Data Science Lunch: Hamsa Bastani

Hamsa Bastani is an Associate Professor of Operations, Information, and Decisions at the Wharton School, with a secondary appointment in Statistics and Data Science. She also serves as co-director of the Wharton Healthcare Analytics Lab. Her research focuses on developing innovative machine learning algorithms for learning and optimization, utilizing methods such as reinforcement learning, active learning, and behavioral nudges. Passionate about addressing critical societal challenges, Hamsa has collaborated with national governments to implement large-scale algorithms that enhance public health outcomes.

During the academic year, our postdoctoral fellows meet for an informal lunch with a Penn faculty guest speaker. Each speaker then leads the group in a casual discussion regarding the use of data science in their research. Discussions vary in content, but tend to focus on the applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence in various academic disciplines.

We encourage open conversation and the exchange of ideas at each lunch, thus fostering a collaborative environment among fellows and faculty alike. As such, these lunches provide an excellent opportunity for our fellows to make interdisciplinary connections and discover new ways to utilize data science in their own research.