Home - Sophie Hou

About Me

Hello, I’m Huiyi (Sophie) Hou — a data analyst and research assistant with a multidisciplinary background in information technology, marine biology, and environmental management. I hold a Master of Information Technology from Queensland University of Technology, alongside postgraduate degrees in environmental and marine sciences.

With over three years of experience in academic research, I specialize in data analytics, Python programming, and GIS applications, particularly in environmental and scientific domains. My projects have ranged from developing data pipelines for rainfall radar visualisation, to conducting text mining on Antarctic research literature, to co-authoring a publication in Nature Communications on molecular trajectory clustering.

I am passionate about applying technology to solve real-world problems—especially those related to climate, ecosystems, and public science communication. Having lived and studied across mainland China, Hong Kong, and Australia, I bring a high degree of adaptability, cross-cultural awareness, and collaborative mindset to every team I join.

Whether it’s building a QGIS model, analyzing large datasets, or writing code for a research tool, I am always eager to connect data with impact.

Education

Master of Information Technology
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) | July 2021 – December 2023
Relevant coursework:
IT industrial project (NIDS advisory chatbot, team contributor)
Data analytics for strategic decision makers
Python programming for text analysis
Python programming for data mining
Java programming for data structure and algorithm
System analysis
basic C#
basic web design (HTML, CSS, and Python)

Master of Science (Marine Biology and Ecology)
James Cook University | February 2016 – July 2017

Relevant coursework:
Research
Data Analysis
Scientific Writing

Master of Science (Environmental Management)
The University of Hong Kong | September 2012 – December 2013
Relevant coursework:
Ecology
Directed Study and Internship
Conservation and Management of Freshwater Ecosystems
Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Auditing
Environmental Economics

Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science)
South China Agricultural University | September 2006 – July 2010

Certifications
Python Data Structures – University of Michigan (Coursera)
Using Python for Research – Harvard University (edX)
Programming for Everybody (Getting Started with Python) – University of Michigan (Coursera)
Statistical Analysis in Bioinformatics – University of Toronto (Coursera)

Awards & Achievements
National Scholarship – Top 1/702 students (South China Agricultural University)
First Ranking Scholarship – Awarded 3 times for academic excellence (South China Agricultural University)
Publication in Nature Communications – Coauthored a paper on molecular trajectory clustering.

Professional Experience

QGIS/Python Data Analytic Research Assistant
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) | June 2024 – December 2024
Developed Python scripts to collect, extract and analyse QGIS rainfall radar data for the new water living lab.
Collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to design and implement data-driven solutions.
Data visualization by using Python and QGIS to create videos.

Code Camp Teacher
Code Camp | December 2021 – December 2024
Taught 2D game design and animation to students, fostering creativity and technical skills.
Provided hands-on coding instruction.

Antarctica Data Analytic Research Assistant
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) | January 2023 – September 2023
Analysed large datasets for the Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF).
Conducted text mining of Antarctica literature of all the research.
Topic modelling of Antarctica literature using Python.

2021 Winter Research Scholar/GUI Interface Software Co-Developer
UQ Queensland Brain Institute | June 2021 – July 2021
• Co-developed “Blob Wrangler” GUI using computer vision AI for automatic selection of fluorescent blobs.
• Collaborated with team members to implement innovative solutions for image analysis.
• Enhanced user experience by optimizing GUI functionality and performance.
• Contributed to the advancement of research in computer vision and AI technology.

2020/2021 Summer Research Scholar/GUI Interface Software Co-Developer
UQ Queensland Brain Institute | November 2020 – January 2021
Codeveloped GUI software for molecular trajectory clustering using Python.
Published research in Nature Communications: “Super-resolved trajectory-derived nanoclustering analysis using spatiotemporal indexing.”

Caraplace Turtle Health Research Assistant
James Cook University | November 2018 – December 2018
Assisted a PhD student in researching the correlation between nutrition and muscle content of green turtles.

Conducted green turtle husbandry tasks including calm animal handling and food preparation.

Coral Project Data Analytic Research Assistant
Australian Institute of Marine Science | August 2016 – June 2017
Utilized Image J to measure coral growth rates and identify resilient corals for future restoration.
Examined variation across coral families to determine the most adaptive species.
Collaborated with a team at the Australian Institute of Marine Science in Townsville, Australia.

Shark Project Research Assistant
James Cook University | February 2016 – July 2016
Analyzed shark behavior in the Great Barrier Reef and South East Asia using EventMeasure software.
Tagged and prepared video footage for analysis on the Global FinPrint Project at James Cook University.
Developed skills in data analysis, marine biology, and research methodology.

Animal Care Volunteer
Animal Welfare League Qld | August 2023 – Present
Assisted with animal care, cleaning, and adoption procedures at the cat rehoming centre.
Demonstrated attention to detail and commitment to high standards of care.

Volunteer Shop Assistant
RSPCA Australia | July 2020 – February 2021
Supported fundraising efforts by managing customer service and cashier duties.