Research Interests
My research interests center on computational social science, gender, social movements, science of science, social inequality, feminist studies, affect/ emotions.
Education
My name is Dahyun Ryu (she/ they). I come from South Korea. I hold a B.A. in Sociology from Sungkyunwan University, an M.A. in Sociology from Ewha Womans University (where I wrote my thesis on career deviations using time-series labor panel data) and an M.S. in Culture Technology (a data science-related program) from KAIST, where I explored feminism related social media data and emotional politics.
Courses Taught
Gender (TA) 25, Fall Semester
Outside of academia, I have been active as an organizer at a small feminist NGO, where I helped coordinate safe night walk rallies, press conferences, and public seminars. Recently, I also served as a short-term interpreter for bereaved families of the Gorryeonggol Massacre (execution of many local Koreans during the Korean War due to widespread stigmatization), an event from my own hometown that I only learned about recently. This experience sparked a personal interest in local histories and the layered narratives in places. I look forward to discovering the stories and communities in Illinois as well.
In my free time, I love walking and exploring new places, pencil sketching, and writing lyrics and making short rap songs. As a neurodivergent and an extroverted introvert person, I love meaningful interactions but also cherish quiet reflection time and recharging. I was formally diagnosed as neurodivergent several years ago, and since then, I have been learning a lot, discovering many insights that will eventually shape me as a person and a researcher. I am excited to join the community and learn & grow together, and contribute in diverse ways.