Amanda Danielle Perez, PhD.

Health Equity Researcher & Psychology Instructor · California · adp@berkeley.edu

I am a Data Scientist and UX Researcher with expertise in statistical modeling, data analytics, and machine learning. My background in mixed-methods research and social psychology has shaped my ability to extract meaningful insights from complex datasets. As a Postdoctoral Researcher at NIH NIMHD and UC Berkeley School of Public Health, I have applied advanced statistical techniques and both quantitative and qualitative approaches to investigate health disparities and social determinants of health.

I specialize in R, SQL, and data visualization tools to optimize workflows, build predictive models, and communicate data-driven insights to diverse stakeholders. My passion lies in solving real-world problems with data, whether through predictive analytics, dashboard development, or user research.

Beyond my work, I enjoy spending time with my pets, building LEGO, cooking, and crocheting.

Research Interests

(1) Racism as a Social Determinant of Health
(2) Maternal and Child Health
(3) Measurement, Causes, Consequences, and Remedies to Implicit and Explicit Racial Biases

Skills

Programming Languages & Tools

Coding Languages: R - Python - SPSS(Syntax) - Inquisit
Markup Languages: LaTeX, Markdown, RMarkdown, HTML, CSS"
Data Interchange Formats: CSV, JSON, XML
Version Control: GIT
Database Access: APIs, SQL

Data Science Approach
  • Open-source & reproducible workflows
  • Creating living documentation for ease of training and collaboration
  • Using tidyverse and tidymodeling techniques for data wranging and analyses
  • Utilizing ggplot and Shiny Dashboards for Data Vizualization
  • Using RMarkdown and Quarto to create Data Analysis Reports
  • Using RMarkdown and Quarto to create Powerpoint Presentations

Education

University of California, Berkeley

PH.D. Social Psychology
May 2021

University of California, Berkeley

M.A. Psychology
December 2019

University of California, Berkeley

B.A. Psychology
May 2015

Selected Publications

Perez, A.D., Dufault, S.M., Spears, E.C., Chae, D.H., Woods‑Giscombe, C., & Allen, A.M. (2022). Superwoman Schema and John Henryism among AfricanAmerican women: An intersectional perspective on coping with racism, SocialScience & Medicine (1982), 115070. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115070

Perez, A.D., & Okonofua, J.A. (2022). The good and bad of a reputation: Race and punishment in K‑12 schools. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 100. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2022.104287

Okonofua, J.A.,Perez, A.D., & Darling‑Hammond, S. (2020). When Policy and Psychology Meet: Mitigating Consequences of Bias in Schools. ScienceAdvances, 6(42). doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aba9479

Perez, A.D., Lee, R.T., & Mendoza‑Denton, R. (2020). Belonging in schools. In F.C. Worrell & T.L. Hughes (Eds.) Cambridge Handbook of Applied SchoolPsychology. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

Lee, R.T.,Perez, A.D.*, Boykin, C.M., & Mendoza‑Denton, R (2019). On The Prevalence of Racial Discrimination in the United States. PLoS One, 14(1). doi:10.1271/journal.pone.0210698. *Joint 1st Author

Mendoza‑Denton, R. & Perez, A.D. (2016). Racism and the narrative ofbiological inevitability. Journal of Othering and Belonging, Expanding the Circle of Human Concern, 1, 43‑55.