Ph.D. Student Profile: Jade Preston

Jade Preston

Education
Ph.D. in Data Science Candidate, University of Virginia
M.S. in Operations Research 2019, Air Force Institute of Technology
B.S. in Mathematics 2015, Mary Baldwin University

Hometown
Chester, Virginia

Q: Tell us about your path to data science.

My Ph.D. in Data Science is sponsored through the Air Force, where I am an active-duty Operations Research Analyst. I chose to pursue data science because it is a natural touch point between the analytic and cyber career fields by applying both mathematical and computer science concepts. A Ph.D.-level of expertise will be valuable in communicating with officers as well as leading airmen who have technical training in various fields of study. I will leverage my academic education to bridge gaps within the information warfare domain.

Q: When choosing a doctoral program, why did you decide on UVA's Ph.D. in Data Science?

UVA has partnered with the Air Force to educate active duty Air Force Officers and I am happy to be a part of the first admitted Ph.D. Data Science cohort.

Q: What do you hope to do with business and data science degrees?

I am interested in researching hyperspectral imaging with remote sensing. 

Q: What has been your favorite class so far and why?

So far, my favorite class is Machine Learning Systems with Professor Judy Fox. We are assigned reading from the latest articles in machine learning and asked to summarize and present on the most state of the art concepts and material available.

Q: What is a fun fact about yourself?

I have a twin sister who is also an Air Force officer.