Ruslan Adamovics-Davtian

Ruslan Adamovics-Davtian’s passion for sports analytics and data science led him to Cal Poly’s MSQE program. Originally from Walnut Creek, CA, Ruslan earned a B.S. in Statistics with a minor in Data Science before pursuing the program to refine his technical skills and enhance his career prospects.

“After completing two internships in sports analytics, I knew I needed advanced education to compete in a selective job market,” Ruslan explained. “The MSQE program’s focus on math, statistics, data science, and programming was an ideal fit, especially with its 10-month timeline.”

The program helped Ruslan deepen his theoretical understanding of data science concepts, which had faded during a two-year break from academia. “The coursework and collaboration with classmates gave me the skills and confidence to excel in the labor market,” he shared.

Ruslan’s favorite courses were Computing and Machine Learning for Economics and Advanced Econometrics I and II, where he honed statistical modeling and machine learning skills. These classes combined theory with practical applications, preparing him for real-world challenges.

Although COVID limited in-person activities, Ruslan stayed connected to baseball analytics by volunteering remotely as a student manager for Cal Poly’s DI Men’s Baseball team. He helped create advanced scouting reports for players and coaching staff.

Since graduating, Ruslan has worked with organizations such as the San Francisco 49ers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Cincinnati Reds. Currently, he is an MLB Data Scientist at Swish Analytics in San Francisco, where he continues to apply and expand his expertise.

For prospective MSQE students, Ruslan advises, “Brush up on Python or R and strengthen your math and statistics background. It’ll make the fast-paced program more manageable and set you up for success.”

Looking ahead, Ruslan aims to advance his career as a data scientist, combining his passion for sports with cutting-edge analytical methods.

This profile was published in the Winter of 2024.