What We Do

Mentor presentation during the 2019 student workshop.

DataJam mentors are college students who have an interest in big data and are interested in helping high school and community college students with all aspects of participation in the DataJam. As indicated in the list below, DataJam mentors have come from a wide variety of backgrounds with many different interests. We are now training DataJam mentors at universities across the country!

DataJam mentors are available to assist DataJam teams throughout the academic year. All DataJam mentor sessions are conducted on Zoom. In the Fall mentors can visit with your team and give a presentation about what the DataJam is all about and how a middle school, high school, afterschool program or community college can put together a DataJam team and become involved. Throughout the Fall, the DataJam mentors are available to work with teams to help each team come up with a question they would like to ask for their DataJam project, formulate a hypothesis and find datasets that will allow them to test their hypothesis. As DataJam teams start to work on their projects, the mentors are available to provide guidance with how to visualize data, analyze data and interpret the findings of data analyses. In the spring mentors can provide further guidance on how to put together an effective poster and presentation.

At each step of the way, the DataJam mentors are available to assist DataJam teams. We work hard to pair a consistent mentor with a team so you get to know each other and can work well together. Arrangements can be made to meet with a mentor on a specific day/time by emailing datajam@thedatajam.org.

Meet Our Mentors

Zac Lindquist

Hey! My name is Zac Lindquist and I am a first year student at the University of Pittsburgh majoring in neuroscience and minoring in chemistry and (hopefully) statistics. I am also a UTA for a SEA-PHAGES lab, and am looking to be involved in neurological research here at Pitt. I am from Bemus Point, New York. I was a swimmer throughout high school, and I enjoy boating, walking, skiing, and, of course, swimming. I became involved in DataJam through an honors program, and am happy to be a part of this organization. Feel free to reach out with any questions you may have!

Lauren Krest

Hi! My name is Lauren and I'm from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I'm a first-year at Pitt with an intended major in Law, Criminal Justice, and Society. In my free time, I enjoy reading and listening to music, as well as playing guitar! I speak German and French, and I am an avid Bananagrams player. I look forward to working with you this year!

Andrew Lindros

Hi, my name is Andrew Lindros and I am a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh. I am undeclared in the school of Dietrich Arts and Sciences. I enjoy working with data and statistics in a variety of fields. Sports are a major topic of interest for me, and they are filled with data that can be analyzed and applied to in game trends. I am looking forward to DataJam and am excited to meet all the competitors!

Diogo Santos

Hey! I'm Diogo Santos, a junior at Caldwell University where I'm pursuing a degree in supply chain management, complemented by a minor in data analytics. I am both American and Portuguese. Some of my interests are soccer – both playing and watching – as well as traveling, reading, continuous learning, and keeping up with politics. Recognizing the importance of data comprehension across many fields like sports, politics, and even food, I find great use in this skill. I'm excited to further develop my data knowledge alongside all of you.

Norka Salazar

Hello! My name is Norka Salazar. I've been living most of my life in the Hudson County area of New Jersey. I get the pleasure of seeing the NYC skyline everyday! I’m currently in the process of achieving my Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science at Caldwell University. I recently started to work in a data center and work with many different types of server models. In addition to that, I am captain of the Valorant team in my University’s ESports program and a thrower for Caldwell’s Track and Field team. It is my pleasure to get to know you and guide you as best as I can!

Sarah Sirakos

Hi! I’m Sarah Sirakos, a junior Statistics major and Economics minor at Pitt! My love for statistics started a long time ago when I took my first statistics class in high school, so I hope that I can help all of the DataJam teams share that same excitement that I had when first learning statistics. Other than school, I love hanging out with friends, playing guitar, and staying up late watching random YouTube videos. My future goals include using my passion for statistics to become a data analyst, and I’m pretty open to what different fields that entails! I’m super excited to get to know you all during DataJam!

Neha Dutt

Hi everyone! My name is Neha Dutt and I am a senior at Pitt majoring in Computational Biology. My goal is to became a strong data scientist that can apply the commonly used technologies in various aspects and fields. Outside of school, I enjoy reading and dancing, and in fact, I am currently on a competitive dance team at my school! I look forward to the upcoming DataJam season, and I hope that I can be a valuable and a strong support to your team and project!

Yewon Kim

Hello everyone! My name is Yewon Kim, and I'm currently studying at Pitt as an international exchange student! My home university is SNU, Seoul National University, which is in Korea.
I'm majoring in Statistics, and I hope to be able to deal with various data well. This is my first Datajam experience, and I hope I can be helpful to your team!

Daniel Hufnagle

Hi! I’m Daniel Hufnagle and I’m a freshman from Lancaster, Pennsylvania studying computer science and data science at the University of Pittsburgh. Outside of classes, my hobbies are robotics, programming, and photography. I enjoy working with big data, particularly with machine learning models for computer vision. This will be my first DataJam and I’m looking forward to helping you out with your projects!

Dona Inayyah

Hi everyone! I'm Inayyah, a senior at SF State where I'm majoring in Applied Mathematics, and emphasizing in Data Science. My passions lie at the intersection of math and social justice, and my goal is to become a data analyst so that I can contribute to solving pressing global issues. A little about me - I’m from Malaysia, and I have a deep love for travel and exploring new places. I'm a huge fan of sappy rom-coms and anything Harry Potter related, and I love spending quality time with people I care about. I am incredibly excited to work with my mentees, and I hope it is as enriching for them as I know it will be for me :)

Angelina Jia

Hi everyone! My name is Angelina. I’m from West Chester, PA, and I am a first year student studying statistics and economics. My interest in statistics started in high school when I completed my first project in class. Being able to use statistics as a vessel to learn about numerous topics was very exciting for me, so I am looking forward to mentoring others in their journeys. Outside of school, I love writing, drawing, and crocheting. I hope to become a data analyst one day and teaching others is an incredible first step. I am looking forward to meeting everyone!

