Broadening horizons in data science | Inside UCR | UC Riverside
Source: https://insideucr.ucr.edu/awards/2026/04/21/broadening-horizons-data-science
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:13
Broadening horizons in data science | Inside UCR | UC Riverside
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Broadening horizons in data science
Author:
Iqbal Pittalwala
April 21, 2026
Earlier this month,
Dawon Ahn
, a doctoral student in
computer science and engineering
at UC Riverside, attended the
2026 Rising Stars in Computational and Data Sciences Workshop
in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The experience, she said, expanded her perspective on both research and career possibilities. She was the only person from UCR to attend this year.
Dawon Ahn
The workshop was held at the Santa Fe Institute for early career researchers in computational and data sciences and consisted of a mix of research presentations, technical discussions, and panels about careers and academic/research life. Approximately 30 “Rising Stars” were chosen for the 2026 gathering.
Ahn’s advisor,
Vagelis Papalexakis
, a professor of computer science and engineering who holds the Ross Family Chair in Computer Science, said Ahn was a perfect candidate for this workshop.
“Her research can connect researchers from different disciplines and transform their ability to make new discoveries,” he said. “At the same time, she was able to network with other Rising Stars and be exposed to emerging challenges in their respective domains, which can inform her research.”
For her doctoral thesis, Ahn develops tensor decomposition methods to analyze multi-dimensional data and build efficient, large-scale machine learning models, with a focus on interpretable scientific applications.
Her journey into computational and data sciences began in Gwangju, South Korea, where she grew up. After receiving her undergraduate degree in mathematics from Chonnam National University, she spent two and a half years as a research intern at Seoul National University, focusing on data mining. She joined UCR as a doctoral student in 2021.
Ahn said her decision to apply to the Rising Stars in Computational and Data Sciences 2026 workshop was encouraged by Papalexakis and driven by her desire to share her research with a broader audience.
“Initially, I did not have strong expectations other than focusing on delivering my talk,” she said. “However, the workshop turned out to be much more engaging than I expected. I had the chance to interact with many researchers from diverse backgrounds, and those conversations often sparked new research ideas.”
Among the workshop’s panels, discussions on early career decisions left a strong impression on Ahn.
“One piece of advice that stayed with me was simple yet powerful: follow your heart,” she said. “I came to appreciate that personal circumstances and self-awareness should guide decision-making.”
Before attending the workshop, Ahn had envisioned a future in industry, a goal she had held since beginning her studies in computer science. Candid discussions with panelists at the workshop, however, broadened her perspective, making her more open to pursuing an academic career.
“The workshop encouraged me to think beyond standard benchmark evaluations,” she said.
For those considering applying to attend the workshop, Ahn emphasized being open to conversations and actively engaging with others.
“Building connections is key,” she said. “This workshop is particularly beneficial for late-stage doctoral students and postdocs navigating decisions between academia, industry, and other research paths.”
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Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Dawon Ahn
graduate student
Graduate Division
Vagelis Papalexakis
Workshop
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Bourns College of Engineering
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Follow Us:
UC Riverside on Facebook
UC Riverside on X
UC Riverside on YouTube
UC Riverside on Instagram
UC Riverside on LinkedIn
Broadening horizons in data science
Author:
Iqbal Pittalwala
April 21, 2026
Earlier this month,
Dawon Ahn
, a doctoral student in
computer science and engineering
at UC Riverside, attended the
2026 Rising Stars in Computational and Data Sciences Workshop
in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The experience, she said, expanded her perspective on both research and career possibilities. She was the only person from UCR to attend this year.
Dawon Ahn
The workshop was held at the Santa Fe Institute for early career researchers in computational and data sciences and consisted of a mix of research presentations, technical discussions, and panels about careers and academic/research life. Approximately 30 “Rising Stars” were chosen for the 2026 gathering.
Ahn’s advisor,
Vagelis Papalexakis
, a professor of computer science and engineering who holds the Ross Family Chair in Computer Science, said Ahn was a perfect candidate for this workshop.
“Her research can connect researchers from different disciplines and transform their ability to make new discoveries,” he said. “At the same time, she was able to network with other Rising Stars and be exposed to emerging challenges in their respective domains, which can inform her research.”
For her doctoral thesis, Ahn develops tensor decomposition methods to analyze multi-dimensional data and build efficient, large-scale machine learning models, with a focus on interpretable scientific applications.
Her journey into computational and data sciences began in Gwangju, South Korea, where she grew up. After receiving her undergraduate degree in mathematics from Chonnam National University, she spent two and a half years as a research intern at Seoul National University, focusing on data mining. She joined UCR as a doctoral student in 2021.
Ahn said her decision to apply to the Rising Stars in Computational and Data Sciences 2026 workshop was encouraged by Papalexakis and driven by her desire to share her research with a broader audience.
“Initially, I did not have strong expectations other than focusing on delivering my talk,” she said. “However, the workshop turned out to be much more engaging than I expected. I had the chance to interact with many researchers from diverse backgrounds, and those conversations often sparked new research ideas.”
Among the workshop’s panels, discussions on early career decisions left a strong impression on Ahn.
“One piece of advice that stayed with me was simple yet powerful: follow your heart,” she said. “I came to appreciate that personal circumstances and self-awareness should guide decision-making.”
Before attending the workshop, Ahn had envisioned a future in industry, a goal she had held since beginning her studies in computer science. Candid discussions with panelists at the workshop, however, broadened her perspective, making her more open to pursuing an academic career.
“The workshop encouraged me to think beyond standard benchmark evaluations,” she said.
For those considering applying to attend the workshop, Ahn emphasized being open to conversations and actively engaging with others.
“Building connections is key,” she said. “This workshop is particularly beneficial for late-stage doctoral students and postdocs navigating decisions between academia, industry, and other research paths.”
Tags
Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Dawon Ahn
graduate student
Graduate Division
Vagelis Papalexakis
Workshop
Awards & Honors
RSS Feeds
Bourns College of Engineering
Share this Award
Related Awards
Student captures campus landscape to win R’Card contest
April 14, 2026
Read More »
Four researchers selected for prestigious Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting
April 8, 2026
Read More »
Political scientist honored for regional, community service
April 8, 2026
Read More »
Sophomore Inchara Jagadeesh awarded prestigious Goldwater Scholarship
April 3, 2026
Read More »
Search