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.

MDI Scholars Research Showcase Spring 2024

Join us on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at the Healey Family Student Center Social Room at Georgetown University for the MDI Scholars Research Showcase Spring 2024.

learn more about the event

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.

Raunak Advani (He/Him)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, Data Science and Analytics ’24

JaeHo Bahng (He/Him)

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

Sunaina Bakshi Kathpalia (She/Her)

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

Corrina Calanoc (She/Her)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, Data Science and Analytics ’24

Sophia (Alivia) Castor (She/Her)

Georgetown College, Computer Science & Government ’25

Haiyang Chen (He/Him)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’24

Holt Cochran (He/Him)

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

Alicia Gopal (She/Her)

Georgetown College, Political Economy ’25

Amanda Hao (She/Her)

Walsh School of Foreign Service, Science, Technology, International Affairs ’26

Brian Holland (He/Him)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’24

Roy Hwang (He/Him)

Georgetown College, Computer Science ’25

Aastha Jha (She/Her)

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

Zhiqiang Ji (He/Him)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’24

Himangshu Kumar (He/Him)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’24

Xinyu Li (She/Her)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, Data Science and Analytics ’24

Kate Liggio (She/Her)

Georgetown College, Computer Science ’24

Katharyn Loweth (She/Her)

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

Madhvi Malhotra (She/Her)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’24

Bernardo Medeiros (He/Him)

Georgetown College, Computer Science & Government ’24

Jahnavi Mukul (She/Her)

Masters of Art, Communication, Culture & Technology ’24

Julia Nonnenkamp (She/Her)

Georgetown College, Computer Science & Mathematics ’24

Jenny Park (She/Her)

Georgetown College, Computer Science and Justice and Peace Studies ’24

Rich Pihlstrom (He/Him)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, Data Science Science and Analytics ’25
Georgetown College, Computer Science ’24

Gabriel Soto (He/Him)

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

Maggie Sullivan (She/Her)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’24

Linlin Wang (She/Her)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, Data Science and Analytics ’24

Jason Yi (He/Him)

Georgetown College, Computer Science ’26

Kefan Yu (He/Him)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, Data Science and Analytics ’24

Yunhan Zhang (He/Him)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, Data Science and Analytics ’24

Liel Zino (She/Her)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Master of Public Policy ’24

Fall 2023 Scholar Showcase Posters

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

explore the posters

Spring 2024 MDI Scholars

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

read more

Past MDI Scholars

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

see more

Research Advisors

Ali Arab (He/Him)

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies

Michael Bailey (He/Him)

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

Le Bao (He/Him)

MDI Postdoc Fellow

NaLette Brodnax (She/Her)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Assistant Professor

Sandeep Dahiya (He/Him)

McDonough School of Business Entrepreneurship and Finance, Akkaway Professor

Rokhaya Diallo (She/Her)

Journalist, Writer, Filmmaker, Georgetown University Gender+ Justice Initiative Researcher in Residence

Robin Dillon-Merrill (She/Her)

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

Katherine Donato (She/Her)

International Migration, Donald G. Herzberg Professor

Qiwei “Britt” He (She/Her)

Program in Data Analytics, Associate Professor

Pamela Herd (She/Her)

Professor at the McCourt School of Public Policy

Rebecca Johnson (She/Her)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Assistant Professor

Donald Moynihan (He/Him)

McCourt Chair and Professor at the McCourt School of Public Policy

Amy O’Hara (She/Her)

Director of Georgetown Federal Statistical Research Data Center
MDI, Research Professor

Elissa Redmiles (She/Her)

Department of Computer Science, Assistant Professor

Mark Richardson (He/Him)

Department of Government, Assistant Professor

Sebastian Jilke(He/Him)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Provost’s Distinguished Associate Professor

Micah Sherr (He/Him)

Department of Computer Science, Callahan Family Professor

Lisa Singh (She/Her)

Director of MDI
Department of Computer Science and McCourt School of Public Policy, Professor

Andrew Sobanet (He/Him)

Department of French and Francophone Studies, Professor and Vice Dean for Faculty Affairs

Evagelia Tavoulareas (She/Her)

Managing Chair at the Georgetown Initiative on Tech + Society, Adjunct Professor at the McCourt School for Public Policy

Rajesh Veeraraghavan (He/Him)

School of Foreign Service, Assistant Professor

Ioannis Ziogas (He/Him)

MDI, Assistant Research Professor

Research Partner Organizations