Eeshaan Jadhav

Hi, I'm Eeshaan. I'm currently a Junior, statistics major at Pitt with a focus on data science. Over the past couple of years, I've had the opportunity to use data science in order to optimize a predictive genetics program and as a technical writer for industrial modeling software. I'm really interested in utilizing big data and finding effective ways to communicate results. When I'm not in class, I serve as the Health and Safety Chair for my fraternity and play a lot of Smash with my roommates. This will be my first year with the Pittsburgh DataJam so I'm excited to work with and mentor a group of students as they learn more about data science!

Essence Crosdale

Hi, my name is Essence Crosdale, I am 22 and a senior at Caldwell University. My major is CIS (Computer Info. systems), for the future I am going to try to get into cybersecurity. In my free time I enjoy listening to music and hanging out with my friends. I look forward to mentoring and helping you out!

Alexia Cunningham

Hello, I'm Alexia Cunningham, a senior at Caldwell University, pursuing a double major in Computer Information Systems and Business Analytics. This past summer, I had the incredible opportunity to serve as a Intern at SAP. This marked my second internship with SAP, and it's been an enriching journey. In my internship, I've been deeply immersed in the analytical side of the tech world. My role involved diving headfirst into data, extracting valuable insights, and contributing to product releases that impact SAP's global operations. My passion for data and its transformative potential drove me to seek out this experience, and it's been nothing short of fulfilling.

Kris Lara

Hello everyone! My name is Kris Lara and I am a Computer Information Systems major and Data analytics minor at Caldwell university. I am a member of the EOF and Esports team here at Caldwell. I love working with data. Data is a fascinating and valuable resource because it holds the potential to reveal insights, patterns, and trends that can inform better decision-making and drive innovation. I hope I can provide you with more insight on the data world and assist you in harnessing its power to make informed choices, solve challenges, and drive meaningful progress in your life.

Mahitha Ramachandran

Hi! My name is Mahitha Ramachandran, and I am a first-year student at the University of Pittsburgh studying Physics & Astronomy. I am so excited to work with DataJam teams to help them discover the power of data and data analysis and how applicable the tools of statistics are to a variety of fields and topics. I believe the world will be a better place if more people understand how data can be used (and misused) effectively. Other than my obvious interest in space and stargazing, I love music and play the piano and the cello, and I enjoy many different art forms such as ceramics and embroidery. I also love reading, exploring the city, and am passionate about environmental justice. And of course, I love cats. I can’t wait to meet you and support you through this exciting project!

Kartik Patel

Hello, I'm Kartik Patel, a sophomore majoring in Applied Mathematics at SF State. My goal is to become a data scientist. In addition to my academic pursuits, I enjoy spending my time reading books and playing volleyball. I'm currently an active member of our volleyball team. My passion lies in working with data, especially when it involves big data and machine learning modules. I'm thrilled to embark on my first data science project and eagerly look forward to collaborating with your team.

Carlos De Leon

Hi! My name is Carlos, I'm a Computer Science major here at San Francisco State University while also taking Data Science and Machine Learning for biotech. I'm passionate about data and trying to find answers to questions we all have which is why my end goal is becoming a data scientist. Other than school I also enjoy playing musical instruments such as the guitar and piano and reading mystery books. I look forward to being able to hear some interesting topics from the upcoming DataJam and help you find the answers to those questions.

Akemi Smart

Hello everyone, my name is Akemi! I am a second year at San Francisco State where I am majoring in Statistics and minoring in Philosophy. My first exposure to statistics was in high school where I fell in love with its broad application and real-world usage, so I am so excited to maybe foster that love to other students. I've also found that statistics pairs very nicely with philosophy which is one of my passions. A little bit about me, I am from San Diego, California and love the beach and being in the sun. My friends and family are the most important things in my life, and I love spending time with them as much as I can. Overall, I am so happy to have this experience and I'm looking forward to meeting you all!

Dan Kun

Hello, I'm Dan Kun, a senior studying Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh. Despite not knowing exactly what to expect, my experience in this class has been excellent thus far. Following my graduation with a BSW, my plan is to pursue a master's in counseling and theology. The knowledge gained in this class will be crucial in conducting research to validate trends..

Bhaskar Chakrabarti

Hi there! My name is Bhaskar Chakrabarti and I am a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh majoring in Neuroscience with minors in Chemistry and Applied Statistics, as well as a Certificate in Conceptual Foundations of Medicine. Outside of classes, I am a Clinical Research Assistant at UPMC studying Multiple Sclerosis, work as a Dietrich School Student Ambassador, and am a leader in Science Olympiad at Pitt. I am from New York City where in high school I was heavily involved in Science Olympiad and conducted neuroscience research at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, which allowed me to get early experience in developing and presenting original research. In my free time, I enjoy photography and going on long bike rides. I can't wait to help you use data science to answer any question you come up with!

Greg Guo

I'm Greg Guo, a 4th-year student at Northeastern University in Boston, majoring in Finance and Mathematics with a minor in Data Science. I enjoy tennis, trying new restaurants, and reading fiction. My interest in statistics and data science started in high school and grew through internships, including one in bond trading. Joining DataJam lets me reconnect with volunteering and promote data science careers, aligning with my passion for hands-on learning and empowering students with data skills.