Git or Github

Pratik Sachdeva, Ph.D.

Data/Research Scientist, Senior Consultant, and Senior Instructor

I am staff at the Social Sciences D-Lab. I received my Ph.D. in the Physics department at Berkeley. My research lies in the realm of theoretical/computational neuroscience, which aims to use mathematical and computational tools to better understand how neural systems operate and process information. My projects include using information-theoretic techniques to study how neural variability impacts information processing in neural circuits and investigating the statistical issues that impede the interpretation of parametric models of neural activity.

Beyond research, I'm...

Amber Galvano

Data Science Fellow 2024-2025
Linguistics
Linguistics (sociophonetics, phonology)

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...

Ruiji Sun

Data Science Fellow 2024-2025
Architecture

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...

Yue Lin

Data Science Fellow 2024-2025
Political Science

Yue is a Ph.D. student in Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley, with a Designated Emphasis on Political Economy. Using mixed methods, she studies foreign lobbying, geopolitical risk, and economic security to understand when, how, and why multinational corporations become the targets and weapons of state power rivalry.

Sohail Khan

Data Science Fellow 2024-2025
School of Information

Hey everyone, I’m Sohail - a 1st years Master’s student studying Data Science at the I-School. I am interested in the intersection between Computer Science, Data Science, and Cognitive Psychology and using these tools to understand, discover, and drive the development of assistive technologies.

I have experience building with brain computer Interfaces, developing distributed data processing applications, and am currently working on a large scale archival project aimed at preserving the history and memory of resistance movements through an embedding based...

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...

Kamya Yadav

Senior Data Science Fellow
Political Science

Kamya is a third year PhD student in the Department of Political Science. Using multimethod research, she studies gender, representation, and political parties in India to understand the barriers and pathways to women's political participation and representation. She has a BA in Politics from Princeton University.

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...

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...