Emily Zhang 

 Hi, I'm Emily!

I'm a first-year student in ERC. I'm a joint economics and mathematics major and hope to double major in data science, as well.

Which UR Programs and research conferences have you been a part of?

As a first-year student, this is my first time conducting research through the Faculty Mentor Program (FMP).

What are you researching?

Along with my faculty mentor Professor Muendler, I am researching trade governance and international trade between China and the United States. During my first quarter on the project, I am reading up on the WTO and America's return to protectionism. After familiarizing myself with these concepts, I will relate them to China's recent economic changes. In the second quarter, I will use STATA to simulate different scenarios’ effects on the gravity equation and make predictions about the future relationship between China and the States. The most interesting book I have read so far is Has China Won? by Kishore Mahbubani, which details the differences between the two countries in a very respectful and neutral tone, allowing me to build on top of his ideas.

Why and how did you decide to get involved in undergraduate research?

During this difficult year, I believed the best way to connect with others at UC San Diego was to be involved with what the instutition does best: research. My sister has been involved in research for a long time, and her excitement made me want to step into the unknown as well. My topic and experience right now shows how I can combine what I am learning with what I want to pursue; even though many may say that my career path is unrelated to research, I believe that nothing is truly separate in this world. Like the concept of yin and yang, everything exists in relation to each other.

What are your future plans/goals?

After finishing my undergraduate career, I plan on pursuing a Master's degree in a related area or a Master's in Business Administration. This diverse set of skills will prepare me for a career anywhere in the world, allowing me to be involved in international business. Even though my future plans lie in traditionally humanities- and business-related fields such as marketing and public relations, my friends and professors helped me realize that research is also integral to my plan. In the near future, I have plans to continue research over the summer or intern with General Technology's data science team.