Ilona Bodnar
Ilona Bodnar is a data scientist with expertise in software development and machine learning. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in technology and media from the University of Southern California and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Information and Data Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Her professional experience spans leading tech firms and startups, including Google and NerdWallet, where she contributed to projects involving scalable systems, data-driven insights, and advanced analytics. Her independent work includes analyzing diabetes risk factors using machine learning and developing predictive models for flight data in a NASA competition.
Ilona is passionate about enacting impactful technology policy to bolster national security and drive innovation. She advocates for the United States to lead in developing safe, secure, and trustworthy systems by strengthening foundational capabilities in collaboration with industry, civil society, and academia. She is dedicated to ensuring the United States remains the global leader in AI talent and innovation while proactively addressing emerging risks posed by advanced technologies.
In her free time, Ilona is deeply committed to education. She serves as a teaching assistant for a data science programming course at UC Berkeley and has been involved in initiatives to promote computer science education through organizations such as The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT), Technolochicas via The Televisa Foundation, and Girls Who Code in conjunction with Pixar Animation Studios.