Joy Yin, MIS, has worked at the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) for more than 20 years. She is an applications specialist programmer working within the Institute’s Data Management and Analysis Core (DMAC).

As part of our FPG profile series, we recently spoke with Yin to learn more about her work at FPG. Here’s what she had to say.

Tell us a bit about your professional journey―and what brought you to FPG?

My professional journey began at North Carolina Central University as a graduate student in Information Science, where I took several classes on data management and analysis using SAS. While in school, I came across a temp programmer position with the Data Management and Analysis team at the FPG Child Development Institute and was fortunate enough to be hired for the role. This position gave me the unique opportunity to utilize my newfound data skills in an impactful and meaningful manner, and I quickly realized that I wanted to remain at FPG long-term. I was offered a permanent position with the team a month later, and I’ve never looked back since!

What do you do at FPG—describe your job, walk us through a typical day, and tell us about the projects you're currently working on.

In my new role as the DMAC Operations Manager, I spend about two thirds of my time on operational logistics—tracking project spending, assisting our DMAC director with new proposal budgets, and collaborating closely with project PIs, account managers, our business office, human resources, IT, and the communications team to ensure smooth operations with our core. The rest of my time is spent working as a data manager on several research projects.

What do you like most about your job?

The part I love most about my job is, without a doubt, the people. I’m surrounded by an incredibly supportive team that cares about me as both a colleague and a person, and challenges me to be better every single day. I’ve learned so much since I started with FPG, and I’m thankful to be a part of this group.

What do you find most challenging?

Each research project is unique and progresses through multiple stages. In my current role, one of the key challenges is quickly understanding the project’s background, objectives, sample frames, recruitment process, and other critical elements within a very limited timeframe, and then creating a DMAC scope of work that ensures effective budgeting, accurately estimates workloads for programmers, data managers, and methodologists, and addresses logistical requirements.

How does your work further the mission of FPG?

Our work closely aligns with FPG’s mission by supporting high-quality, interdisciplinary research that ultimately helps improve the lives of children. We help provide essential services that empower research teams to undertake projects ranging from small pilot surveys to large-scale, multi-site studies. By ensuring rigorous data management and providing insights through data visualization and analysis, we help generate reliable findings that can inform policies proven as best practices for child development.

What do you hope to have accomplished five years from now?

I hope to continue doing meaningful work that supports my colleagues, introducing new technologies to enhance DMAC’s capabilities and providing better, more effective services to help our researchers and investigators make a positive impact on our community.

Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about your work/working at FPG?

FPG is a great place to work, and the people here are amazing!