Repeated Reflections Refining Research: Risk, Exploration, & Discovery

The CURF has exposed me to a new side of research where risk tolerance is high, collaborators are valuable, math is everywhere, and time is warped. I have taken classes on how to do research, but nothing prepares you better for research than doing it yourself. Several people have asked me countless times this semester,…

Embrace the Unknown – Becoming a Researcher

Getting Started with Research Regardless of your academic interests, you can participate in research. I’m not referring to synthesizing and summarizing papers and articles about a particular topic. I’m talking about embracing the unknown: asking questions, investigating problems, exploring different solutions, and evaluating your results. From History, Literature, or Music to Chemistry, Computer Science, or…

Reducing Discrimination in Learning Algorithms for Social Good: My CURF Project

Motivation Did you know that higher-income neighborhoods on average have more access to smart mobility options than lower-income neighborhoods? After I evaluated the availability of Healthy Ride bikes throughout Pittsburgh using geospatial analysis, I discovered that only 5% of the bike stations were located in neighborhoods with poor housing conditions; the other 95% are located…