School of Information Sciences

Get to know David Eby, PhD student

David-Eby
David Eby

With his Choctaw and Muscogee Creek heritage, PhD student David Eby has a personal connection to his research, which seeks to blend Indigenous knowledge with quantitative data practices. Eby, who is a member of Native American House at University of Illinois, is also interested in analyzing online community identity and representation. 

Why did you decide to pursue a degree in information science?

I chose information sciences because it's a field where technology and knowledge intersect in meaningful ways. Information science theory interacts with all other domains; every discipline relies on how information is structured, accessed, and understood. This foundational role makes our field both engaging and diverse, with intersectionality inherent in our work. 

Our domain holds power—it can kickstart progressive research but also risks flattening phenomena to numbers if not approached thoughtfully. These complexities and countering forces in information science are exciting to me. Above all, the field's broad, interdisciplinary nature allows us to connect with other areas of study, helping ensure that knowledge systems are as inclusive and reflective of the world's complexities.

Why did you choose the iSchool at Illinois?

I chose the iSchool because of its prestigious doctoral program and the encouragement of my graduate advisor, Dr. Peter Organisciak (a PhD iSchool alum now researching at the University of Denver), who recommended Illinois!

What are your research interests?

Positionality is everything as a scholar: We cannot ignore it. I hold many identities. Paternally, I am Choctaw and Muscogee Creek. At the iSchool, I have the opportunity to engage with Indigenous knowledge systems and research. I feel privileged to integrate these valuable and sacred knowledges with an information science approach.

My research seeks to advance ongoing discourse on blending Indigenous epistemologies with quantitative data practices—two concepts that often inherently clash. I explore how data and artifacts carry narratives that communicate stories. I'm also interested in using computational and mixed methods approaches to analyze online communities, such as Native American-focused subreddits, to better understand discussions around identity and representation. Add a dash of policy research, and that's my research identity!

What do you do outside of class?

Outside of class, I enjoy watching NHL hockey (Go Avs!), traveling, trying new foods, and spending time with my Native American House relatives on campus. 

What career plans or goals do you have?

One of my mentors, Dr. Charlotte Davidson (Diné/Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation), has been a pivotal figure in my growth and development at the University of Illinois. Her guidance and encouragement to persist in higher education have profoundly shaped my academic journey and aspirations. After completing my current program, I am considering attending law school, with a particular interest in policy and intellectual property law. Above all, I envision staying in academia, where I can continue teaching, learning, and researching.

Updated on
Backto the news archive

Related News

iSchool researchers present at CSCW 2025

Several faculty, students, and recent grads will present their research at the 28th ACM Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work and Social Computing (CSCW 2025), which will be held October 18–22 in Bergen, Norway. The online portion of the conference will be held on October 10. 

Get to know Jade Carthans, BSIS student

Jade Carthans is interested in how human-centered design, machine learning, and data analytics can come together to solve critical problems that impact organizations and individuals. She gained firsthand experience in these areas through internships with Microsoft and State Farm.

Jade Carthans

Join the iSchool at the 2025 ALISE annual conference

Join iSchool faculty, staff, and students for the annual conference of the Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE), which will take place from October 6–8 in Kansas City, Missouri. The theme of the 2025 conference is "Decolonising Pedagogies: Agency, Identity, Practices."

Ravury selected to serve on Homecoming Court

BSIS student Lauren Ravury has a new item to add to her resume: member of the 2025 Homecoming Court at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Ravury's resume is already impressive. She serves as president of the Student Alumni Ambassadors (SAA), an organization dedicated to fostering school spirit at the U. of I. Last year, she served as president of the Asian Pre-Law Association, a stint that led to her receiving the Outstanding Asian & Asian American Undergraduate Student Leader Award from the Asian American Cultural Center and the association being named the 2025 Outstanding Asian & Asian American Student Organization.

Lauren Ravury

Illini 4000 journey leaves lasting impact on Patllollu

As a member of the Illini 4000, BSIS student Riddhima Patllollu biked from New York City to San Francisco to raise awareness of cancer and raise funds for cancer research. Patllollu, a junior from New Jersey, decided to join the nonprofit organization in her freshman year to expand her worldview and mark a new chapter in her life. 

Riddhima Patllollu

School of Information Sciences

501 E. Daniel St.

MC-493

Champaign, IL

61820-6211

Voice: (217) 333-3280

Fax: (217) 244-3302

Email: ischool@illinois.edu

Back to top