Eileen and Nilah: Data science research, from seismology to genomics

Fiber optic cables that convey data at high speeds across the globe are a well-known feature of modern technology.

Eileen Martin, a recent Stanford Engineering alumna with a focus on data science and seismology, has found a unique use for them: monitoring earthquakes. Using fiber optics distributed throughout Stanford’s telecom infrastructure, Martin was a part of a team that created a seismic array that collected data on over 1,000 Bay Area earthquakes.

Across campus, Nilah Monnier Ioannidis, a postdoctoral scholar concentrating on data science and genomics, is also using data in important ways in her work. The field of genomics is blooming and is a ripe area for research with immediate health impacts. The more data that is available in this space, the better equipped health care professionals will be to tailor treatment plans and lifestyle recommendations for patients based on their genome information.

On this episode of the Women in Data Science podcast, Martin and Monnier Ioannidis discuss the pivotal role of data in their research.