'Professional Testing Area': HSE University-St Petersburg Graduate on 'Useful Sociology' and Product Research
Daniil Gurin, graduate of HSE University-St Petersburg, planned to devote his life to physics but found his calling in sociology. Now, he builds a career in product research and works at 'Sberbank'. Read on to find out how data analysis helps to solve real-life problems and why it is important to combine theory and practice from the very first days.
— What influenced your choice of a programme at HSE University-St Petersburg?
— Until the 11th grade, I was preparing for the Russian State Exam in physics as I planned to apply for a technical programme. But as graduation approached, I realised that this choice was based on other people's expectations, and I radically changed my strategy.
I wanted to find a concentration with an interdisciplinary approach, which would teach me efficient data analytics and, at the same time, would help me solve real-life problems. The Bachelor's programme 'Sociology and Social Informatics' attracted me with the combination of theory and applied work with data. An additional argument in favour of HSE University-St Petersburg was the fully English-taught studies.
— How has your academic career developed?
— In the second year, professors noticed my interest in field work and offered me the opportunity to join the Laboratory of Sociology in Education and Science.
The Laboratory has become a professional testing area for me. Over three years, I managed to process a huge amount of data and major surveys, and also took part in three expeditions. Thanks to the experiments with various research methods, I puzzled out what the full research cycle looked like: from formulating a question to interpreting results and preparing reports.
I got a very important insight when I was working on the project on creating content about anti-bullying. Together with the team, we showed school students special videos, after which we conducted the A/B testing to assess how the attitude to bullying changed after watching the materials. Then, I realised that social research could truly help people.
— Could you tell us more about the research expeditions in which you participated while studying at HSE University-St Petersburg?
— Expeditions around Russia taught me to communicate efficiently under any conditions and with any people. In Vyborg, I worked with my first focus groups and maintained interaction between several respondents. In Novosibirsk, I interviewed people in the streets. This activity also required quick reaction and flexibility: I had to make contact with people and earn their trust in seconds.
I have the brightest impressions of the expeditions to the Himalayas, where I tried myself at cross-cultural research. For instance, we held interviews with the locals with the help of a translator. The communication chain became more complex, but it taught me to be more flexible and attentive to words and non-verbal signals. This is how I went beyond the classroom and significantly expanded my professional horizons.
— How did the classes at HSE University-St Petersburg help you build your career?
— From the first year, I was looking for an opportunity to immerse myself in the profession. At first, projects at the Laboratory met my requirements, but some time later, I wanted to do 'field work'. So I started to respond to vacancies at commercial companies.
The search was successful—for almost a year, I worked as a product manager at 'Ulybka Radugi' (cosmetics store network). There, I learned to work out hypotheses and understand clients' needs. In the process, it became clear that I was excited not about managing processes but researching them: finding and analysing data about a user and developing a business strategy.
Then, I transitioned to 'Sberbank' for a position of a product researcher, where I finally managed to use all my academic background to solve tasks. The teamwork skills, which I mastered to perfection during the student projects, came in handy as well. An ability to argue your position and negotiate with others helped me to become a mediator, not just between the team members but also between the research and the final product.
— What would you wish to future students of HSE University-St Petersburg?
— Move from theory to practice as soon as possible, but keep the balance. Devote the first years to methodology. If you don't understand how principles of sample frame and hypothesis testing work, you won't be able to build the foundation of your research.
Simultaneously, get involved in project activities. Take a closer look at the Project Fair—it is a working method to complement your portfolio with first cases and shape your professional network.
By the way, networking means as much as academic achievements—in the future, your group mates and professors can become your colleagues. Thus, remember: not for school but for life we learn.
