Aahil Singh ’26 Turns Inspiration to Action

Describe what you’re doing this summer in your internship.

I spent this summer working on a transportation research paper under Professor Josh Davidson. My focus has been on measuring and improving accessibility to the transportation network, making it more equitable for people across different demographics. In particular, we looked at the concept of ‘Intercity Buses’ (imagine a bus running from Cleveland to Chicago, or from Boston to New York), and how likely people would be to take this bus instead of a flight, given that there are improvements in the current infrastructure that surround intercity buses. 

How did Oberlin shape or influence you to pursue this internship?

Oberlin is quite active in involving students during its faculty hiring process, so I had the opportunity to meet Professor Davidson during his research presentation back in 2022, before he officially joined Oberlin. Having already taken a few quantitative classes in statistics, math, and computer science, I was fascinated by how concepts from these disciplines came together in his work, and the impact it had on urban planning and transportation research. Despite not being able to take a class with him since he joined, Oberlin’s intimate size made his office hours very accessible, helping us keep in touch over the course of the academic year. Our ongoing relationship made it possible for us to talk about research topics that had scope for further analysis, and thus came about this project to examine intercity buses.

How does pursuing this internship align with your post-college life and career goals?

Pursuing this internship aligns perfectly with my post-college goals, as I'm potentially aiming to go to graduate school in economics and/or data science. I’ve always enjoyed examining issues from a quantitative lens, and my work in data science this summer deepened that passion. The interdisciplinarity of the field not only sharpened my technical skills, but also reinforced my commitment to using data to tackle complex economic problems, bringing me closer to my career aspirations.

How has the liberal arts education and way of thinking shaped how you approach science and research?

Oberlin’s liberal arts education, with its emphasis on interdisciplinary thinking, has deeply shaped how I approach science and research. This summer, my research exemplified this mindset. Instead of viewing the idea of ‘accessibility’ to transport systems (in this case, intercity buses) purely through the technical lens of data analysis, my research integrated insights from economics, psychology, urban planning, and other disciplines to inform my analysis and methodology. This approach has not only enriched my research but also allowed me to address the problems I’m studying in a more holistic and innovative way.

If you're interested in a summer internship, connect with the Career Exploration & Development team to learn more about exploring career interests, gaining real-world experience, and developing a professional network.