Meet our Student Statistical Software Consultants
Betsey and Kayla are our new Student Statistical Software Consultants at Research Data and Digital Scholarship. They are just starting their time at Penn and will graduate in 2027. Read more to get to know Betsey and Kayla and what they hope to accomplish during their time at Penn!
Tell us about your academic background and interests
Kayla: She’s a first-year master’s student in Systems Engineering here at Penn. She grew up in Chengdu, Sichuan, and did her undergrad at Shanghai Jiaotong University, which is really strong in engineering. Most of her projects there were focused on robotics and AI. Specifically, she mainly researched how to use large language models to help robots navigate or build datasets to study how humans and pets interact.
Betsey: Her background is actually in international relations and diplomacy. During her undergrad, she studied at Beijing Foreign Studies University. But now she’s doing her master’s in Social Policy and Data Analytics at Penn. It’s a bit of a shift for her because she used to be more focused on global affairs, but now she’s learning more about domestic policy and the tools that actually drive decisions. Data felt like the natural next step, especially with how important it is becoming.
What first sparked your interest in data analysis?
Kayla: For Kayla, her interest in data intersects through mentorship and problem-solving. Recently, she helped a fellow student troubleshoot R installation issues, which not only drew on her technical background but also gave her satisfaction in supporting someone adjusting to student life. She realized that teaching and mentoring can make technical knowledge feel more meaningful.
Betsey: Betsey’s interest was sparked during her internships at companies like Xiao Hong Shu and Weibo. There, she observed how essential data analytics was for driving innovation but she was often not sure where her data and research was going as these are some of China’s largest tech companies. Now she wants to explore how to bring her data to a more real world application.
Have you had any previous experiences helping peers or teams with coding, research, or problem-solving before joining RDDS?
Kayla: Kayla has been in teaching roles before as an undergraduate TA for a mobile robotics class. She designed and graded assignments and even delivered a lecture on behalf of her professor. Beyond the classroom, she also volunteered during the pandemic in Shanghai, teaching older adults how to upload their COVID-19 test results onto public websites. These experiences taught her how to explain technical processes in ways that were clear and approachable for very different audiences.
Betsey: In high school, Betsey volunteered to teach English to a leukemia patient. It was tough for her because she didn't know his fluency level, so she often had to constantly adjust her lesson plans. That experience taught her how important it is to be flexible and patient as a teacher. Later, in college, she became active in the mental health club, where she learned about supporting peers’ well-being.
What are you hoping to learn or take away from your time as a consultant at RDDS?
Kayla: Kayla is already confident in Python but hopes her RDDS experience will help her build similar confidence with R. She believes that teaching others is a good way to master the coding language. As a first-year student in the U.S, she is also eager to improve her English, meet new people, and connect with the Penn community.
Betsey: For Betsey, this role is about consolidating her data analytics knowledge. Coming from a humanities background, she often had to take additional classes or self-teach quantitative methods. RDDS offers her the chance to strengthen those skills while giving back to others. She is also looking forward to engaging with the broader Penn community outside the classroom, making her graduate experience more meaningful.
What brought you to Penn, and what has been your favorite part of being on campus so far?
Kayla: Penn appealed to Kayla for its flexible two-year master’s program and its reputation in AI and robotics. Her favorite class so far is CIS5300 (Natural Language Processing), which aligns with her ambition to build large language models of her own. Outside academics, she enjoys making new friends and playing card games like blackjack. As a Sichuan native, she’s still looking for spicy and/or hot pot spots in Philadelphia and welcomes recommendations.
Betsey: Betsey was drawn to Penn because of her interest in social policy, which is related to her international relations background. She also wanted to continue exploring the international stage, having spent a semester abroad in the UK during undergrad. So far, her favorite part of Penn is the weather because it is much better than in the UK and loves that there’s always more to discover. Her next place to explore is Fisher Library!