Hometown: Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Current City: Arlington, VA
Why did you choose McCourt? I chose the McCourt School of Public Policy for two primary reasons. Firstly, its location in Washington DC offers access to numerous international organizations and think tanks, providing ample opportunities for internships and networking with professionals in the policy field. Secondly, the Data Science for Public Policy program offers a comprehensive curriculum that will equip me with the essential skills to excel as a data analyst or data scientist in the policy industry.
What professional/ work experience did you have prior to coming to McCourt? Before joining McCourt, I was an undergraduate student in Beijing, China. I gained diverse experience through 4 internships in different fields including NGO, consulting, and HR. The internship with an NGO had a profound impact on me and heightened my appreciation for using data to research real-world problems, which I discovered through my capstone project in summer school.
What has been the best part of your experience so far? DSPP students form close bonds due to the numerous required courses, creating opportunities to study, network, and enjoy entertainment activities together. The group dynamic is strengthened by the exchange of questions, answers, and resources, fostering a supportive and collaborative atmosphere.
What internships have you had so far during your time at McCourt? I interned at the Institute for Policy Studies in Summer 2023. I did a data analyst internship for them. Specifically, I utilized Web Scraping techniques to extract housing sales data from the Massachusetts Land Record website, employed data science techniques to classify the housing into different neighborhoods to conduct in-depth neighborhood-level research for valuable insights and policy suggestions on the feasibility of implementing an additional transfer tax on housing over 2M. Similarly, I also utilized data science to research the feasibility of the expansion of Hanscom Private Airport (Boston), employed API to access and analyze flight records, conducted comprehensive research to gauge private flight ratios and their impact on air pollution, and delivered policy recommendations to the Boston government.
Undergraduate University, degree, and major: University of International Business and Economics, Bachelor of Management; Customs Administration
Hobbies/ Interests: My policy interests center around trade policy, as I have gained a solid understanding of its related concepts during my undergraduate studies in Customs Administration. I aim to apply this knowledge to specific projects, such as examining the impact of tariff rates and most-favored-nation treatment on the import and export volumes of different countries.
Reach out to me about: DSPP curriculum, ways for international students to find internships and on-campus jobs.