MEDS 2026
Pronouns: she/her
Bio
Jay Kim graduated from the University of California, Irvine, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and East Asian Studies. Growing up as the daughter of an immigrant and small business owner, she developed a deep sense of responsibility and passion for helping others navigate complex social systems. This has driven her to pursue an interest in solving systemic challenges related to food scarcity, agricultural efficiency, and equitable food distribution. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jay served as the Operations Manager for her family's business, where she navigated supply chain disruptions and staffing shortages. She leveraged data from point-of-sale and customer feedback platforms to optimize inventory, reduce waste, and improve profitability. This experience sparked her interest in utilizing data-driven solutions to address real-world logistical challenges. Jay's dedication to community welfare translated into action as a volunteer for a food delivery operation that served underserved seniors with the Korean Community Center of the East Bay. This experience, along with her research on climate justice in UC Irvine's Egoh's Ecosystem Services Lab, solidified her desire to create more equitable and sustainable food systems. Now, as Jay completes her program, she plans to apply her data science skills to develop innovative solutions that address inefficiencies in the food supply chain and combat food insecurity.