Graduate Student Spotlight: Minal Walvekar Blends Math and Pharmacy in MDS Program
During her undergraduate studies at UC Riverside (UCR), Minal Walvekar’s interest in data science sparked when a friend introduced her to a New York Times data journalist, whose work blends math and art through data visualizations. Originally a biology major on the pre-medical track, Walvekar was inspired to use data to solve healthcare challenges and enrolled in UC Irvine’s Master of Data Science (MDS) Program.
“I really liked the fact that I could use math — apply it to different scientific disciplines,” says Walvekar, who graduated from UCR with her bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics. “I couldn’t imagine myself just staying in one thing forever. I really wanted the opportunity to dabble in different scientific topics.”
In the MDS program, her top-choice graduate program for data science, Walvekar blends math, pharmacy and art as a graduate research assistant at the UCI Center of Data-Driven Drug Research and Policy (C3DRP).
“The thing I really love about the Center that resonates with me as a person and my values is the end goal,” says Walvekar. “We’re allowed access to this confidential patient data… It’s only right that we use this information to benefit [patients] back in some way.”
Walvekar researches cardiovascular-related outcomes of weight loss and diabetes drugs at C3RDP. On a typical day, she works on individual projects that involve coding, data analysis and reviewing relevant research literature, synthesizing her findings into impactful research that has received recognition at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) conferences.
“Minal has made important contributions to my research on treatments that are growing in value for patients. Her passion for data and making it relevant has been a delight,” says Director of C3RDP Jonathan Watanabe.
At AMCP 2024, which took place in New Orleans, Louisiana from April 16-19, Walvekar presented her research on the effects of a diabetes and weight loss drug class on C-reactive protein levels — a biomarker for cardiovascular health — in long-term users. This marked her first conference and poster experience, where she was recognized as a finalist for Best Poster.
More recently, from Oct. 14-17, she participated in AMCP Nexus 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada, and won Best Poster for her work comparing three classes of diabetes drugs, using lactate dehydrogenase as an endpoint to assess cardiovascular outcomes.
Walvekar attributes her accomplishments at AMCP to the research skills she honed with her mentors, Watanabe and Michael Strand, at C3DRP, building on the strong foundation she learned in her coursework for MDS.
“MDS prepared me to be a data scientist,” she says. “It made me so prepared for the statistical and analytical side of everything I wanted to do at my job and moving forward… I feel so much more confident in my statistical background.”
Walvekar says the support she has received from her “ambitious and inspiring” peers in the MDS program has been invaluable. She praises MDS program faculty and staff for their guidance, crediting MDS Program Director Bryan Muñoz for connecting her with C3DRP.
Outside of her academic pursuits and research, Walvekar enjoys spending time and trying new food with her friends. She likes to immerse herself in art and nature, such as by journaling, climbing and going to karaoke or the beach.
Following her graduation this fall, she will return to C3DRP as a full-time researcher, starting her career at the intersection of data science and pharmacy.
“I want to move forward where I can use my skills and apply them in a way that resonates with my heart, continuing to use them in healthcare,” says Walvekar. “I hope to progress in this direction. I love research.”
— Karen Phan