Sarah M Brown

Data Science Initiative

Brown University

Providence, RI

I am a Data Science Initiative Postdoc at Brown University affiliated to the Division of Applied Mathematics and hosted by Professor Bjorn Sandstede. Previously, I completed a Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellow in Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley with faculty mentor Professor Mike Jordan. I completed a BS in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Biomedical Engineering in 2011 a MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering and a PhD in Electrical Engineering in 2016 advised by Jennifer Dy both at Northeastern University. My graduate studies were supported by a Draper Laboratory Fellowship and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. My other professional activities include teaching computational data analysis skills to researchers with The Carpentries and serving as the treasurer of Women in Machine Learning, Inc.

I build machine learning tools that bridge from data-agnostic methods to systems that fuel data driven discovery in historically qualitative domains. I approach this from two fronts: building interfaces that enable domain scientists to communicate their qualitative expertise to algorithms and developing context-appropriate machine learning solutions through close collaboration with domain scientists.

In my teaching, I aim to engage learners in a conversation about the material. I take care to practice the strategies for creating an inclusive computer science learning environment I learned in the Carpentries instructor Training.

In addition to standard research talks, I also speak on leadership topics though my service activities.

Outside of the lab, I am a passionate advocate for underrepresented STEM engagement at all levels. Currently I am treasurer of Women In Machine Learning, Inc. As a student, I held a variety of leadership positions in the National Society of Black Engineers at both the local and national levels including National Academic Excellence Chair.