Which influential data scientists are leading the charge? To help you keep up with the latest data science trends, we’ve compiled a list of the top data science and big data experts worth following.

Putting Your Data to Work!

Data science has long been a driving force in modern business, but even more so now with the wealth of data at our fingertips. Data is everywhere, thus, we need to learn how to make the most of it and get ahead in business.

So, in no particular order, here are the top 11 influential data scientists to follow on Twitter. Thanks to their tweets, you’ll understand how to use data science to get ahead in your career or business.

1. Kirk Borne

A data scientist and astrophysicist, Kirk is also a former rocket data science professor. His experience is so prolific that he was recently ranked second in a countdown of the top 100 big data influencers. As a professional, Kirk is always on the lookout for better ways to handle data with technology and put it to constructive use.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KirkDBorne

2. Bernard Marr

A man of multiple talents, Bernard knows how to handle data the way it’s meant to be. He’s an internationally best-selling business author and a wonderful keynote speaker. Notably, he also serves as a strategic advisor to various top companies and even governments. He makes it a point to contribute to the World Economic Forum regularly; his comments and posts are followed by millions.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BernardMarr

3. Gregory Piatetsky-Shapiro

Gregory is a data scientist who also happens to be the co-founder of SIGKDD, an association dedicated to knowledge discovery and data mining. He also works as the founder, president, and editor of KDnuggets.com, a top learning portal covering AI, big data analytics, data science, machine learning, and deep learning.  Follow Gregory if you want to dabble in those subjects.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kdnuggets

4. Vincent Granville

With a postdoctoral degree from Cambridge University, Vincent has more than 15 years of experience in the corporate world and has worked in multiple verticals. Predictive modeling and digital and business analytics are some of his strongest fortes. He is hailed by most people as the top expert in scoring technology.

Vincent founded and even self-funded Analyticbridge, one of the top communities for people interested in analytical sciences.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/granvilledsc

5. Michael Fisher

Michael is an analyst, tech evangelist, and cyber security expert. He’s contributed to major digital transformation projects and even worked as an ace VR influencer. He dabbles in data science and can often be found sharing secrets on robotics security and AI innovation.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fisher85m

6. DJ Patil

An American mathematician, Patil served as the chief data scientist for the U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy from 2015 to 2017. He’s lived a prolific life and has held some of the most coveted positions at leading companies like Skype, eBay, PayPal, and LinkedIn.

Patil even played a key role in the DTRA Threat Anticipation project, helping anticipate threats to thwart terror activities. His ideas are striking and innovative. Off of the work, we can tell he’s a big ice cream fan.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dpatil

7. Carla Gentry

Carla’s currently an owner and data scientist at Analytical Solution. She’s been practicing in the field of data science for more than 15 years and even has experience working in the top Fortune 100 companies. She believes data has huge potential and that data science is the key to unlocking the power behind big data.

With her extensive knowledge of data science, Carla easily ranks among the top 10 big data pros you need to follow to get the right insights. She often answers different questions and holds data sessions to share her experience and knowledge with the masses.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/data_nerd

8. Hilary Mason

Hilary formerly served as chief scientist at Bitly, Inc. and is currently a member of the NYCResistor. She’s the founder of Fast Forward Labs and co-founder of hackNY. Notably, she was mentioned as a popular influencer on LinkedIn in Fortune’s 40 Under 40 list.

Some of her best presentations are on YouTube; she knows how to inspire her audience and bring out the best in people.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hmason

9. Lillian Pierson

Lillian is most famously known as the founder and chief data scientist of Data-Mania. She has exemplary skills in analytics, big data science, and other data fields. Her book, Data Science for Dummies, and informative blogs have scored great reviews.

Lillian’s YouTube channel is liked by many; in her videos, she explains complex data science concepts in simple terms. As an expert and educator, she’s followed by plenty of data science enthusiasts.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bigdatagal

10. Andrew Ng

An associate professor at Stanford University, Andrew also works as a chief scientist at Baidu Research. He’s also one of the founders (and current co-chairman) of Coursera, a leading online education platform. Andrew also founded the Google Brain project, which has been credited with developing large-scale artificial neural networks. If you’re interested in data semantics, Andrew’s a great influencer to follow.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewyng

11. Sebastian Thrun

Another research professor at Stanford University, Sebastian is also the CEO of Udacity. Notably, Sebastian founded Google’s self-driving car project and Google X. He was also bestowed with plenty of awards and is considered one of the top LinkedIn influencers. His work has been so influential that he was named among Popular Science’s brilliant 10 in 2005.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SebastianThrun

Conclusion

What better way to learn more than to follow experts in your field of interest? These top data science influencers frequently share valuable insights from their fields. They’re revered by millions of people for a reason!

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