Description of Current Work

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Q: Can you describe your current position at Loka and what your normal day looks like?

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A: Yep. So, currently, I'm a machine learning engineer, but at Loka, I'm specifically working in a biology team, so what we call a bio AI team.

So, in Loka, generally speaking, you have projects with a lot of different clients in software. Mostly, the ones that I work in are with artificial intelligence. But in the team that I'm currently staffed to, it’s projects related to life sciences.

Basically, what we do is help other companies, mostly based on research and life sciences—companies that are trying to develop new medicines, new treatments, or new ways of diagnosing patients with specific diseases. We try to help them accelerate their drug discovery process. Instead of having to do all of the experiments in the lab, we simulate those experiments using artificial intelligence and try to guide them through that process—helping them see which experiments are most viable and most likely to succeed.

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This is done using AI, with the most recent methods that are coming up every week, I would say.

My day-to-day is a lot of programming—coding in Python, working remotely either from home or a co-working space. I would say 80% of the time is coding, and 20% is meetings, either with clients or teammates, for problem-solving and troubleshooting.

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Career Journey

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Q: Can you give a quick overview of your career journey, like where you went to college, and what got you interested in machine learning?

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A: Yep. So, I'm Portuguese, and I went to the University of Porto in the Faculty of Engineering, where I got my bachelor’s and master’s degree in bioengineering, with a specialization in biomedical engineering.

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At the time, I was trying to figure out what I liked. That’s why I chose bioengineering—it’s very broad, covering mathematics, biology, physics, and more. During my university years, I did different internships to see what I liked.

In my final year, I did my master’s thesis in a company, because I realized that research wasn’t for me, and I preferred the company environment. My thesis was in machine learning, which at the time was really growing. I also enjoyed the courses I had on machine learning, so I chose a thesis on that at a deep tech startup in Porto.

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That company was building a platform to diagnose neurodegenerative diseases using AI. I got hired after my thesis and worked there full-time for about two years as a data scientist. Then, through networking with old colleagues, I heard about Loka, saw they were hiring, applied, and got in.

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So, overall: two years as a data scientist in a startup, and now one year at Loka as a machine learning engineer.

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Future Career Opportunities in AI & Healthcare

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Q: In machine learning and AI, what do you think are going to be the most interesting career opportunities emerging in the next 5 to 10 years, especially in healthcare?

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A:  I think the biggest opportunities will be for people who can bridge the two fields—AI and healthcare. Right now, they’re very separate, and it’s often hard to translate between them. People who understand both will be in high demand.

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Yes, there are concerns about using AI in healthcare, but with proper regulation, we’ll get through that. Once that barrier is crossed, I think many positions will appear for people who can integrate AI into existing healthcare roles.

I don’t think healthcare positions will disappear—rather, they’ll adapt. AI will make jobs more efficient and help professionals better assist patients.

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Technical vs. Management Roles

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Q: You’ve had technical roles like biomedical data science, and leadership roles like business management. What do you like about each?

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A: In technical roles, I love the challenge of solving coding problems. It’s very logical and mathematical—like solving puzzles. You know you’ll eventually fix it, but it requires deep understanding and sometimes collaboration.

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In management roles, the challenge is people. It’s not just about you—it depends on others too. It requires soft skills, people skills, and managing dynamics, which makes it a different but rewarding challenge.

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Advice for Young People in AI & Machine Learning

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Q: Do you have any specific advice for a young person interested in AI and machine learning?

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A: ​Yes. First, don’t get overwhelmed—it’s normal. Even as professionals, we feel overwhelmed with how fast things change in AI.

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Second, just start. You don’t need a paid course—you can use free online resources like YouTube tutorials or blog posts. Pick one and try it.

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Third, try it as early as possible. If you’re in high school, experiment with AI tools on your computer. If you’re in university, try internships. The earlier you test whether you actually like it, the better.

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Career Reflections

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Q: Is there anything you would have done differently in your career so far?

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A: In university, I wish I had taken even more opportunities—internships, hackathons, associations, workshops. At the time, I was always balancing grades with extracurriculars. I did some, but looking back, I would have done more. Once you leave university, those opportunities don’t come as often.​

 

Future Goals for Maria 

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Q: Looking back at your journey so far, is there anything you would have done differently?

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A: Short term: grow technically, learn as much as I can from my very smart teammates at Loka, and strengthen my skills.

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Long term: create real impact with AI in healthcare, and eventually transition more into management while building on my technical background.

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Loka and AWS Recognition

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Q: Loka won the 2024 Amazon Innovation Partner award. Can you explain what this means?

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A: ​Yes. AWS has a partner network of companies that they recommend to clients who need specialized help. Loka has been in that network for a while, and clients have consistently given very positive feedback.

This award was the top recognition from AWS—it means we’ve built a strong reputation, and AWS is now even more likely to recommend us to new clients. That means more projects and more opportunities for us.

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Favorite Part of Work

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Q: What is your favorite part about your work, and what makes it unique compared to past jobs?

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A: At Loka, I get to work with top startups on groundbreaking life sciences projects—like new cancer treatments or diagnostic tools. Normally, to work with such companies, I’d have to move to the U.S. or Switzerland. But with Loka, I can contribute to this level of innovation while working remotely from Portugal. That’s very unique and exciting.

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Remote Work

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Q: Do you enjoy working from home?

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A: Yes, I actually do. At first, I thought I wouldn’t like it because I’m very social, but I realized it gives me more balance. During the day I’m more efficient, and after work, I can fully enjoy social time with friends and family without worrying about commuting or chores.