MDI Scholars

The MDI Scholars program was launched in 2019 through the Massive Data Institute (MDI) as an experiential learning opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to work alongside researchers and practitioners to engage in interdisciplinary data science and public policy research across Georgetown.

Research

In partnership with faculty and participations, MDI Scholars participate in interdisciplinary data science and public policy research across Georgetown.

Skills-building

Students meet 4 times a semester to deep-dive on relevant data science tools and theories and exchange ideas to build their understanding of tools and methods used by researchers and practitioners.

Showcase

At the end of the semester, MDI Scholars present findings from their research at the MDI Scholars Showcase. This is an opportunity for a broader audience to learn more about students’ research.

Apply for the MDI Scholars Program

Apply to be a MDI Scholars for the Spring 2025 Semester. This is a paid student opportunity for current Georgetown students. Priority Deadline is December 6, 2024.
Application: https://bit.ly/MDIScholarsSpring2025App

Current MDI Scholars

MDI Scholars work with faculty and researchers on cutting edge research projects at the intersection of data science and public policy. They are undergraduate and graduate students from across the University who form a community of like-minded people who are advancing data analysis for public policy at Georgetown.

Rebecca Ansell (She/Her)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, Computer Science ’25

Vagdevi Bandaru (She/Her)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, Computer Science ’25

Jorge Bris Moreno (He/Him)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, Data Science and Analytics, 2025

Victor Chen (He/Him)

Georgetown College, Computer Science ’27

Binhui Chen (She/Her)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, Data Science and Analytics ’25

Aiden Ehrenreich (He/Him)

Georgetown College, Government & Computer Science, 2026

Jeffrey Gao (He/Him)

Walsh School of Foreign Service, Mathematics, Computer Science ’25

Zoucheng Hong (He/Him)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics ’25

Aastha Jha (She/Her)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’25

Ziwen “Jasmine” Jia (She/Her)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’25

Amy Li (She/Her)

Walsh School of Foreign Service, Business and Global Affairs/Statistics and French ’26

Ann Lian (She/Her)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’25

Justin Liu (He/Him)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Master of Public Policy ’26

Kangheng Liu (He/Him)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, Data Science and Analytics ’25

Shun Liu (He/Him)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’25

Katharyn Loweth (She/Her)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’25

Yixin Luo (She/Her)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy and Health Analytics’25

William McGloin (He/Him)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, Data Science and Analytics ’25

Sheeba Moghal (She/Her)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, Data Science and Analytics ’25

Rich Pihlstrom (He/Him)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, Data Science Science and Analytics ’25

Maggie “Xinhe” Shen (She/Her)

Georgetown College, Mathematics & Computer Science ’26

Vaishnavi Singh (She/Her)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’25

Gabriel Soto (He/Him)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’25

Judy Wang (She/Her)

Georgetown College, Political Economics and Studio Art ’27

Zining (Cathy) Wang (She/Her)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, Data Science and Analytics ’25

Micaela Wells (She/Her)

Georgetown College of Arts & Sciences, Linguistics ’26

Joshua Wiesenfeld (He/Him)

Georgetown College, Computer Science, Government ’25

Miranda Xiong (She/Her)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, History & Classics ’25

Jason Yi (He/Him)

Georgetown College, Computer Science ’26

Quan Yuan (She/Her)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, Data Science and Analytics ’25

Fall 2024 MDI Scholars

MDI is excited to welcome the Fall 2024 Cohort of the MDI Scholars Program.

read more

Summer 2024 Scholar Showcase Posters

MDI Scholars presented their research projects to faculty, classmates, and community members during the MDI Scholars Research Showcase.

explore the posters

Past MDI Scholars

Every semester new Scholars join the MDI team. See the past Scholars and their work here.

see more

Research Advisors

Maria Alva (She/Her)

Department of Health Management and Policy, Assistant Professor

Michael Bailey

Colonel William J. Walsh Professor of American Government, Department of Government and McCourt School of Public Policy

Shweta Bansal (She/Her)

Department of Biology, Provost’s Distinguished Associate Professor

Sarah Adel Bargal (She/Her)

Computer Science, Assistant Professor

James Carey

Fellow

Robin Dillon-Merrill (She/Her)

McDonough School of Business Operations and Analytics, Professor and Area Head

Qiwei “Britt” He (She/Her)

Program in Data Analytics, Associate Professor

Rupayan Mallick

Postdoctoral Associate – Main Campus

Helge Marahrens

Postdoctoral Associate

Emisa Nategh

Assistant Teaching Professor in Operations and Analytics

Amy O’Hara

Research Professor
Director, Georgetown Federal Statistical Research Data Center

Sejin Paik

Postdoctoral Associate – Main Campus

Jake Pasner

Assistant Research Professor

Lucy Qin

Postdoctoral Associate

Elissa Redmiles (She/Her)

Department of Computer Science, Assistant Professor

Toni-Lee Sangastiano (She/Her)

Department of Art and Art History, Associate Professor of the Practice and Digital Media Specialist

Nathan Schneider (He/Him)

Department of Linguistics and Computer Science, Associate Professor

Micah Sherr (He/Him)

Department of Computer Science, Callahan Family Professor

Lisa Singh

Director, Massive Data Institute
Sonneborn Chair | Chair and Professor, Department of Computer Science | Professor, McCourt School of Public Policy

Stephanie Straus

Policy Fellow
McCourt School of Public Policy

Brandon Waldon

Postdoctoral Associate

Ioannis Ziogas

Assistant Teaching Professor/ MDI Assistant Research Professor

Research Partner Organizations