Can you share a little bit about yourself and your role at SafeTREC?
I was born and raised in Marin County and spent five years in San Luis Obispo completing my B.S. in business administration with a concentration in quantitative analysis and my M.S. in quantitative economics. During my undergraduate studies, I discovered my passion for data analysis and using these skills to answer real-world questions. In the final year of my undergraduate degree and throughout my master’s program, I worked as a research assistant, focusing on differences in childhood health of veterans versus non-veterans. At SafeTREC, I am a research data analyst, supporting multiple research projects through data analysis and visualization.
What sparked your interest in transportation safety research?
During my master's program, I had the opportunity to work on a research project for the World Bank. Alongside several peers, I collaborated with World Bank employees to analyze public transportation demand in Delhi, India — particularly the differences in transit use between men and women. Through this project, I learned about the safety risks associated with public transportation, particularly the high exposure to harassment faced by women in Delhi’s transit system.
This experience, combined with my research assistant role in public health, sparked my interest in understanding how transportation systems impact public safety and well-being. It led me to explore the intersection of transportation, public health, and data analysis, which ultimately brought me to SafeTREC.
What current projects are you working on at SafeTREC?
I’m currently contributing to several projects at SafeTREC. For a project funded by the California Department of Motor Vehicles, I am working with a team to create maps and visualizations of crashes involving autonomous vehicles. Additionally, I’m involved in the research and improvement of a pedestrian exposure model for the California Department of Transportation. This project aims to improve road safety for non-motorized users and support efforts to reduce pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities to zero.
What issues are you particularly interested or passionate about?
My interest in the connection between economics and public health is what led me to transportation and traffic safety research. I am especially interested in understanding how vehicle and roadway features impact health outcomes for crash victims, as well as exploring the economics of public transportation — specifically, how to increase transit usage in California and across the U.S. I’m excited to deepen my understanding of the intersection of health and economics while learning from the expertise of my colleagues at SafeTREC.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy practicing yoga, baking, and spending time with friends and family. I also love exploring San Francisco, where I live, as well as getting outside the city to hike, camp, and spend time in nature.
This Spotlight interview was conducted in collaboration with UC Berkeley SafeTREC. The opinions and perspectives expressed are those of the interviewee and not necessarily those of SafeTREC or the Office of Traffic Safety.
Funding is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
