‘HSE Offers a Lot, Not Just Academically, but Also in Terms of Community and Unexpected Opportunities’

Zhou Jinyu

© HSE University

Zhou Jinyu, from China, is a fourth-year student of the Bachelor’s programme ‘Data Science and Business Analytics’ at the HSE University Faculty of Computer Science. On March 5, 2026, Zhou Jinyu delivered the report ‘Exploration of Object-Centric Process Mining Using Object-Centric Sequence Diagrams’ as part of the PAIS Lab seminar. In her interview with the HSE News Service, she spoke on her research topic, how object-centric process mining lets data reflect reality, and her overall experience of studying at HSE University.

—Why did you choose the Data Science and Business Analytics programme? What attracted you most to this field?

—Since my school days, I have known HSE University to be a place with high-quality professional courses and plenty of opportunities.

I wanted to join a community where I could grow in different ways, even in directions I hadn't imagined before. That's why HSE felt like the right choice for me

Data Science and Business Analytics provides a broad range of perspectives, from foundational mathematics and statistics for understanding theory, to practical skills like programming and machine learning, and even the management side of implementing ideas. For me, this means that by joining this programme, nearly every door stays open, whether for industry or research. That openness is probably what attracted me most.

—Your presentation focuses on object-centric process mining. How would you explain this topic to someone who is not a specialist in data analysis?

—If we use a simple real-world example, imagine you are planning a vacation online. You book a flight, a hotel, and rent a car all in one application. In the old way of looking at data, you would see three separate, simple timelines: 'flight booked,' 'hotel booked,' 'car booked.' However, object-centric process mining can show a more complete picture, for example, you booked the flight first, but you actually cancelled the hotel when the price dropped, and then you upgraded the car because you got a flight delay notification. It looks at all the objects from the process (flight, hotel, car) together with the customer who owns them, and, more importantly, how they influence each other. This helps the company understand why people change their plans, rather than just seeing that they did.

—What is the key advantage of the object-centric approach to process mining compared to traditional methods?

—I believe object-centric process mining lets data reflect reality more accurately. Instead of forcing everything into a smooth, linear path, it captures the messy network of interactions between different objects. So by upgrading in this dimensional way, it stops us from optimising one part of the process in a way that accidentally breaks another.

Photo courtesy of Zhou Jinyu

—How did the idea for your research emerge, and what was the most challenging part of working on this project? How did you work on the report?

—The path wasn't short. I first encountered process mining in the second year of my bachelor's, when I asked Sergey Shershakov, my supervisor, to suggest a topic for my coursework. From the beginning it was a big challenge for me, because I had never even heard about process mining before then, but my supervisor provided me with a lot of materials, recommendations on how to start, and constant support. At that time, object-centric process mining was a relatively new topic, so I was encouraged to look at that direction.

The first year of this research was more preparatory in nature—for data analysis, reading literature, and understanding and comparing the concepts

The idea of the current research might have been prompted in a second, but reaching it took months of weekly discussions, literature review and analysis, and many iterations. Writing the paper was another challenge; it was my first time, so I studied existing papers to understand the style and consulted frequently with my supervisor.

—How do you assess your overall experience of studying at HSE University? Are there any professors or courses that have particularly inspired you?

—The whole experience is 10/10! I’ve had experiences I never could have imagined—these four years have been truly colourful.

I have gained not only knowledge, but also the qualities that a good academic should have from all the professors I have interacted with

Discussions with my professors have always been inspiring. I really appreciate the courses and guidance from Denis Derkach and Alexander Tarakanov, which gave me valuable new perspectives and opportunities in research. And of course, my deepest gratitude goes to my supervisor, Sergey Shershakov, who has been teaching and navigating me since my first year.

—Tell us about your participation in the university’s academic life (conferences, workshops, research projects, etc). What have these experiences given you?

—I wouldn't say I have been the most active participant, but I've had several valuable opportunities. I first presented my research at a poster session during the FCS Voronovo Seminar in 2023. This year, I presented at the PAIS Laboratory Seminar and received constructive feedback from professionals in the field. That was a truly meaningful experience. I've also enjoyed being part of the LAMBDA Laboratory since last year and participating in its projects, collaborating with highly qualified researchers on various projects.

—What are your career plans after completing your bachelor’s degree?

—I feel there's still much I want and need to learn, both in data science and process mining. So I'm planning to continue my studies, and I hope to pursue research in parallel if possible.

—What would be your advice to those thinking of joining HSE?

—My advice would be: come with an open mind and a willingness to grow. HSE offers a lot, not just academically, but also in terms of community and unexpected opportunities. If you're curious and proactive, you will find your place here.