Data Innovation

Meets

Deep Reflection

Hey there! I'm Burak Can Serdar, a passionate data enthusiast with a deep background in philosophy.

With over nine years of experience as a Research Assistant, I've blended my love for philosophy with my technical skills, exploring the intersections of knowledge, technology, and society.

Currently, I'm diving into the world of data science and machine learning, holding certifications from Google and Microsoft, and working towards an IBM Machine Learning Professional Certificate.

My journey has seen me digitalize educational processes, automate data analysis, and coach students to excel academically.

When I'm not crunching numbers, you'll find me engrossed in philosophical texts, movies, or music.

Have a look at my resume to learn more about my background and experience. Let's connect and explore the endless possibilities where data meets philosophy!

My Skills

Programming Languages

SQL

R (Tidyverse, Rmarkdown, Shiny)

Python

(Numpy, Pandas, Matplotlib, Seaborn, sklearn, XGBoost)

Statistics & Machine Learning

Hypothesis Testing, A/B Tests, Linear and Logistic Regression Analysis, Chi-Square Tests, ANOVA, ANCOVA, MANOVA, MANCOVA, Decision Trees, Bagging, Random Forest, Boosting

BI & Data Visualization

Tableau

Microsoft Power BI

R and Python Packages

Platforms

Amazon Web Services

Google BigQuery

Suites

Microsoft Office

Google Suite

Operating Systems

Microsoft Windows

Linux

(Debian-based, Arch-based)

My Certifications

IBM Machine Learning Professional Certificate (in progress)

Courses provide a solid theoretical understanding and considerable practice in Supervised and Unsupervised learning, Regression, Classification, Clustering, Linear Regression, Ridge Regression, Machine Learning (ML) Algorithms, Decision Tree, Ensemble Learning, Survival Analysis, K-means clustering, DBSCAN, Dimensionality Reduction with Jupyter Notebooks and Watson Studio tools and Pandas, NumPy, Matplotlib, Seaborn, ipython-sql, Scikit-learn, ScipPy, Keras, and TensorFlow libraries.

IBM AI Engineering Professional Certificate (planned)

Comprehensive coverage of fundamental machine and deep learning concepts, including supervised and unsupervised learning. Hands-on application of Python machine learning and deep learning libraries such as SciPy, Scikit-Learn, Keras, PyTorch, and TensorFlow to solve industry problems. Areas of focus include object recognition, computer vision, image and video processing, text analytics, natural language processing (NLP), recommender systems, and other classification tasks.

Google Advanced Data Analytics Professional Certificate

Designed for Google Data Analytics Certificate graduates to expand their knowledge in machine learning, predictive modeling, and experimental design, the program includes over 200 hours of instruction and hundreds of practice-based assessments exclusively developed by Google employees with practical, hands-on projects simulating real-world advanced data analytics scenarios, featuring Jupyter Notebook, Python, and Tableau.

Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate

Google employees exclusively developed the program with decades of experience in data analytics with 180 hours of instruction and hundreds of highly interactive practice-based assessments focusing on data cleaning, problem-solving, critical thinking, data ethics, and data visualization using tools including presentations, Spreadsheets, SQL, Tableau and R Programming.

Career Essentials in Business Analysis by Microsoft and LinkedIn

Foundational business analysis concepts and understanding key processes using software tools, particularly Microsoft Forms, Power Automate, Excel, and Power BI.

Career Essentials in Data Analysis by Microsoft and LinkedIn

Foundational concepts used in data analysis and practice using software tools for data analytics and visualization, particularly SQL and Power BI.

2023 CORE: Data Science and Machine Learning

Core science and machine learning skills including Python, R, SQL, Useful Math/Stats/Algorithms, Tableau, Excel, GitHub, Kaggle, the basics of cloud, web development, and docker

My Experience

Research Assistant

Ankara University, Department of Philosophy

2014 – 2023

Data Worker

As the sole individual responsible for this position within the department, I managed the Student Information System (OBS), handling all data tasks for approximately 700 students across 9 programs.
I maintained records of grades, available courses, lecturers, and timetables.
I conducted ad hoc analyses and served as the main point of contact for troubleshooting communication with university database management and IT departments.

Research Scientist

I advised on statistical and computational approaches for departmental research and was the go-to person for quantitative methods.
I delivered the following courses:

PHI 426 Science and Society

This course began shortly after the major earthquakes in Hatay province, Turkey, in 2023. Consequently, I designed the course to focus on the practical applicability of philosophy and theoretical sciences. Specifically, the course explored how to think about disasters through the lens of leading philosophical theories of science and morality.

PHI 325 Philosophical Texts V

My interest in learning practices and the verification of knowledge, including the potential for AI to possess knowledge, inspired the design of this course. It centered around selected philosophical works that address problems of truth and language. The course aimed to discuss whether thought processes can be modeled and whether languages and the nature of languages can be represented within current practices in machine learning and large language models (LLM) technologies.

