Why I Ended up working on detecting mental stress and overload using deep learning as a civil engineer!

As a civil engineer, my initial plan was to work on designing bridges and infrastructure, but life had other plans for me. I started working with BIM data and coding in Python six years ago, and my interest in data science grew exponentially. When I discovered the potential of machine learning in solving real-world problems, I knew I wanted to be part of this exciting field.

Fast forward to today, and I have developed a project that uses deep learning to detect mental stress and overload. I worked on different projects and gained confidence as a data scientist. How did I end up here? It’s a long story.

After working as a data scientist for a few years and getting more passionate about machine learning, I came to Canada as an international student to pursue a Ph.D. at McMaster University. As an ex-civil engineer, I was excited to work on projects that could improve the safety of workers in construction work settings. My research interests led me toward data science and machine learning.

I wanted to create something that could help people overcome mental stress and overload, which is a growing problem in our fast-paced world. I turned to deep learning and started working on a model that could detect mental stress and overload using physiological signals. I worked tirelessly on developing my deep learning model, pouring my heart and soul into the project. And eventually, all that hard work paid off. My model was able to accurately detect mental stress and overload, providing a valuable tool for mental health professionals.

I found myself working more than my maximum capacity to acquire the necessary skills. I took online courses, read many books, and practiced extensively to prepare myself for the job market. I knew the odds were stacked against me as an international student, but I was determined to succeed. During my Ph.D., I taught undergraduate courses at McMaster and supported myself financially without any help for the past 4.5 years, despite the low pay rate in universities for critical research work.

When I submitted my Ph.D. thesis on October 19th, 2022, and initiated the defence process to happen eight weeks later, I switched my focus to job haunting. I started applying for jobs, and I found myself facing a harsh reality. Despite my qualifications and technical skills, I was overqualified for many positions and struggled to get interviews due to my previous experiences in my home country rather than Canada. It was a challenging time, and my confidence was crushed.

But I didn’t give up. Instead, I channelled my frustration toward improving my skill set. It hasn’t been an easy journey, but it’s been an incredibly rewarding one. I never imagined I would keep searching for a job five months after, but I’m proud of how I handled the situation so far, regardless of the harsh reality. I hope to find a rewarding job soon. Until then, I keep posting here to share my knowledge.