A year ago we launched the Civic Innovation Lab Associates program to support our lab’s capacities and foster public interest technology talent in NYC.
Typically, Associates join our lab as graduate students or recent graduates. They build their portfolios by responding to Research and Data Assistance Requests, improving our suite of tools, and conducting their own personal projects.
This year, we are pleased to introduce you to our 2023 Civic Innovation Lab Associates: Hailee Hoa Luong, Hao Lun Hung, and Vaishali Talwar. They share our interest in civics, data, and design as well as our commitment to improving public services and the use of data in NYC. We are honored to work alongside them.
Welcome to the BetaNYC family, Hailee, Lun, and Vaishali!
Hailee Hoa Luong
Pronouns: She/her
Languages: English, Vietnamese
Education: Hailee is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Information Experience Design at Pratt Institute.
Role at BetaNYC: UX Designer
My name is Hailee Hoa Luong. I am a UX designer based in New York City, and currently pursuing a Master of Information Experience Design at Pratt Institute.
I am passionate about crafting a meaningful experience centering users and their behaviors within a digital environment. I am currently working at BetaNYC, responsible for improving the BetaNYC website, and supporting the Civic Innovation Lab in responding to people’s needs of using open data.
Hao Lun Hung
Pronouns: He/Him
Languages: English, Mandarin
Education: Lun recently graduated from Parsons School of Design with a master’s degree in Data Visualization.
Role at BetaNYC: Front-End Developer
Hao Lun Hung is a front-end and data visualization developer. He loves to build interactive data visualizations and to explore new technologies for transforming complex information into simple insights for users.
Lun graduated from the Parsons Data Visualization Master’s program. He currently lives in New York, and is excited for the challenges of data visualizations and creative coding.
Vaishali Talwar
Pronouns: She/her
Languages: English, Hindi
Education: Vaishali received her M.Phil. in Physiology and Neuroscience from New York University in 2019.
Role at BetaNYC: Data Analyst
I am a neuroscientist turned data scientist with eight years of industry and research experience. My graduate thesis focused on the neuroplasticity underlying social behaviors. This experience piqued my interest in using research and data analysis skills to inform public policies. I am a firm believer in making information accessible and using that information to contribute towards policies that make our lives better. In my free time, you can find me exploring New York City, particularly restaurants and bookshops/libraries to frequent.