What initially sparked your interest in data science?
I completed the Master's Degree in Data Science as part of Brown's Open Graduate Education Program which allows you to pursue a master's degree in a secondary field outside of your Ph.D. I first became interested in data science after taking a series of quantitatively focused courses as part of my Ph.D. in Political Science. These courses sparked my curiosity in computational approaches to social problems, and I soon began speaking with other students who had taken data science specific courses. Through these conversations, I decided to enroll in data science classes, and after beginning the coursework, I realized how excited I was about the material and committed to completing a full Master’s Degree in Data Science.
What are the most important skills you learned during the program?
The most important skill I developed was the ability to think differently when approaching problem solving. Coming from a social science background, I often conceptualize problems in ways that differ from those trained in technical disciplines. The program encouraged interdisciplinary thinking and helped me bridge conceptual and technical approaches to data analysis.
It's been rewarding to be able to apply the data science skills that I gained in the program directly to my dissertation research and has been gratifying to see how these tools and methods can enhance the rigor and impact of my work in political science.
What was your practicum project and what did you learn from it?
For my practicum, I worked with the Realizing Rights Lab to collect and analyze data on the accessibility of school district websites for individuals with different needs. This experience taught me how to build automated pipelines, apply accessibility frameworks, and consider the ethical implications of inaccessible systems.
What would you tell a prospective student about the DSI, Brown or Providence as a whole to help them make the most of their experience here?
My advice depends on whether the prospective student is pursuing a Ph.D. or a Master’s degree. For Ph.D. students interested in the Open Grad program, I’d emphasize that the DSI offers an excellent opportunity to apply data science tools to problems in their own fields, especially those that haven’t traditionally incorporated computational methods. For Master’s students, I’d highlight the strong sense of community among students—despite the rigor of the program, there’s a genuine camaraderie, and people are deeply supportive of one another.
What are your plans following the program?
After completing the Masters in Data Science program, I plan to focus on finishing and defending my Ph.D. dissertation. In parallel, I will be applying for both academic and non-academic positions that allow me to apply data science to real-world policy challenges.