McCourt School of Public Policy
OLD Massive Data Institute
OLD Massive Data Institute

MDI Scholars

MDI Scholars

Launched in 2019, the MDI Scholars program is a research-oriented experiential learning opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students across campus. These students work with faculty, researchers, and practitioners to engage in interdisciplinary data science, computer science, and social science research to inform public policy.

Research

Working with faculty and partners to advance interdisciplinary research.

Skills-building

Building a community and learning new skills during deep-drive meetings through the course of the semester.

Showcase

Presenting findings and sharing research with the Georgetown community.

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 technology and public policy. They are undergraduate and graduate students from across the University who form a community of young scholars advancing interdisciplinary data science and public policy research at Georgetown.

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

Himangshu Kumar (He/Him)

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

Srujana Illa Sai (She/Her)

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

In December, 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

Past Research Advisors

Maria Alva (She/Her)

MDI Assistant Research Professor

Michael Bailey, (He/Him)

Professor and Director of the Data Science for Public Policy Program

Evan Barba (He/Him)

Associate Professor for the Graduate Communication, Culture, and Technology Program

NaLette Brodnax

Assistant Professor in the McCourt School of Public Policy

Rebecca Johnson (She/Her)

Assistant Professor at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy

Amy O’Hara (She/Her)

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

Lisa Singh (She/Her)

Professor in the Department of Computer Science and a Research Professor in the MDI

Nathan Wycoff (He/Him)

MDI Post Doctoral Fellow

Highlighted Themes of Past Projects

Climate Change/Sustainability

Climate change is a pressing issue that affects both the ecosystem as well as our society. As environmental conditions transform, policies, laws, and government organization will have to evolve.

The Social Science and Social Media Collaborative

The abundance of data from social media presents an opportunity to understand social and political trends.

Research Partner Organizations