November 18, 2024
Jihee You, a first-year PhD student in Data Science, studies topics related to machine learning—specifically, explainable AI and graph neural networks. Jihee was born in Seoul, South Korea, and has lived in New Jersey, Nevada, and a couple of other South Korean cities. She majored in data science as an undergraduate here in the College. We interviewed Jihee about her experiences at UChicago.
Why did you choose the University of Chicago?
I loved the previous four years I spent here with the guidance from my incredible advisors. Also, I felt at home with the UChicago quirkiness.
Please describe something you are proud of accomplishing at UChicago.
As an undergraduate, I worked with Fermilab through the Data Science Clinic class to enhance the graph neural network algorithm for predicting neutrino interaction locations. I am proud of this experience since it encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and engage with a challenging physics problem. After two quarters, I improved the algorithm’s decoder by demonstrating that attentional aggregators not only allocate resources more efficiently but also outperform the previous LSTM-based approach.
What has been your most memorable class and why?
I found the Foundations of Machine Learning and AI class fascinating, as I could revisit the intricate statistical reasoning behind many “default” design choices in machine learning.
What is your favorite restaurant or food truck in Hyde Park? What is your favorite dish?
Café 53. Their oven-baked sandwiches are fabulous—especially the sumac chicken sandwich. Many others seem to share my favoritism, so the café is crowded at lunchtime, but if you go during the mornings or evenings, it becomes a cozy place to sit with a laptop.
What is your favorite campus spot and why?
Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (ISAC). It has a lovely reading room on the second floor and provides an opportunity to enjoy a study break with Mesopotamian artifacts downstairs. If you are willing to walk a bit further into the museum, you can run into mummies, too.
What’s something you love to do outside of the classroom and lab?
I love to attend classical piano concerts and explore neighborhoods along the CTA Blue Line. On a more day-to-day basis, I love the gym, cooking, and board and video games.
What’s the coolest thing you’ve done in the city so far?
Walking around with hot chocolate at Christkindlmarket on Thanksgiving weekend. It’s great to have the choice to alternate between two holiday celebrations.
What support have you received at UChicago that was particularly valuable to you?
I feel fortunate to enjoy a guaranteed TA/RA stipend, as well as a variety of research talks at the Data Science Institute, Toyota Technological Institute, and Statistics and Computer Science Departments. Moreover, I appreciate the industry-focused opportunities at the Data Science Nights.
How has your background or experience prepared you to contribute to an environment where diversity and inclusion are valued?
The need for algorithmic fairness in modern machine learning algorithm deployment especially resonated with me as a female student of color. The current landscape disfavoring underrepresented groups motivated me to pursue further research on explainable and responsible AI.
What advice or insights do you have for new or prospective Maroons?
Professors are frequently willing to supervise you on research, so you have a lot of opportunities to pursue your topic of interest. Feel comfortable contacting professors by attending their talks and classes, emailing, or knocking on their door.
What are your plans post-UChicago?
I plan to pursue a career in academia.
If you could choose one word to describe the University of Chicago, what would it be?
Polymath!