Today we’d like to introduce you to Haoyun Wang
Hi Haoyun, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
As a data scientist with extensive expertise and accomplishments in geospatial analysis, data visualization, big data/GIS applications, and travel behavior modeling, I place a special emphasis on sustainable transportation and transportation equity. My experience includes leading critical roles at WSP, contributing to a major 15-year service development plan and infrastructure planning process for the Northeast Corridor. I have also published numerous academic papers in scientific journals.
I hold double Master’s degrees in Public Informatics and City & Regional Planning from Rutgers University in New Jersey, the oldest, largest, and top-ranked public university in the New York and New Jersey metropolitan area. Additionally, I have served as adjunct faculty at Rutgers University Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy and as a Research Analyst at the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers.
My peer-reviewed publications have garnered citations from researchers worldwide. As an engineer with many years of research and professional experience, my research papers have been cited 168 times, indicating the broad implementation and influence of my work.
Beyond my professional and academic achievements, I am also dedicated to volunteer projects as a data scientist. Collaborating with a product manager and UX designer from YXY Studio, I provide data science support and front-end development for innovative features such as auto-match recommendations between patients’ needs and donors’ supplies based on proximity, and delivery route optimization. These features enhance efficiency and effectiveness compared to existing solutions.
Utilizing technologies like GIS for location-based matching and real-time data analytics, we optimize delivery routes to ensure timely and accurate medicine deliveries while reducing volunteer workload. The app framework extends beyond COVID-19, offering potential for resource distribution in various disasters and improving overall resource management. I am incredibly proud of my team’s tremendous effort and teamwork in making this happen. Our app, MediConnect, recently won the 2024 London Design Awards. I am passionate about the future of digital product design and its potential to reshape the world.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The main challenge lies in leveraging my technical skills in data science and software development to positively impact society and reshape our surroundings. I have conducted extensive research using data science and analysis to study the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel behaviors within shared mobility, including bikeshare and subway usage in New York City, as well as ride-hailing services in Chicago. My research has successfully addressed critical knowledge gaps regarding the pandemic’s impact on travel behavior, yielding significant implications for transportation planning, demand modeling, and urban governance during this unprecedented time.
However, applying my research to cities like Los Angeles, which typically lack robust public transportation or bike-sharing systems, presents a unique challenge. This requires not only technical solutions but also increased public awareness and active government involvement to implement effective changes.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a data scientist, my work spans professional projects, academic research, and volunteer initiatives, each demonstrating my commitment to leveraging technology for societal benefit.
In my professional work, I have contributed to the Digitizing Historical Utilities for a Clean Energy Transmission Project in New York State. By leveraging advanced GIS technologies, this project ensures that historical utility data is preserved, accessible, and integrated into planning and execution processes. This effort supports the successful delivery of clean, renewable energy to New York State. The project will play a key role in the state’s energy transformation, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, creating jobs, and generating billions of dollars in new investment. It represents the largest increase in renewable energy—including hydropower, wind, and solar—in New York State history, projected to save New York homes and businesses $17.3 billion over 30 years through wholesale electricity cost reductions. Additionally, it will create more than 1,400 good-paying, family-sustaining jobs across the state, with a commitment to utilizing union labor, generating over $400 million in wages and benefits.
In academic research, I have authored numerous scholarly articles in international journals and conferences, underscoring my extensive expertise and status in the field. My work has received significant acclaim, with over 168 citations by the international research community. Notably, my paper on “Bikeshare and subway ridership changes during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City,” published in Transport Policy, is listed as one of the journal’s most cited articles.
Through volunteer work, I have contributed to MediConnect, an app that facilitates medicine delivery to vulnerable groups in rural China, bridging a critical healthcare gap and achieving a 93% user satisfaction rate. By leveraging technology, the app efficiently matches donors with patient needs, reducing case completion time from 180 minutes to 6 minutes and assist calls from 15 to 4 throughout the process. This initiative has earned strong support and recognition from volunteers, saving countless lives.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I’m from a small town in China, and achieving my current level of success has not been an easy journey. Growing up in a place with limited resources and opportunities, I had to overcome numerous obstacles to reach where I am today. My background has instilled in me a deep sense of determination and resilience, driving me to excel in my professional endeavors.
Beyond my work, I have a passion for traveling around the United States and the world. Experiencing diverse cultures, landscapes, and ways of life not only broadens my perspective but also enriches my understanding of the world. Each journey I undertake provides me with fresh insights and inspiration, fueling my professional and personal growth.
My ultimate life goal is to explore the world. I aspire to visit every continent, immerse myself in different cultures, and learn from the myriad experiences that travel offers. This desire to explore and discover constantly motivates me to seek new challenges and opportunities, both in my career and in my personal life. Traveling is not just a hobby for me; it is a fundamental part of who I am and what I aspire to achieve in my lifetime.
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