Data Science

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.

Jane (Mango) Angar

Data Science Fellow 2024-2025
Political Science

Hi! I am a PhD candidate in the Political Science Department at UC Berkeley. My dissertation traces the emergence of disability rights groups in Africa, focusing on Zambia and Malawi, and examines factors influencing their effectiveness. I use mixed methods, including archival work, field interviews, participant observation, and surveys for data collection.

My data analysis techniques include text analysis, social network analysis, means tests, and regressions. In my free time, I enjoy moderately difficult hikes, walks along the beach with my dog, Princess, and...

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...

Bruno Smaniotto

Data Science Fellow 2024-2025
Economics

I'm originally from Brazil, but I have been living in Berkeley for the last 5 years working towards my PhD in Economics. My main areas of interest are Behavioral and Macroeconomics, mostly their intersection, but I'm excited about learning and working on empirical applications on different fields.

Amber Galvano

Data Science Fellow 2024-2025
Linguistics

I am a fourth-year PhD student in Linguistics, with a focus in sociophonetics and phonology. In my research, I'm interested in how understudied speech communities (Andalusians, southern Spain; Lobi and Tonko Limba, West Africa) and often-relegated aspects of social identity (sexuality, gender normativity) can inform new approaches to theory and methodology and how we conceptualize the interfaces between linguistic subfields.

I'm also involved in language documentation/revitalization work for Lobi and the development of automated phonetic methods, particularly for...

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.

Why Data Disaggregation Matters: Exploring the Diversity of Asian American Economic Outcomes Using Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) Data

February 11, 2025
Taesoo Song
by Taesoo Song. Asian Americans are often overlooked in discussions of racial inequality due to their high average socioeconomic attainment. Many academic and policy researchers treat Asians as a single racial category in their analysis. However, this broad categorization can mask significant within-group disparities, leaving many disadvantaged individuals without access to vital resources and policy support. Song emphasizes the importance of data disaggregation in revealing Asian American inequalities, particularly in areas like income and homeownership, and demonstrates how breaking down these categories can lead to more targeted and effective policy solutions.