Xinyu Zhang

Student

Xinyu Zhang is a master’s student in Statistics at Columbia University, with bachelor’s degrees in Statistics and Accountancy from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her research assistant work at Renmin University of China focuses on data governance and firms’ digital transformation, and her earlier work at Illinois examined environmental exposure and health outcomes. These projects have given her experience in data preparation, statistical analysis, and causal inference. "Through the AI4SGS mentored research program, I want to strengthen my research skills and better understand how statistical methods can help address practical problems," she said. "Working with Social Work researchers will also help me understand the community context behind the data. In WINGS+++, I am interested in contributing to pilot data analysis and exploring AI tools that help staff understand participants’ needs." She hopes to pursue a PhD in economics or a related field, with research interests in health economics and social policy.