Ella Barwick is pursuing a master’s degree in public affairs in the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, where she also earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering. Following her undergraduate studies, Barwick worked as an engineer to support the research, development, and eventual launch of the MiSeq i100 DNA sequencer at Illumina, a leading genomics company. During her time as an engineer, Barwick generated elaborate workflows and analyzed failures. When these ideas overlapped with her volunteer work and her awareness of the growing field of AI, she decided to apply her skills to public policy, shaping how technology is used for the greater good. Off campus, Barwick is an avid film photographer, telling stories about community and the environment. After graduation, Barwick plans to become a scientific advisor and policymaker for the country’s top science and technology committees.