Meet the 2020 Fellows: National Institutes of Health

Young technologists leveraging user experience design and natural language processing to improve public health

Ariana Ophelia Soto
Coding it Forward

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This post is part of a series introducing the 2020 Civic Digital Fellows, a cohort of close to 60 students working to improve the federal government with their computer science, data science, design, and product management skills. Meet some of them below.

Meet the Fellows

Angel Nugroho

Angel is a rising junior at Cornell University studying Information Science.

Q: Why are you excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow?
A: I’m excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow so I can discover more of the ways computing can be used for social good. Being in the data science field, there are many new issues that can be seen through the lens of data analytics, but it also can be controversial in how that data gets manipulated. I’m eager to navigate how data can be used ethically, and ultimately drive change for the better.

Q: What is a fun fact about yourself?
A: I can actually make balloon animals! I’m definitely not a professional but would do well at your average child’s birthday party. My favorite balloon animal to make would definitely be a pig, with a pink balloon to match.

Annie Wang

Annie is a rising sophomore at the University of California, Berkeley studying Cognitive Science.

Q: Why are you excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow?
A: I have always been passionate about designing and building accessible technology, and I’m excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow because I think accessibility is especially essential for government technology since it affects such wide ranges of people at large scales. This summer, I’m excited to bring human-centered design practices into the NIH to design accessible tools, services, and experiences.

Q: If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go and why?
A: I’d love to visit Scandinavia! There are so many interesting design experiments with things like affordable housing, smart cities, clean energy, and inclusive urban planning. I’d also want to figure out why they are some of the world's happiest countries.

Chris Yang

Chris is a rising sophomore at Duke University studying Computer Science and Statistics.

Q: Why are you excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow?
A: I’ve always been interested in understanding more about how technology can serve as a catalyst for social good, and I’m thrilled to explore the intersection between data science and civic change as a Fellow at the National Institutes of Health. I’d love to develop a meaningful project that can help make an impact. Also, I can’t wait to make lasting friendships and share memorable moments alongside like-minded peers this summer!

Q: What is a fun fact about yourself?
A: I’ve dived for queen conch (which live in shallow water seagrass meadows) along the coast of Saint John, one of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Bob Zhao

Bob is a rising senior at Washington University in St. Louis studying Economics and Computer Science.

Q: Why are you excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow?
A: The civic tech community is my tribe of nerds. Smart, compassionate, and technologically brilliant young minds are just the type of people I want to be around, learn from, and grow alongside. To be able to do so by leveraging our tech skills on high impact projects in the heart of government is more that I can ask for in a summer.

Q: What is your favorite thing about technology, and why?
A: I love technology’s ability to reshape the way we approach the world. The idea of a computer started solely as a mathematical machine, and over time transformed into our smartphones that influence the way we connect with each other, consume content, and experience the world. I also love that technology can be created by anyone, as well as the process through which it is created. Starting with a vague technical problem, refining it more and more, and then taking finger to keyboard to create the code, design implements, and ideas to make it a reality is something I can’t get enough of.

Eric Son

Eric is a first-year Master’s student at the University of Chicago studying Computational Analysis and Public Policy.

Q: Why are you excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow?
A: I’m looking forward to using my background in economics, computer science, and data analysis to build technology that not only drive efficient operations but a more measurable social impact. I want to work with engineers and analysts who believe in the mission of their work.

Q: What is your favorite thing about technology, and why?
A: I love the accessibility of online learning platforms that offer free educational materials and promote open-source collaboration. My first exposure to coding was through free online tutorials, and I was able to use my technical skills to automate my workflow. There are so many resources online that we couldn’t take advantage of just a decade ago.

Isabeau Rea

Isabeau is a senior at the University of Maryland studying Information Science, specializing in Data Science.

Q: Why are you excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow?
A: I believe that technology’s greatest purpose is the good we seek to do with it. The Civic Digital Fellowship lends the opportunity to work alongside an inspiring community of fellow technologists who are committed to actualizing this positive impact on a greater scale. Add in my absolute passion for data science and my dedication to social good, and it’s an excellent fit.

Q: If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go and why?
A: I would love to visit the Coral Triangle! Over a third of the world’s reef species live in this absolutely massive, vibrant underwater ecosystem that is so astoundingly complex and unique. Experiencing that biodiversity up close would be a fantastic opportunity to learn. Also, to maybe attempt an exorbitantly over-budget reboot of the Jaws franchise, starring me, as Jaws… but mostly to learn.

Jared Stancombe

Jared is a recent graduate of Indiana University where he studied Cybersecurity Risk Management as a Master’s student.

Q: Why are you excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow?
A: I am excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow to apply my knowledge, skills, and experiences in cybersecurity through public service.

Q: What is a fun fact about yourself?
A: I’ve sat on the Devil’s Chair on the edge of Victoria Falls in Zambia, which is the largest waterfall in the world.

Jessie (Jaspreet) Singh

Jaspreet is a rising senior at the University of Michigan studying Computer Science and Business.

Q: Why are you excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow?
A: I’ve been looking for work and a community revolving around impactful technology for a while. Not only programming, but also ethics, policy, healthcare, and the many other intersections with technology. I feel like I’ve found that in the Civic Digital Fellowship, and I’m incredibly excited about how much I’ll learn from the people and work as part of this program.

Q: Who is the person you admire the most, and why?
A: It’s hard to name a single person, but Mary Lasker is definitely one. She was the first to leverage advertising and promotion towards raising money for cancer research, and revitalized the American Cancer Society into a much more effective organization. I’ve always been interested in public health, but reading about how she leveraged anti-smoking campaigns and policy to fight back against the powerful cigarette companies is what got me interested in business and how it can be used to help people.

