Colin Cham

Hi everyone! I’m Colin and I’m a junior studying PPE and minoring in Data Science and Statistics. I’m interested in data analytics, GIS mapping/visualization, and opinion research in the social sciences. Outside of school, I enjoy martial arts, listening to ‘90s hip hop, and trying new flavors of instant noodles.  

When I first came to campus, I knew I was interested in joining research, but I wasn’t sure where to look. Thanks to my RPA, I was able to find impactful projects and supportive faculty mentors — and I’m hoping to help other students find the same. Research at Penn has revealed surprising and exciting avenues for me. Since my freshman year, I’ve been a research assistant for Dr. Ricardo Castillo, developing maps and visualizations to track canine rabies vaccinations across Peruvian cities. I’ve also served as a fellow for the Penn Program on Opinion Research and Election Studies (PORES), where I've worked on a variety of projects ranging from helping NBC News to count live votes on election night to building a database of every single political Twitter/X ad in the 2024 election!

Getting into research can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. I’m happy to chat about exploring directions, applying for opportunities (especially in the social sciences), and connecting your interests with the projects and questions that excite you the most. Feel free to reach out any time!

• Undergraduate Research Assistant for Dr. Ricardo Castillo (2024-Present)
• Penn Program on Opinion Research and Election Studies Fellow (2024-2025)