Nice to e-meet you! I’m Shuhan Ai, but feel free to call me Alice. I am a Ph.D. candidate in Higher Education and Organizational Change (HEOC) and an M.S. student in Statistics & Data Science at UCLA. I study educational research with my Ph.D. advisor, Professor Kevin Eagan, and learn advanced quantitative methods with my M.S. advisor, Professor Qing Zhou.
My research focuses on the fields of STEM education, higher education policy, and student development, especially during key transitions in the academic pipeline. I investigate: (1) how students make decisions about STEM majors and careers when transitioning from high school to college; (2) what factors influence persistence, graduation, and major-changing during undergraduate study; and (3) what drives STEM students to pursue socially responsible outcomes (e.g., civic engagement, civic awareness, and social agency). Through these areas, I aim to uncover the structural and cultural factors that shape educational trajectories, with a particular interest in improving diversity and representation in STEM.
As a first-generation college student and woman of color, my life and academic experiences shape my research lens. These experiences have led me to seek research as a tool for empowerment. I use asset-based frameworks such as Expectancy-Value Theory, Community Cultural Wealth to highlight the strengths students bring to their educational journeys and challenge deficit-based narratives.
Methodologically, my research draws from a range of quantitative techniques, including causal inference, multilevel modeling, structural equation modeling, survival analysis, and social network analysis. I aim to integrate my interdisciplinary background to examine social and educational systems, with a commitment to promoting social justice.
Fun fact about me:
This is my little baby, Star. She also has a beautiful Chinese name, 星晨, 星 means “stars,” and 晨 means “daylight.” She came into my life in the summer of 2025 and helped me through an anxious and difficult time during my PhD journey. Her name is a gentle reminder not to overlook the smallest yet most beautiful moments in life. Even when things get tough and rejections pile up, we can still look up at the stars and find joy in the simple things. Star loves sniffing around, chasing balls, and playing with all kinds of squeaky toys. Sometimes she can be a bit naughty — she’s chewed on our cables, sofa, board games, and even a few pairs of shoes. But every time her adorable little smile appears, all the troubles just melt away.
