All University of Bristol researchers (from PhD student and up) are entitled to a day of free data science support from the Ask-JGI helpdesk. Just email ask-jgi@bristol.ac.uk with your query and one of our team will get back to you to see how we can support you. You can see more about how the JGI can support data science projects for University of Bristol based researchers on our website (https://www.bristol.ac.uk/golding/supporting-your-research/data-science-support/).
The new Ask-JGI helpdesk cohort started in September 2024 and have been busy answering queries from researchers across the university! Meet some of the team below:
Mirah Zhang (she/her) – Ask-JGI PhD Student
I am currently a PhD candidate in Geographic Data Science in the School of Geographical Sciences. My PhD work is methodologically focused. It involves elements of counterfactual prediction, and information theory based causal discovery. While a big part of causal inference is ‘normal’ statistics, I am particularly interested in scenarios where standard statistical models struggle in handling causal relations entangled with spatial structures.
Joining the Ask-JGI team has been an amazing opportunity for me to interact with researchers from a wide range of different backgrounds, and in different stages of their research. I am constantly learning on the job, not just acquiring new skills but also whole new perspectives!
Over the past few months, I have come to the understanding that there is more value to our work here than the code solutions we provide. It is an empowering experience, being able to interact with people, to empathize, and to lift them with the skills I have. It also gives me a sense of pride, being part of the stubborn human element in data science/AI that cannot be automated away. All of these have made my Ask-JGI role a uniquely fulfilling experience both academically and at a personal level.
Tao Zhou (he/him) – Ask-JGI PhD Student
I’m a final-year PhD student in Advanced Quantitative Methods in the School of Geographical Sciences, where my research focuses on the socio-economic determinants of health, especially health inequalities from a life-course and geographical perspective. Methodologically, I am mainly interested in Econometrics, structural equation modelling, multilevel modelling and survival analysis. In the meantime, I’m also passionate about exploring the variations and combinations of these models, such as latent growth curve modelling, intersectional MAIHDA, and longitudinal age-period-cohort analysis with spatial effects. Before the doctoral journey, I’ve got my BSc degree in Economics and MSc degree in Social Statistics.
As a member of the Ask-JGI team, I really enjoy discussing with researchers from a variety of disciplines across the university about their projects. These interactions help resolve their queries, while at the same time enhancing my own understanding of particular research areas.
The Ask-JGI helpdesk has created a platform for interdisciplinary communication through data science, which I highly recommend if you have any relevant enquiries or would like to apply to join our team for the next cohort.
Yueying Li (she/her) – Ask-JGI PhD Student
I joined the Ask-JGI team as a PhD student in Population Health Sciences. Over the course of my academic journey, I’ve progressively narrowed my focus from public health during my bachelor’s, to epidemiology in my master’s, and now to genetic epidemiology for my PhD. This field deals with vast amounts of data, and leveraging data science techniques for efficient management and analysis can make a tremendous impact.
Before applying for this position, I heard glowing recommendations from colleagues and former Ask-JGI helpers, and I’m happy to say the experience has been incredibly rewarding. It’s a fantastic opportunity to sharpen my coding skills and refresh my statistical knowledge. During my education, I learned tools like SPSS, SAS, Stata, R, and Python, but not all of them are frequently used in my projects. Working at the Ask-JGI helpdesk has allowed me to hone those skills and expand my expertise. Beyond the technical growth, one of the most exciting parts of the job is engaging with researchers from diverse disciplines. It’s inspiring to contribute to their fascinating and valuable projects while learning from their unique perspectives. It is even more beneficial to do things in a team where everyone is talented, supportive, and respectful.
Dan Collins (he/him) – Ask-JGI Coordinator
I’m currently in the final year of my PhD with the Interactive AI CDT. While my research involves abstract simulation experiments and exploring conflicts and cooperation in populations of AI agents, I have a keen interest in the broader applications and impact of data science in the real world. Working with Ask-JGI has been a fantastic opportunity to explore this interest further.
I joined Ask-JGI last year as a student data scientist and had a great experience in the role. I’ve particularly enjoyed the collaborative nature of the work, and the exposure it has given me to different data science techniques and research problems across a variety of specialisms. This year, I’ve had the opportunity to continue working with Ask-JGI as a Coordinator. In this role, I’ve been able to draw on my experiences to help support a new team of Ask-JGI PhD students, while continuing to deliver data science support through the helpdesk.
I believe Ask-JGI is a truly valuable program. It enables PhD students with data science expertise to develop their skills and gain experience collaborating on interdisciplinary research, and it encourages researchers at the University to explore how data science techniques can be used to support their work.
If you’re a PhD student interested in joining the Ask-JGI team (or you know someone who might be good for it), we will do recruiting for the next academic year in summer of 2025 so keep an eye on the JGI mailing list for when we have our recruiting call. We recruit a new cohort every year but do not accept speculative applications outside of the recruiting call.