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Christine (Jiarui) Xu

Graduate StudentEmail Christine (Jiarui) Xu

Christine graduated from UC San Diego in June 2024 with dual majors in Data Science and Joint Mathematics-Economics. Throughout her academic journey, she developed a solid foundation in data-centric methodologies and programming skills. She is particularly interested in deploying information retrieval techniques in recommender and search engines, aiming to improve user experiences and enhance business efficiencies. At UC San Diego, Christine was actively involved in the UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation where she led a team to develop a relational database and website for mapping the Chinese IDAR innovation ecosystem. This project not only strengthened her technical skills in data management and frontend development but also practiced her ability to lead interdisciplinary teams effectively. Her capstone project, "Pict2Plate," further demonstrated her innovative use of data science, where she developed an application that provides culinary suggestions based on user-uploaded images of ingredients utilizing natural language processing and retrieval-augmented generation(RAG) techniques. Her internship at Shepherd Ventures allowed her to apply analytical skills in a real-world setting, where she developed strategies to mitigate risks associated with market volatility. Utilizing clustering models, Christine enhanced the financial stability of investment portfolios. In summer 2024, she further practiced her skills as a data scientist at Omnium CPG. There, she adeptly used Excel, Python, and R to deliver data-driven insights to stakeholders with varied levels of technical knowledge. Additionally, in her personal project, Christine employed a large language model to automate data cleaning processes, streamlining operations within the company. Now at Northwestern University's MLDS program, Christine is eager to deepen her knowledge in machine learning, particularly in natural language processing and information retrieval. She aims to leverage advanced algorithms and cloud computing to improve decision-making processes. Her goal is to forge innovative solutions that address real-world challenges, enhancing her journey toward becoming a proficient data scientist. Outside the classroom, Christine enjoys hiking, baking, and exploring music. She is excited to connect with her peers and faculty at Northwestern MLDS program, sharing her passions and perspectives to enrich both her academic and personal life.