Jennifer John

Jennifer is a rising sophomore at Stanford University studying Computer Science.

Q: Why are you excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow?
A: Growing up in Silicon Valley, I’ve gotten to see how one technological breakthrough can transform how we live our lives. As I became interested in policy and government, I was surprised by how little collaboration takes place between these two worlds. I think the untapped potential to improve the efficiency and impact of our government through technology is immense. I couldn’t be more excited to belong to a cohort that is working toward that goal!

Q: What is a fun fact about yourself?
A: I love reading memoirs! It’s very interesting to me to learn about how individual decisions and events shape the course of one person’s life, and to explore the different ways in which we reflect on our experiences. I’ve especially enjoyed medical memoirs, and my favorite is “When Breath Becomes Air” by Paul Kalanithi.

Kylie Hunter

Kylie is a rising junior at the University of Colorado, Boulder studying Computer Science.

Q: Why are you excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow?
A: I’m excited to think about people first, only then layering in technology to help address societal problems. What excites me is computer science’s applications to civil service organizations, sustainability, scientific inquiry, and education. This applied use of technology is, for me, the most accessible way to change the world. The Fellowship not only offers a supportive community of like-minded technopreneurs but also provides the tools and resources to apply my passion to the work world.

Q: What is a fun fact about yourself?
A: I used to write and draw everything upside down when I was 3 and 4 years old… I’m still not sure why, but I went to vision therapy for a couple of years and got everything “flipped” upright again. But I can still read and write upside down just as well as right side up.

Marissa Joy

Marissa is a first-year Master’s student at Georgetown University studying Data Science for Public Policy.

Q: Why are you excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow?
A: I have always had a passion for working towards creating positive social change. This Fellowship allows me to get hands-on experience that combines my two favorite things, coding, and social good. I am excited to collaborate with like-minded people from diverse backgrounds to make a positive impact in the community.

Q: If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go and why?
A: I would love to go to Morocco! It seems beautiful and rich in culture. The food also looks great!

Meera Kurup

Meera is a rising sophomore at Brown University studying Computer Science and Public Policy.

Q: Why are you excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow?
A: Throughout high school, I was an avid technology student. With the many opportunities the technology field held, I knew a technical career would my future path, but I also wanted to pursue public service and make an impact. When I found out about the Civic Digital Fellowship, I finally understood that there are ways to combine technology and civil service. Through the Fellowship, I will be able to do impactful work through my passion that I have always dreamed to make.

Q: What is your favorite thing about technology, and why?
A: I love how technology can be used to make a positive change in any community, small or large. In my community, I was able to utilize technology to help the lives of senior citizens with Alzheimer’s by designing an app, ALZSPoetry. Innovations in the technology field are rapidly evolving and continuously touching our everyday lives. The power to invent and find a solution to any problem is the most fascinating aspect of technology to me.

Mina Narayanan

Mina is a first-year Master’s student at Carnegie Mellon University studying Public Policy and Management.

Q: Why are you excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow?
A: I’m excited to leverage artificial intelligence to inform policy and improve the review of grant applications at NIH this summer. I’m eager to learn more about how federal agencies function and become part of a close-knit community of passionate technologists!

Q: If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go and why?
A: I would visit the Bahamas because I crave tropical weather, warmth, and sunlight.

Natalie Gable

Natalie is a coterminal Master’s student at Stanford University studying Electrical Engineering.

Q: Why are you excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow?
A: I feel like I’ve been long searching for an opportunity to combine my interests in social good and activism with my engineering background. I think I’ve finally found that in the Civic Digital Fellowship! I’m most excited to meet other individuals with similar interests and really take advantage of that community.

Q: Who is the person you admire the most, and why?
A: I’ve gotten the question — what gives you hope? — quite a bit recently. I always come back to the same answer: my friends and peers. I really admire four of my closest friends (we call ourselves the Very Strong Women) who are all incredibly talented, smart, passionate, and kind. They’re all over the world right now doing really important work in immigration, environment, and human rights and inspire me to continue fighting the good fight.

Rohan Narain

Rohan is a recent graduate of the University of California, Berkeley where he studied Statistics and Data Science.

Q: Why are you excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow?
A: The appeal of civic tech to me is the strong potential for social impact. I’m excited to apply my knowledge and experience in technology to help the government run more efficiently. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with scientists and technology professionals to see what a career in civic tech might look like.

Q: If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go and why?
A: My dream is to visit all 59 U.S. national parks in my lifetime. So, I’d say the 40 or so that I have left!

Varsha Vaidyanath

Varsha is a rising junior at the University of California, Berkeley studying Data Science.

Q: Why are you excited to be a Civic Digital Fellow?
A: I am eager to explore and incorporate diverse skill sets and interests. Studying Data Science has provided a wonderful opportunity for me to apply computer science and statistics to the humanities and liberal arts. As a Civic Digital Fellow, I look forward to utilizing my skills to create positive social impact and meeting like-minded individuals who are just as passionate about finding solutions to benefit the many.

Q: What is a fun fact about yourself?
A: I visited Washington D.C. about ten years ago, and a serendipitous moment allowed me to visit Capitol Hill during a Senate session. Ever since then, I have always been interested in involving myself with the voices that shape our government and society.

The Civic Digital Fellowship is a first-of-its-kind data science and technology internship program for innovative students to solve pressing problems in federal agencies. Check out our website for more information and to sign up for our mailing list to be the first to know when applications for our 2021 cohort open.

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latina tackling tech and playing parts | harvard alumna | los angeles | @codingitforward