Ryan Chen
Orlando Magic
Basketball Data Scientist
EDUCATION
Harvard Law School, J.D. Class of 2024
Stanford University, M.S. Management Science & Engineering, June 2015 – December 2017
University of Michigan, B.S.E. Industrial & Operations Engineering, September 2009 – May 2014
University of Michigan, B.M. Music Performance (Euphonium), September 2009 – May 2014
Career Timeline
Internships / other
- Houston Rockets – Basketball Strategy Intern
- Stanford Live – Programming & Engagement Intern
- Interactive Robotics Group at MIT – Research Assistant
- The University of Michigan Center for Healthcare Engineering & Patient Safety – Undergraduate Research Assistant
Full-time
- Harvard Men’s Basketball – Graduate Manager
- Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University – Executive Team Research Assistant
- Orlando Magic – Basketball Data Scientist
CAREER SUMMARY
Career Summary
After I left Michigan, I began exploring sports analytics specifically through the Stanford Sports Analytics Club. As my involvement in projects with the club deepened, I gained the tools and experience that put me in a position to pursue jobs with sports teams, ultimately leading me to the position I previously held with the Orlando Magic.
Reflection on Time Spent at U-M
Choosing between careers in music and engineering was the toughest decision I had to make while at Michigan. Much of my decision to ultimately choose to go to graduate school in engineering was guided by my experiences as a Research Assistant for Professors Amy Cohn and Mark Daskin at U-M IOE and the Center for Healthcare Engineering and Patient Safety, where I gained not only the tools to conduct research but also a broader familiarity with the world of academia.
Favorite Student Orgs
I credit much of my growth while at Michigan to the student organizations. Tau Beta Pi is where I learned the most about leadership, managing large groups of people and organizational structures, and managing my own responsibilities/time within a complex network of coursework, research work, and personal/organizational responsibilities while managing a similar profile of commitments in music school.
Advice to Students
I think joining student organizations whose purposes are interesting/fulfilling to you is the best way to feel a sense of place and purpose within a university that can easily feel overwhelming. The friends you make can become both your support system and professional network, while the work of the organization itself can invigorate you for your studies and maybe even propel you into a field outside your studies. As I alluded to above, I think joining student organizations is a fantastic avenue to learn management and leadership skills that will stay with you forever. To top it all off, student organizations enrich the fabric of campus life – I think you’ll find your experience at Michigan will benefit greatly from getting involved around campus.
