Ai Chatbot Site Developer
A project for Wharton's Professor Schweitzer is in need of software developers.
The project is a web app for non-technical users to create custom chatbots for negotiations and other types of text based interactions. The chatbots will be used for research and education purposes, and are powered by LLMs like OpenAl's GPT models.
Using AI to improve the environmental and nutritional efficacy of food subsidies
Food consumption is a key lever for enhancing human health and environmental sustainability on earth. Our goal in this research is to better understand and find effective approaches to jointly alleviate malnutrition and climate-change outcomes in developing countries. In-kind food subsidies are a primary policy intervention in economically underprivileged communities. However, despite the proven efficacy of machine learning and data analytics in various industries, these technologies have not been widely adopted to enhance the design and impact of such subsidies. We aim to bridge this gap: this study develops a method to design nutrition- and climate-targeted food programs i.e., we algorithmically decide which foods to subsidize to maximize the nutrition value and minimize the carbon footprint of a subsidy program. This project builds on extensive field data collection in an underserved community in India, which comprises a randomized controlled trial, collection of large-scale point-of-sale transaction data, and survey data. Our methodology will combine a predictive choice model based on machine learning techniques and an optimization algorithm. Through this research, we aim to offer policymakers a tangible, data-driven pathway to refine food subsidy schemes, achieving healthier populations and a reduced carbon footprint.
The undergraduate RA is expected to have strong proficiency in coding, and basic understanding of statistics and/or econometrics.
Shreya Srinivasan
Currently, my research interests lie in consumer retail, entrepreneurship, and sustainability, and I hope to look more into these fields and keep an open mind to others in the next couple of months. Additionally, I'm involved in the Consulting Committee of the Penn Social Entrepreneurship Movement and on the Finance Committee of the Wharton Retail Club on campus.
David Tran
My research interest lies at the intersection of commercial real estate and the construction industry, specifically in the labor relations process that governs how construction workers engage with contractors, developers, and unions. With the support of the University Scholars program and Dr. Peter Cappelli of the Wharton Management Department, I am currently pursuing independent research on the division of labor and employee relations within Philadelphia's construction industry and their effects on real estate projects. Beyond my research, I am actively involved with the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO and the Wharton Management Club.
Neil He
I'm interested in behavioral economics and public policy, especially when pertaining to poverty alleviation and microfinance programs. In high school, I held a research assistant position studying the effects of Vietnam War student protests on military funding of universities. Outside of research, I'm involved with the Assembly of International Students and Penn Policy Consulting.
