Education
University of Illinois at Chicago — Chicago, IL
B.A. Economics & B.A. Anthropology
Fields of Interest
Development Economics • Behavioral Economics • Health Economics • Economic Anthropology
Employment & Experience
University of Chicago — Chicago, IL
Predoctoral Research Professional
Research Assistant
- Performing in depth reviews of literature and evaluating applicability to current research projects
- Developing and refining survey questions to assess nonprofit program effects, incorporating feedback to improve clarity
- Preparing and drafting documents for expedited IRB approval, ensuring specify and adherence to guidelines
- Identifying and correcting statistical coding errors using Stata to improve the accuracy and reproducibility of a Quarterly Journal of Economics manuscript
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace — Washington, DC / Remote
Research Assistant Intern
- Analyzed weapons databases, macroeconomic trade data, and diplomatic engagements to identify systemic and social risk factors of Russian influence in African littoral states (Ghana, Togo, Benin) to inform senior team and policymakers
- Produced a comprehensive report on high-risk regions using data visualization tools (Excel), enabling strategic decision-making and further research on geopolitical conflicts
Working Bikes — Chicago, IL
International Research Intern
- Created a data-driven research report on the economic and social impact of the organization, leveraging USAID reports, World Bank data, and global partner feedback
- Conducted interviews with international partners and bicycle recipients in Ghana, Uganda, and Malawi to gather qualitative data, identifying expansion opportunities and informing organizational strategy.
- Presented findings to the board of directors, employees and volunteers to provide translating complex data into clear, actionable insights to drive expansion and operational improvements.
Pennsylvania State University — University Park, PA
ARISE Fellow (Anthropological Research in Science Education)
- Utilized R packages (qqman, dplyr, tidyr, ggplot2) to analyze genomic data, identifying genetic risk factors for schizophrenia and contributing to advancements in mental health research
- Cleaned, visualized, and interpreted large genetic dataset using R and presented findings to professors and PhD candidates in a clear and concise manner to support further research.
- Worked alongside a multidisciplinary team to refine research strategy, improving data accuracy and enhancing the overall quality of the project
TCG Crest — Remote
A.I./Machine Learning Apprentice
- Boosted the performance of the AASIST model by 96%, reducing the equal error rate from 14% to 0.471% using Python, improving the detection rate of audio deepfakes
- Sped up runtime by subsampling data to optimize GPU memory usage and minimize system crashes
- Collaborated with a team using Google Colab to develop and test various solutions, contributing to the successful delivery of a high-impact project
Fellowships & Awards
Nasrin Mahani Scholarship, 2024
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, 2024
Foreign Language and Area Studies Program Fellowship, 2022
National Center for Women in Information Technology National Award, 2020
Museum of Contemporary Art 21 Minus – Financial Literacy Project, 2018
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, 2024
Foreign Language and Area Studies Program Fellowship, 2022
National Center for Women in Information Technology National Award, 2020
Museum of Contemporary Art 21 Minus – Financial Literacy Project, 2018
Training & Certifications
J-PAL North America Research Staff Training
CITI Certification
Social and Behavioral Sciences – IRB Human Subjects Protection
Academic Service & Leadership
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis — St. Louis, MO / Remote
Reviewer for Undergraduate Research Symposium
Kode with Klossy — Chicago, IL
Alumnae Social Club Ambassador
Skills
Computing
R • Python • Stata • Git/GitHub/GitLab • LaTeX – Overleaf
Data & Research
Qualtrics • CompuStat Capital IQ – Wharton Research Data Services (WRDS) • Airtable
Languages
English – Native • Russian – Intermediate • Ga – Native
Project Management & Operations
Asana • Slack • Google Workspace • Microsoft Office
References
Damon Jones — Chicago, IL
damonjones@uchicago.edu
Associate Professor, University of Chicago
Associate Director, Stone Center for Research on Wealth Inequality & Mobility
Yana Gallen — Chicago, IL
yana@uchicago.edu
Assistant Professor, University of Chicago