Hi, my name is Josephat Kunesha, a master’s student in Data Science driven by purpose, resilience, and impact. I grew up in a poor rural community in Rwanda, where hardship, delayed schooling, and caring for a disabled brother shaped my determination. Despite these challenges, I pursued statistics and research, supporting my family while excelling academically. My journey across Rwanda, South Korea, and now the United States reflects a lifelong commitment to learning and service. I aim to become a Data Research Scientist who turns data into solutions for poverty, health, and development challenges. Education is not only my path forward, but also my way of lifting my family and community. With this scholarship, I will transform lived experience into data-driven impact that reaches far beyond me.

• Research Assistant

  Research · IITA (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture –Rwanda

  Jan 2020 – Jan 2020

• Research Assistant

  Hospital & Health Care · CIIC-HIN Centre for Impact, Innovation and Capacity Building for Health Information Systems and Nutrition.

  Jan 2022 – Jan 2024

• Advocacy
• Volunteering
• Philanthropy
• Entrepreneurship

• Taekwondo

  Varsity

  2016 – 2016

• Graduate Research Student

  University of Granada/Spain · Economics

  2024 – 2025

  Research topic:

  QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE DETERMINANTS OF POVERTY IN RWANDA

• Student

  Yeungnam University/South Korea · International/Globalization Studies

  2016 – 2017

  Research topic:

  Korea Export Diversification Competitiveness Strategy: Lessons to Rwanda

• Rwanda Traditional Dancer

  Yeungnam University · Dance

  2017 – 2017

• Research Assistant (UBUDEHE Categorization)

  Volunteering · Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA –Rwanda)

  2015 – 2015

  Mission:

  I assumed significant leadership responsibilities. I led a diverse team of 50 interns, enumerators, and data entry clerks, overseeing the use of SPSS and CSPro software. This role not only challenged me to make a meaningful impact but also allowed me to foster self-sustainability within the team.