With the holiday season approaching, many in San Diego County face housing and food insecurity. According to the 2024 Point-in-Time Count, the number of homeless individuals in San Diego County exceeds 10,000—a 4% increase in unsheltered and sheltered populations from 2023.

At the Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute (HDSI), part of the School of Computing, Information and Data Sciences (SCIDS) at UC San Diego, students in the Undergraduate Research Scholarship Program aim to address critical local challenges through data-driven research. The program enables students to develop analytical skills, build data science portfolios and foster approaches to problem-solving through student-led projects. Funded by philanthropic support and open to students across disciplines, participants choose their research topics and lead the research process, unlike standard lab-directed projects.

This year, 11 student-led projects are underway, three of which are in partnership with the Data Science Alliance (DSA), a nonprofit focused on empowering communities through responsible data science and artificial intelligence (AI). Collaborations connect students with faculty mentors and external partners to turn complex data into actionable solutions.

“Our motivation and overall vision for the Undergraduate Research Scholarship was developed to help prepare our undergraduate students for their Senior Capstone Project,” said Sonlong Nguyen, HDSI director of student affairs. “It also helps our students pursue independent research with innovative topics they choose to explore by pairing them with faculty mentors who can guide them through the year-long research project.”

The following examples of DSA-mentored projects reflect the program’s commitment to community impact and ethical data use:

• “Predicting Homeless Shelter Capacity in San Diego County,” led by Cristina De La Torre, Sophia Fang and Zoya Hasan, aims to predict shelter capacity needs and changes in the unsheltered population by analyzing trends in shelter usage, weather patterns, economic indicators and demographics.
• “Optimizing Food Bank Locations to Address Food Insecurity,” led by Yash Tandon, Kevin Chen and Peter Shamoun, uses mapping and data analysis to identify underserved communities where new food pantries can be built to ensure food assistance has the most significant impact and reach.
• “Analyzing the Impact of Housing Supply and Prices on Homelessness,” led by Kaii Bijlani, Bhagya Ram and Krish Prasad, examines the relationship between housing costs and homelessness to provide insights for policymakers and community organizations.

DSA experienced professionals Leslie Joe, a data scientist, and Adir Mancebo, Jr., a data science manager, provide mentorship and guidance. “These initiatives highlight the power of collaboration between experienced professionals and the next generation of data scientists, driving meaningful change in San Diego,” Mancebo, Jr. said. “By connecting data-driven solutions to issues that resonate with everyday life, the public can see how these efforts directly benefit their communities and contribute to a better future for everyone.”

Student perspectives

For Chen, a fourth-year data science student the program offers a chance to apply classroom learning to real-world challenges. “This experience to work on a full-scale data science project allows me to work with the data science lifecycle from start to end,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity to apply the material I’ve learned from my coursework in a hands-on project that makes a positive impact on the community.”

Shamoun, a third-year data science student highlighted the program’s value. “The program and partnership with the DSA has provided valuable opportunities to work on real-world data collection, collaborating with stakeholders and applying advanced optimization models,” he said.

The projects led by the students offer hope amidst local challenges. By using technology with a commitment to social good, HDSI students demonstrate the transformative potential of data science.

De La Torre, Fang and Hasan, all data science students at UC San Diego and research assistants at the DSA, shared that the program and partnership allow them to use technology for positive change. “Being part of the HDSI Undergraduate Research Scholarship Program allows us to use data and AI to drive positive change,” said the group. “Collaborating with the DSA lets us advance their mission to uphold responsible data science principles of fairness, transparency, privacy and veracity.”

Making a difference in San Diego County and beyond

The program reflects HDSI’s mission to foster innovation, collaboration and impact that extends beyond the San Diego County community.

“Our project focuses on San Diego County, but the steps we’re taking could serve as a blueprint for data scientists in other cities,” said Ram, a third-year data science student at UC San Diego and research assistant at the DSA. “By examining the relationship between housing costs and homelessness, we hope this research destigmatizes the issue and provides context on how housing market changes influence individual housing stability.”

The program exemplifies the power of data science in solving community challenges. Individuals moved by the students’ work who want to support it can consider donating to local shelters or food banks—contributions can directly aid families and individuals experiencing housing and food insecurity in San Diego County.

For more information about HDSI’s Undergraduate Research Scholarship Program and its projects, visit the HDSI website. To learn more about the impact of DSA and support their work, visit their website.