Zia Qi

Hi, I'm Zia Qi.

My job title says "Research Technology Specialist" at the DataLab, University of Michigan School of Social Work. But honestly? That's just what fit on the business card.

On any given day, I might be a data analyst turning messy datasets into stories that actually make sense. Or a Python developer building apps and websites from scratch. Or a data engineer architecting pipelines that run while I sleep. Or a full-stack developer wiring together entire systems from the database to the button you just clicked.

I'm also a researcher exploring how AI can make a real difference in social work—because what's the point of all this tech if it doesn't help people?

Some people specialize. I generalize—aggressively.

Got a data problem? I probably have three ways to solve it and opinions about which one's best. Need a visualization that doesn't make your audience fall asleep? Let's talk. Want someone who can go from "we have this idea" to "here's the working system"? That's my favorite kind of Tuesday.

I'm also known to vibe code at 2am. This website is proof of that.

Welcome to my corner of the internet. Poke around, see what I've built, and reach out if you want to build something together.