Research Assistant Spotlight: Hannah Oh
Hannah Oh
NU Institute of Policy Research (IPR) Summer Undergraduate Research Assistant (SURA)
How did you first learn about the I.AIM Center for Computational & Social Sciences in Health (COMPASS) and Michelle Birkett's work?
This past spring I came across the Institute of Policy Research (IPR)’s summer research opportunity for undergraduates; I submitted my resume and cover letter explaining my research interests in health, the built environment and technology. I was fortunate to hear back from Prof. Michelle Birkett and her lab’s Director of Research Operations Kate Banner, who introduced me to their ongoing SILOS project. SILOS examines how social networks and broader contextual environments shape access to resources and contribute to health disparities among marginalized racial, ethnic and sexual and gender minority populations. I found Prof. Birkett’s work at I.AIM to be especially innovative and important in both approach and focus – it was an honor to contribute to her team.
How has your experience in I.AIM changed you?
My experience at I.AIM as a summer intern has given me many lessons and insights. I learned how people with different backgrounds and skills can converge around a common goal, and how important collaboration across institutes, centers and disciplines is to scientific research. Furthermore, after seeing firsthand how much effort goes into recruiting participants for a study and how much each participant is valued by the team, I will be on an eager lookout for studies to participate in!
What is a cause that you are passionate about?
I’ve always been passionate about making science more accessible so that everyone can partake in scientific education, research and development. In high school, a couple friends and I created at-home experiment kits to ship to elementary/middle school students who lost access to hands-on labs at their schools due to COVID. Currently at Northwestern, I am involved in a student-led initiative using open-source hardware to make semiconductor fabrication an accessible experience for college students. I was especially drawn to Prof. Birkett’s use of Network Canvas, an open-source tool which makes complex network research more accessible and adaptable to different applications.
What are your plans for the future?
I am currently a third-year undergraduate at Northwestern studying Manufacturing and Design Engineering (MaDE); concurrently with my bachelors, I am also working towards a master’s degree in computer engineering. Ultimately, I hope to pursue a career in the legal field as a patent agent or attorney. Prior to law school, however, I want to gain as much engineering knowledge and experience as possible so I can better understand the innovations I hope to protect.
What is your favorite spot on campus and why?
My favorite spot in the Evanston campus has to be the lakefill. It is a great place to go for a calm stroll, a picnic or to feed some animal friends.