Alena Zhang

2024

Austin, TX

Academic Interests

Computer Science and Statistics

Fun Fact

I love traveling!

To me, the most fascinating aspect of computer science is its broad applicability to nearly every field of study. The idea that a few lines of code have the potential to revolutionize an entire industry is truly mind-blowing. These past two summers, I’ve had the opportunity to intern on modeling engineering and data engineering teams at Two Sigma. From my time there, I was able to gain insight into how technology is leveraged to drive trading decisions and model development. In high school, I had the chance to explore the interdisciplinary nature of computer science as a NASA SEES intern. 

At Duke, I am a member of Duke Undergraduate Machine Learning, Women in Tech, and the Asian Student Association. Outside of class, I love traveling, going on food tours, and baking!

What do you like about being a SPIRE Fellow?

In addition to the myriad of invaluable resources and mentors that SPIRE provides, I love the strong sense of community that SPIRE fosters. SPIRE Fellows are united by our common passions and drive for success, yet we are each unique in the perspectives we bring and the backgrounds we come from. By being a part of such an empowering and open-minded network, I can develop both personally and professionally. During my next few years at Duke, I am excited to explore all that SPIRE has to offer, and I also hope to contribute my efforts towards building an even more supportive and inclusive SPIRE community.

Alena Zhang.
Alena Zhang