PHI 327 Philosophy of Technology and Environment

As a philosopher focused on the interaction between knowledge and its applications, I emphasize problem-focused discussions over purely theoretical knowledge. This course concentrated on technology, environmental challenges, society, economics, ethics, relationships between human beings, knowledge, and morality.

Some of my publications: Pragmatism on Epistemology, Hermeticism and Proto-Sciences, The False Will of Peter I

Problem Solving / Time Management / Communication

I engaged in office-related tasks such as planning, reporting, presentations, written communication, and management of the content of the department web page.

Consultant

Part-Time

Partenon Eğitim Danışmanlığı

2022 – 2023

Data Worker

I achieved digitalization and data gathering and analysis automation by implementing Google Sheets and Google Forms. This system gathered the data of every first and second-grade educational institution in Ankara, offering interactive querying and reporting capabilities.
I built an interactive reporting system in Microsoft Excel for the students of this business. It enables them to create weekly study schedules, track progress, and visually analyze test results.

Teacher / Student Coach

Volunteer

2020 – 2023

I prepared six students for the university qualification exam, taught mathematics and physics, tracked and analyzed preparation tests, and advised the students. This led to gradually improving my students’ test scores, positioning them in the top 1% of successful candidates in the qualification exam.

My Projects

Student Performance Prediction

Data Science

Machine Learning

Python, Jupyter

Kaggle

Depression and Anxiety Sentiment Analysis

Machine Learning

Natural Language Processing

Python, Pytorch, Jupyter

Github, Google Colab

Cookie Cats

Gate Level Test

Data Science

A/B Test

Python, Jupyter

Kaggle

Spaceship Titanic

Transportation Prediction

Machine Learning

Python, Jupyter

Kaggle

Salifort Motors

Employee Turnover Prediction

Data Science

Machine Learning

Python, Jupyter

Github, Google Colab

TikTok

Claim - Opinion Classification

Machine Learning

Natural Language Processing

Python, Jupyter

Kaggle

Cyclistic Bike-Share Analysis

Data Analysis

Powerquery Editor, Power BI

Data Cleaning, Transformation, EDA

Collatz Conjecture

R, Shiny, GitHub

shinyapps.io

SQL Murder Mystery Walkthrough

SQL, RMarkdown

RPubs

MovieLens

Personalized Recommendations

Collaborative Filtering,

Content-Based Filtering

Python, Jupyter

Github, Google Colab

My Education

PhD.

Ankara University, Department of Philosophy (2017 – ongoing)

I am pursuing a PhD in Philosophy at Ankara University, focusing on the historical and social impacts of philosophies of science and knowledge. My research delves into the history of modern sciences and examines how different cultures have responded to the challenges of modernization.

Thesis: Scientific and Technological Modernization of Russia in the 18th to 20th Centuries

Drawing on interdisciplinary methodologies, I explore how scientific ideas crossed cultural boundaries and influenced societal norms in Russia to uncover the pivotal role of scientific advancements in shaping Russia's socio-political landscape during this transformative period.

M.A.

Ankara University, Department of Philosophy (2014 – 2017)

I completed my M.A. in Philosophy at Ankara University, driven by a researcher position at the university. My studies focused on the Philosophy of Science, the Theory of Knowledge, and the Truth Problem. Through my M.A. studies, I deeply appreciated the nuanced intersections between philosophy, science, and societal impacts.

Thesis: Effects of Pragmatist Epistemology on Physics and Sociology

By analyzing case studies in physics and sociology, I investigated how pragmatic approaches to knowledge formation and truth-seeking processes have shaped these disciplines, exploring how pragmatist philosophical perspectives influence the development of scientific theories and sociological paradigms.

B.A.

Hacettepe University, Department of Philosophy (2008 – 2013)

I completed my B.A. in Philosophy at Hacettepe University, where I explored a diverse range of courses encompassing the philosophy of knowledge, philosophy of the mind, logic, and ethics. During my studies, I developed a keen interest in the philosophy of knowledge and philosophy of mind, actively participating in and organizing extracurricular activities focused on these areas. These studies not only enriched my philosophical understanding but also laid the foundation for my subsequent interest in data science, particularly in fields such as computerized modeling, machine learning, and artificial neural networks.

B.E. (Incomplete)

Middle East Technical University, Department of Mining Engineering (2004 – 2006)

I attended Middle East Technical University from 2004 to 2006, pursuing a B.E. in Mining Engineering. Over three semesters, my coursework focused on Mathematics, Physics, and Information Technologies. However, by the fourth semester, I reassessed my career interests and decided that the mining sector was not aligned with my professional goals. Consequently, I chose to discontinue the program. ses focused on Mathematics, Physics, and Information Technologies for three semesters. In the fourth semester, I realized the mining sector wasn't for me and dropped out of this program.

My Hobbies

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