June Yang recently joined CSDE and the eScience Institute as a research scientist. As a Computational Demographer, June focuses on applying Natural Language Processing methods to the study of population family formation processes, gender disparity, and demographic inference. She is expanding her skill set by using Large Language Models in text data annotation and measurement development. A second strain of her current research focuses on complex survey analysis, particularly using network-based samples to study vulnerable, hard-to-reach populations. June also has extensive experience working with administrative data sources.
To make an appointment with June or any other CSDE Research Scientist, use the CSDE Science Core Consultation Request form.
Hana Ševčíková is a Senior Research Scientist at CSDE and CSSS. She has worked on various projects in statistical computing and demography. She has been working with the United Nations on developing methods for probabilistic population projections and has developed R packages that the UN has been using for their official world population forecasts. Hana also works as a Data Scientist for the Puget Sound Regional Council focusing on regional agent-based land use modeling.
To make an appointment with Hana or any other CSDE Research Scientist, use the CSDE Science Core Consultation Request form.
Check out volume 60, issue 6 here!
CSDE Affiliate Emiko Tajima (Social Work) was quoted by Grace Deng in the Washington State Standard on recently signed state legislation that removes barriers to accessing extended foster care, which is a voluntary program to support former foster youth between 18 and 21 years old. The program is intended to help meet the needs of young adults transitioning to adulthood. Tajima highlighted how extended foster care is also an opportunity to strengthen meaningful relationships with adults, like caseworkers, legal counselors, and peers. The foster care system frequently moves youth around, Tajima says. “[Extended foster care] just keeps them connected to those possible supports. It’s not a guarantee, but at least it gives them kind of this chance of having those connections”.
CSDE Trainee Diane Xue (Public Health Genetics) and CSDE Affiliate Alison Fohner (Epidemiology) released an article with co-authors in Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions, titled “The power of representation: Statistical analysis of diversity in US Alzheimer’s disease genetics data“. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex disease influenced by genetics and environment. More than 75 susceptibility loci have been linked to late-onset AD, but most of these loci were discovered in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) exclusive to non-Hispanic White individuals. There are wide disparities in AD risk across racially stratified groups, and while these disparities are not due to genetic differences, underrepresentation in genetic research can further exacerbate and contribute to their persistence. Authors investigated the racial/ethnic representation of participants in United States (US)-based AD genetics and examined the statistical implications of current representation on our understanding of AD’s genetic causes across populations.