i also have a background in python - django and flask - as well as data analysis. i am currently learning node at the moment. powerful stuff. javascript front and back. i couple it with express.

i am getting ready to draft a blog post on working with node/express/ajax which you may be interested in.

a buddy of mine uses the same setup for all his phonegap apps. they not only look amazing, but they are fairly easy to put together.

best of luck.