Quinn S
- Research Program Mentor
MS candidate at University of Pennsylvania
Expertise
College-level CS, mobile application development, 20th century European history, creative writing (fiction), all things Chinese, the stock market
Bio
Hi, I am Quinn! My academic journey has taken me through China, Canada, and now the United States, and it has shaped how I view education and mentorship. I double majored in Computer Science and History, and I’m now a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania. My most recent research is in the intersection of AI and creative writing, which I presented at Brown University. Outside of academics, I’m a passionate writer and reader. I have published short works in both English and Mandarin, run a Substack, and read nearly a book a week. I love all things creative. I’m also a big fan of baking, long runs, and strength training.Project ideas
The Ethics of AI in Creative Writing
As AI tools increasingly enter creative spaces, from writing novels to generating poems and screenplays, what does that mean for human creativity, originality, and authorship? This project invites students to examine the ethical and philosophical questions raised by AI-assisted creative writing. Through both experimentation and research, students will explore how tools like ChatGPT impact the writing process and what that means for the future of creative expression. The student will begin by engaging directly with AI-generated text, comparing it to human-written material, and reflecting on their differences. Then, the student will research debates around ownership, authenticity, and creative labor in the age of AI. The project concludes in a research-based essay or multimedia presentation that explores the implications of artificial intelligence on human creativity. Student Outcomes: · A basic understanding of how language-based AI tools generate text · Analysis of AI-written content · A research paper, op-ed, or presentation examining the ethical implications of AI in creative domains
Stories Across Borders: A Literary Exploration of Cultural Identity
This project invites students to explore how fiction expresses cultural identity by reading and reflecting on works by authors from different backgrounds. The student will choose 3–4 texts (or excerpts), ideally including translated literature and stories written from perspectives outside their own. The goal is to understand how identity, place, and experience shape storytelling. The student will research the historical and cultural context of each work, write short reflections or essays analyzing key themes, and draw connections across the readings. They’ll engage with questions like: How do authors communicate a sense of belonging or displacement? What role does language or setting play in identity formation? Student Outcomes: · A series of 3–4 literary reflections · A final comparative essay or creative response (e.g., a short story or personal narrative) · Greater cultural awareness and analytical reading skills