McCourt School of Public Policy

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 is hiring scholars for summer 2023

We are pleased to announce a call for applications for the Summer 2023 cohort of the MDI Scholars Program. For full consideration, please submit your application by Friday, March 31, 2023 at 11:59pm Eastern. We anticipate it will take approximately up to 1 hour to complete this application.

read more about the position and application

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.

Himangshu Kumar (He/Him)

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

Sai Srujana Illa (She/Her)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’23

Alia Abdelkader (She/Her)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’23

Caroline Adams (She/Her)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’23

Didier Akilimali (He/Him)

Georgetown College, Computer Science ’23

Fiona Calcagnini (She/Her)

Georgetown College, Computer Science and Economics ’23

Yujie Chen (She/Her)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, Data Science and Analytics ’23

Sean Conner (He/Him)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Master of Public Policy ’23

Phillip Cork (He/Him)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’23

Abby Fremaux (She/Her)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, Data Science and Analytics ’23

Sean Hambali (He/Him)

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

Nikhila Iyer (She/Her)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’23

Ahmad Jandal (He/Him)

Walsh School of Foreign Service, Science, Technology, International Affairs ’23

Grace Jensen (She/Her)

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

MinAh Kim (She/Her)

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

Sabrina Kwenda (She/Her)

Walsh School of Foreign Service, Science, Technology, International Affairs ’24

Xinyu Li (She/Her)

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

Kate Liggio (She/Her)

Georgetown College, Computer Science ’24

Yifan Liu (He/Him)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’23

Audrey McIntyre (She/They)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’23

Ellis Obrien (He/Him)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’23

Jenny Park (She/Her)

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

Rich Pihlstrom (He/Him)

Georgetown College, Computer Science ’24

Aidan Pizzo (He/Him)

Georgetown College, Mathematics ’23

Minh Quach (He/Him)

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

Jordan Rinaldi (He/Him)

Georgetown College, Mathematics and Data Science and Analytics ’23

Ryan Ripper (He/Him)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’23

Ethan Rodriguez-Shah (He/They)

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

Ethan Rosenbaum (He/Him)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Master of Public Policy ’23

Elise Rust (She/Her)

Master of Science of Data Science and Analytics ’23

Hanjing Shi (She/Her)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, Data Science and Analytics ’23

Natalie Smith (She/Her)

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

Sonali Subbu Rathinam (She/Her)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’23

Maggie Sullivan (She/Her)

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

Shaila Sundram (She/Her)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’23

Sanha Tahir (She/Her)

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

Fanni Varhelyi (She/Her)

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

Qihang Wang (She/Her)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, Data Science and Analytics ’23

Haoxuan Weng (He/Him)

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

Abigail Wolfe (She/Her)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’23

Colette Yeager (She/Her)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Master of Science in Data Science for Public Policy ’23

Naiqiu Zhan (He/Him)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Data Science for Public Policy ’23

Linpei Zhang (She/Her)

Georgetown School of Arts & Sciences, Data Science and Analytics ’23

Fall 2022 Scholar Showcase Posters

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

explore the posters

MDI Scholars’ Featured Research

MDI Scholars reflect on the research they have done, the real-world impact these projects have, and the lessons they have learned.

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

Maria Alva (She/Her)

MDI, Assistant Research Professor

Michael Bailey (He/Him)

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

Evan Barba (He/Him)

Department of Communication Culture and Technology, Associate Professor

NaLette Brodnax (She/Her)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Assistant Professor

Rebecca Johnson (She/Her)

McCourt School of Public Policy, Assistant Professor

Amy O’Hara (She/Her)

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

Lisa Singh (She/Her)

Director of MDI
Department of Computer Science, Professor

Nathan Wycoff (He/Him)

MDI Post Doctoral Fellow

Research Partner Organizations