Literacy

Hours 260

WhatNewcomers to Canada and seniors trying to use modern digital services often don't have anyone to teach them English at their own pace — and conventional classes don't fit irregular schedules.
HowTaught English to ESL learners and newcomers one-on-one over six years, and ran digital literacy workshops for seniors covering online services, email, and basic computer skills. Adapted lessons to each learner's real life rather than textbook drills.
OutcomeHelped dozens of newcomers through the practical English they needed for jobs, government forms, and daily life. Seniors gained access to digital services they had been locked out of.
Sep 2016 — Jun 2023
Kelowna, BC

Outreach Volunteer

University of British Columbia Okanagan

Hours 450

WhatUniversities have animal facilities and biology resources, but the public — especially school children — rarely sees the science up close. Outreach programs need volunteers who can both handle animals safely and teach kids.
HowTrained other volunteers in animal handling and ran biology lessons for visiting school children at UBC Okanagan's outreach program. Performed husbandry duties to keep the facility running between events.
OutcomeSustained the outreach program over six years with a trained volunteer base. Brought hands-on biology to school groups who would otherwise never enter a university lab.