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General Information

Full Name Susan (Suzie) L. Hoops
Languages English (fluent), German (conversational), American Sign Language (beginner)
Programming Python, R, SQL, C++, MATLAB, LaTeX, D3.js, HTML/CSS
Data Handling AWS storage (S3), AWS computing (EC2), Relational databases (RedCAP), HPC cluster computing
Data Analysis Hypothesis testing, Machine Learning, Bayesian statistics, Deep Learning (PyTorch, TensorFlow)

Education

  • Present
    Ph.D. Computer Science
    University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
    • Advised by Associate Professor Dan Knights, PhD. (GPA 4.0)
  • 2023
    M.S. Computer Science
    University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
    • Advised by Associate Professor Dan Knights, PhD. (GPA 4.0)
  • 2017
    B.A. Mathematics
    St. Olaf College
    • Advised by Professor Matthew Richey, PhD. (GPA 3.57)

Work | Research Experience

  • 2020 - Present
    Graduate Research Assistant
    Knights Lab, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
    • Leading microbiome analysis for 7 human and animal microbiome studies.
    • Novel diagnosis and correction method for the "horseshoe" effect in dimensionality reduction.
    • Software pipeline for tracking engraftment in WGS studies.
  • 2018 - 2020
    Data Scientist / Researcher 2
    Knights Lab, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
    • Coordinated preparation of 6,000 infant gut samples (M.A.G.I.C. study).
    • Used R and Python conducting analysis/visualization for various projects.
  • 2017-2018
    Fulbright Student
    Johannes Kepler Universität, Linz, Austria
    • Data visualization research with Professor Marc Streit, PhD.
    • Taught English in a secondary school.
    • Completed coursework for the Technical Mathematics M.S. degree.
  • 2017
    Data Science Intern
    CoreBiome (now Diversigen)
    • Microbiome analysis on AWS EC2 computing cloud with S3 storage.
    • Web design for the original CoreBiome website.

Volunteer Positions

  • 2019 - 2022
    Board Member
    Fulbright Association of Minnesota
    • Organizing events for Fulbright alumni and international students/scholars.
  • 2020 - 2021
    Director of Finance
    Council of Graduate Students, UMN
    • Budgeting funds for grants and events for UMN graduate students.
  • 2015 - 2017
    President
    Habitat for Humanity, St. Olaf College
  • 2015 - 2017
    Captain
    Women's Cross Country and Track & Field teams, St. Olaf College

Awards and Grants

  • 2023
    • Recipient, NSF Travel Fellowship
  • 2021
    • Honorable Mention, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
  • 2017
    • Fulbright Combined Award, Fulbright Association
    • MIAC Sportsmanship Award, Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
  • 2016
    • Program Director of the Year, St. Olaf College Leadership Awards

Other Interests

  • Hobbies: running, biking, houseplant parenthood, & the endless search for the perfect cup of coffee.