reda semlani

Improved the company’s credit scorecards by analyzing client data using logistic regressions and gradient boosting algorithms in R, which led to an increase in payouts with a decrease in default rates for 4 different subsidiary lenders.

Worked with the Argentine government on a nation-wide project on the evaluation and improvement of over 50 centers of attention to victims, by conducting interviews with the officials of each center, writing and presenting weekly reports in order to estimate the amount of resources needed to be directed to the centers. Researched and gathered data for over 300 emergency centers for victims, and then listed, digitized and analyzed the data, which served as an online resource for people in a vulnerable position and without the appropriate resources to seek help.

Assisting Brown faculty in teaching Intermediate Microeconomics (ECON 1110) by running a weekly two-hour mandatory problem-solving section, as well as holding office hours, in order to help students with the course material.

Worked with Brown faculty in estimating worldwide literacy rates ca.1500 A.D from a number of datasets including urbanization rates and book production, finding that early 15th century literacy affects current trends in economic growth. Estimated first instance of writing in each country-of-today by reading historical academic work on different countries and manipulating the data in various ways (maps, graphs), which will potentially serve as a database for economic research.

* Participated in surveying over 180 Rhode Island residents on the housing market prices and environmental risk perceptions with a team of 5 students and 2 university professors at Brown University. * Paper published in the NBER: http://www.nber.org/papers/w23854.ack

* Facilitated the school’s board meetings and graduation * Arranged the visit of Queen Sonja of Norway

* Examined the cultural context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict * Investigated ethnic segregation in Israel/Palestine

* Engaged in internal consulting and helped in communicating with merchandise suppliers for potential transactions in a start-up with only 8 employees, making 16 deals with different suppliers in only 2 months. * Organized the firm’s archives in an easy-access Excel database, which facilitated the analysis of past transactions.

Strong interest in computer science, development studies and environmental economics Activities and Societies: Brown Consulting Club, Brown International Organization, Arab Society, Brown Trading Club