Daniel joined The Storymodelers in January 2023 as a master’s student in Data Analytics at Universidad del Norte, Colombia. During his time with The Storymodelers, he has introduced innovative approaches to understanding data and human behavior. His background in psychology and data analysis has been useful in understanding the behaviors of politically and economically vulnerable communities through surveys and statistical modeling.
As Daniel graduates from his program and begins to look for his next steps, we wanted to take a moment to highlight what he added to our lab, and share insights from him and his supervisors...
Supervisors' Reflections
Dr. Jose J. Padilla, Research Associate Professor, Virginia Modeling, Analysis, & Simulation Center, ODU
“Daniel is a passionate young researcher who brings enthusiasm and technical know-how to every project. He has advanced our research in two key areas: applying advanced statistical methods in survey research and leveraging these methods to develop simulation models. With minimal supervision, Daniel mastered Latent Class Analysis (LCA) to identify subgroups in two Colombian cities. His analysis of survey responses—focused on attitudes toward migrants and other psychological attributes—has helped us better understand Colombia's dynamic migration context. Knowing this analysis's potential, Daniel identified empirically grounded rule sets that will allow us to conduct simulation experiments relevant to both cities. His ability to present ideas, listen to feedback, and deliver high-quality results has made working with him an enriching experience.”
Dr. Katherine S. Palacio, Assistant Professor, Universidad del Norte, Colombia
“Daniel is a talented researcher who seamlessly combines his psychology background with strong analytical and technical skills. Over the past two years, I have enjoyed collaborating with him on interdisciplinary projects; his contributions have been invaluable to our research team. Daniel possesses a high level of expertise in data analysis, particularly in psychometrics, and has played a key role in advancing our studies on migration and informal settlements. His ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams truly sets him apart. His willingness to take on responsibilities and proactive approach makes him a valuable asset to any project”.
Daniel’s Experience with The Storymodelers
Daniel A. Bolivar, graduate (Masters), Universidad del Norte, Colombia
“As a master's student and researcher at The Storymodelers, my research interests involve applying statistical methods to generate valuable insights into social behaviors, mental health, Alzheimer's disease, and community dynamics. I believe that psychology and data analytics can help us understand behavior both as individuals and as groups. My work at The Storymodelers includes using structural equation modeling to explore how people develop strategies to adapt when faced with unmet needs and LCA to understand Colombians' attitudes towards migrants. Working with The Storymodelers has been transformative for me; it has boosted my confidence and allowed me to gain new perspectives, particularly through their interdisciplinary team approach."
Excellent team member!😉