Earlier this month, Dawon Ahn, a doctoral student in computer science and engineering at UC Riverside, attended the 2026 Rising Stars in Computational and Data Sciences Workshop in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The experience, she said, expanded her perspective on both research and career possibilities. She was the only person from UCR to attend this year.

The workshop was held at the Santa Fe Institute for early career researchers in computational and data sciences and consisted of a mix of research presentations, technical discussions, and panels about careers and academic/research life. Approximately 30 “Rising Stars” were chosen for the 2026 gathering.

Ahn’s advisor, Vagelis Papalexakis, a professor of computer science and engineering who holds the Ross Family Chair in Computer Science, said Ahn was a perfect candidate for this workshop. 

“Her research can connect researchers from different disciplines and transform their ability to make new discoveries,” he said. “At the same time, she was able to network with other Rising Stars and be exposed to emerging challenges in their respective domains, which can inform her research.”

For her doctoral thesis, Ahn develops tensor decomposition methods to analyze multi-dimensional data and build efficient, large-scale machine learning models, with a focus on interpretable scientific applications.

Her journey into computational and data sciences began in Gwangju, South Korea, where she grew up. After receiving her undergraduate degree in mathematics from Chonnam National University, she spent two and a half years as a research intern at Seoul National University, focusing on data mining. She joined UCR as a doctoral student in 2021.

Ahn said her decision to apply to the Rising Stars in Computational and Data Sciences 2026 workshop was encouraged by Papalexakis and driven by her desire to share her research with a broader audience.

“Initially, I did not have strong expectations other than focusing on delivering my talk,” she said. “However, the workshop turned out to be much more engaging than I expected. I had the chance to interact with many researchers from diverse backgrounds, and those conversations often sparked new research ideas.”

Among the workshop’s panels, discussions on early career decisions left a strong impression on Ahn. 

“One piece of advice that stayed with me was simple yet powerful: follow your heart,” she said. “I came to appreciate that personal circumstances and self-awareness should guide decision-making.”

Before attending the workshop, Ahn had envisioned a future in industry, a goal she had held since beginning her studies in computer science. Candid discussions with panelists at the workshop, however, broadened her perspective, making her more open to pursuing an academic career.

“The workshop encouraged me to think beyond standard benchmark evaluations,” she said. 

For those considering applying to attend the workshop, Ahn emphasized being open to conversations and actively engaging with others.

“Building connections is key,” she said. “This workshop is particularly beneficial for late-stage doctoral students and postdocs navigating decisions between academia, industry, and other research paths.”