Tell us a bit about your academic background at the University of Pittsburgh and your role at RDS@Pitt.
I'm a student at Pitt double majoring in digital narrative interactive design and music composition with a minor in computer science.
I joined RDS@Pitt as a database management associate, but my role has been nebulous, encompassing aspects of communications, user experience, research, and product design.
Can you share some of the key projects or initiatives you’ve worked on this semester?
I've been working on the R.K. Mellon-funded ConCReTE project. In this project, we're constructing interactive modules that teach students and professionals responsible data science skills, and I've done a lot of work reviewing and revising ConCReTE materials.
I've been most focused on reviewing individual scenarios, considering both how they map to our theoretical framework as well as how their deviations might hold value for future consideration, but beyond that, I've also spent time fixing incomplete or circular definitions in our glossary, maintaining cohesion among all internal materials, and working with outside agencies like the Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center to develop future ConCReTE scenarios.
What has been your biggest takeaway or most valuable lesson from your experience so far?
As weird as this may sound, I've really enjoyed misunderstanding things.
There have been several instances where, as I attempted to play catch-up, I ended up misinterpreting or incorrectly parsing meaning from RDS@Pitt materials, which was only revealed when I started discussing things with other people.
These instances were often in meetings or other public spaces, which theoretically should've been embarrassing. However, these instances almost always ended up leading to interesting conversations as to how my misinterpretations came about, whether the understanding I thought I had is worth considering moving forward, and generally what this misinterpretation means for our work.
The curiosity and grace with which my colleagues approach my disconnects have also been really reassuring that I'm in a workplace focused on the right things, which has been very affirming.
Looking ahead, what are you excited to work on this summer or in the future with RDS@Pitt?
Kendra has asked me to take the lead on writing a paper about the work of ConCReTE, outlining our goals, thought process, and methodology, in hopes of getting our work academically reviewed and eventually published.
I'm a big fan of writing papers (sicko behavior tbh), so I'm really looking forward to delving deep into that.