Sherry Long

Year in School
Freshman

Major
Computer Science

Research Interests
Artificial Intelligence Data and Information Systems

Research Mentor
Prof. Brad Solomon

Research/Engagement Experience
As a research intern at NASA Ames Research Center, I conducted research in space bioinformatics, using computational applications to analyze differential expression of murine RNA in order to examine the effects of spaceflight radiation on coagulation pathways. I also previously conducted research under a materials research group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where I analyzed morphological data of ion-conducting polymers to support research in optimizing performance of electrochemical devices and clean energy applications.

Interests
My academic interests include machine learning and artificial intelligence, data science, human-computer interaction, and applications of computing in education.

Project Title
TBD

How did I get interested in Computer Science?
I decided one day to open a spreadsheet and log every train that passed by my house, from the last horn I heard at night to the first horn in the morning. I called this spreadsheet

What social interests matter to me?
I am passionate about improving accessibility through technology. I believe that all individuals deserve opportunity for education, and with my research, I am interested in exploring the applications of human-computer interaction in improving educational access and quality.

What is my most impactful college experience?
One of my first and most impactful college experiences was attending an Illini Day as a recently committed Illini. At this event, I had the opportunity to experience the Illinois spirit, shadow a CS student, and and attend a Women In Engineering event, when I first realized I belonged at Illinois and at Grainger Engineering.

These are a few of my favorite things!
Outside of academics, I enjoy staying active through ice skating. I also spend much of my free time with my friends, attending social events and concerts, going on late night walks, or trying new food.

Research Description
Searching a large collection of sequencing studies for a sequence of interest remains a fundamental problem in computational genomics. Our project focuses on the development of computational programs that parse data into k-mer profiles and aggregate these sequences into various color matrices. The aim of the project is to develop new ways of using color matrices that can improve search capabilities in one or more factors such as time, accuracy, and space.

Biography
Outside of academics, I enjoy staying active through ice skating. I also spend much of my free time with my friends, attending social events and concerts, going on late night walks, or trying new food.