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Laken R
- Research Program Mentor
MS at Northwestern University
Expertise
data science topics, applied statistics, r programming, python programming
Bio
Hello! My name is Laken Rivet. My bachelor's degree was in Biology and Statistics, that's where I discovered my passion for analytics and coding. Inspired by that passion, I went on to pursue a Master's degree in data science from Northwestern University. I've developed a deep appreciation for mathematics and understanding what each statistic tells us. I really enjoy finding patterns and telling a story from data. I focus my coding in either Python or R, I think both are extremely powerful programs and can perform all types of analyses. My favorite type of data to work with is sports data -- in pursuing my Master's degree I did a concentration in sports data analytics. My personal favorite sport is ice hockey (Let's Go Red Wings!), but I've worked with baseball, basketball, and football data as well. You can check out my Github to see some of my past projects and reports (https://github.com/lakenrivet). Some things outside of academia that I love are animals, baking, playing video games, and listening to music. I have two cats, Luna and Lily, who I absolutely adore. I'm looking forward to getting to know and work with you!Project ideas
Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.
Correlation NOT Causation
One of the golden rules in statistics is "correlation not causation". This means that just because there is a correlation between two variables, doesn't mean one causes the other. Students would utilize free online databases to search for correlation between completely irrelevant topics. Then they would try to find correlation between two extremely relevant topics. Computational analyses using R or Python would be performed on all databases to discover statistics like correlation coefficient. Results could be presented in a paper, powerpoint, or blog post with rich graphic representations of the data.
Coding skills
python, RTeaching experience
While completing my undergraduate degree I worked as a supplemental instructor in the biology department. This meant I prepared for and hosted weekly review sessions of material covered in biology classes. I also was a part of the "Sisters in Science" club which visited public schools in the area and walked through experiments with young girls to encourage an interest in the STEM field.Credentials
Work experience
Kalamazoo College (2018 - 2021)
Supplemental InstructorKalamazoo College (2017 - 2021)
"Sisters in Science" MentorEducation
Kalamazoo College
BA Bachelor of Arts (2021)
Major in Biology, Minor in Mathematics with a Concentration in StatisticsNorthwestern University
MS Master of Science (2023)
Data Science