Data Science

Python Fundamentals: Parts 1-4

May 5, 2025, 12:00pm
This four-part interactive workshop series is your complete introduction to programming Python for people with little or no previous programming experience. By the end of the series, you will be able to apply your knowledge of basic principles of programming and data manipulation to a real-world social science application.

Yiyi He

Data Science Fellow 2021-2022
Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning

Yiyi He is a Ph.D. candidate from the College of Environmental Design at University of California, Berkeley. She received her bachelor’s degree in City and Regional Planning from Nanjing University and her master’s degree in Environmental Planning from UC Berkeley. She is currently working as an AI Resident at GoogleX. Prior to this, she worked as a consultant for the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery at the World Bank and a researcher for the Center for Catastrophic Risk Management and Federal Aviation Administration Consortium in Aviation Operations Research. Her...

Frances Leung

Data Science Fellow 2021-2022
School of Information

Frances Leung is a master’s student at UC Berkeley School of Information where she focuses her studies in information and data science. She has a keen interest in leveraging data-driven insights to better understand consumer behaviors and the world around us. In her professional work as a management consultant, she advises retailers and consumer businesses on digital transformation and creating web/mobile experiences that delight consumers through a human-centered approach. Frances holds a Master in Business Administration from York University, Schulich School...

Enrique Valencia López

Data Science Fellow 2022-2023
Graduate School of Education

Enrique Valencia López is a PhD student in the Policy, Politics and Leadership cluster at the Graduate School of Education.His research interests relate to three broad areas: the stratification of education by gender, immigration status and ethnicity; the measurement of teacher working conditions and well-being; and education in Latin America.

Before coming to Berkeley, Enrique worked for Mexico’s National Institute for Educational Evaluation and Assessment (INEE) in both the Policy and Indicators area. During that time, he co-authored Mexico’s first report on the educational...

Ruiji Sun

Data Science Fellow 2024-2025
Center for the Built Environment

Ruiji Sun is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Building Science at UC Berkeley. He is also a GSR at the Center for the Built Environment (CBE). His dissertation focuses on causal inference in the built environment. Other areas of his research include indoor environmental quality, personalized environmental control systems, and building energy modeling.

He obtained his M.S. degree from Carnegie Mellon University and double-majored in Mechanical Engineering (HVAC) and Architecture at Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, China. Ruiji also served as a board...

Nanqin Ying

Data Science Fellow 2024-2025
Goldman School of Public Policy

Nanqin Ying, a second-year graduate student at the Goldman School of Public Policy specializing in Development Practices, combines a robust nonprofit background with advanced data science techniques. She focuses on leveraging machine learning and big data to drive significant social change, aiming to transform insights into actionable, positive impacts on communities.

Jaewon Saw

Data Science Fellow 2024-2025
Civil and Enviromental Engineering

I am a PhD candidate in Systems Engineering. My current research focuses on distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), a cutting-edge technology with diverse applications. I have used DAS to detect whale vocalizations in Monterey Bay, California, and to monitor roadways, water pipelines, and energy infrastructure.

I enjoy identifying and mitigating challenges that arise when applying new technologies by developing data tools, pipelines, and frameworks for real-world deployments. My work is driven by a keen interest in exploring and refining innovative...

Elijah Mercer

Data Science Fellow 2024-2025
School of Information

Elijah, originally from Newark, New Jersey, now resides in San Francisco, California, dedicated to social and juvenile justice. With a Criminology degree from American University, he began as a research intern at the Investigative Reporting Workshop, focusing on the Digital Divide.

Teaching in Baltimore with Teach for America reinforced his belief in research and data for marginalized communities. In roles at the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, New York Police Department, and San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, Elijah used data to combat crime. Now...

Elaine (Hua) Luo

Data Science Fellow 2024-2025
School of Education

Elaine (Hua) Luo is a PhD candidate in the Graduate School of Education, School Psychology PhD program. Her research interests focus on adolescents’ identity development and well-being under the transactional influence of entities in their socio-ecological systems. In her research, Elaine has utilized not only quantitative but also qualitative and mixed methods to study her research topics of interest. Before coming to Berkeley, Elaine earned her Master’s in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard Graduate School of Education and her Bachelor of Art in Education Sciences from...

Navigating AI Tools in Open Source Contributions: A Guide to Authentic Development

December 17, 2024
Sahiba Chopra
by Sahiba Chopra. The rise of ChatGPT has transformed how developers approach their work - but it might be hurting your reputation in the open-source community. While AI can supercharge your productivity, knowing when not to use it is just as crucial as knowing how to use it effectively. This guide reveals the unspoken rules of AI usage in open source, helping you navigate the fine line between leveraging AI and maintaining authenticity. Learn when to embrace AI tools and when to rely on your own expertise, plus get practical tips for building trust in the open-source community.