LATEST NEWS

ASA Awarded $1.5M NSF Grant to Boost Underrepresented Students

ASA Awarded $1.5M NSF Grant to Boost Underrepresented Students

Dec 14, 2021 | ,

The American Statistical Association has been awarded a three-year, $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation to ensure students from underrepresented groups have access to cutting-edge data science courses, research opportunities, and industry partnerships.

The grant will allow the ASA to work with partners to create a National Data Mine Network, which will provide opportunities for students to do hands-on work on data science challenges of relevance to industry. This network will expand Purdue University’s Data Mine program to include students at minority-serving institutions across the United States.

The project—led by Mark Daniel Ward (Purdue University), Katherine Ensor (Rice University and American Statistical Association), Monica Jackson (American University), Donna LaLonde (American Statistical Association), and Talitha Washington (Atlanta University Center Data Science Initiative)—will create an educational ecosystem that makes data science knowledge and skills accessible and attractive to students.

“Data science is exceedingly interdisciplinary, and this gives us a great opportunity both to engage students and also address the need for diversity in the workforce,” said Mark Daniel Ward, director of The Data Mine and professor of statistics at Purdue University. “I am enthusiastic about scaling up our Purdue program to a larger level that engages diverse college students and their faculty mentors in real-world data science problems. Like the initial program, this national program will promote learning from data, using it as a tool to help solve problems in a data-driven society.”

“The mission of the ASA is to promote the practice and profession of statistics, and we are committed to ensuring that students have the opportunities to develop the skills and knowledge needed to become statisticians and data scientists,” said Kathy Ensor, the 2022 president of the American Statistical Association and Noah G. Harding professor of statistics at Rice University. “It is undeniable that the more diverse our community is, the greater the contributions, so we are excited to collaborate on building and sustaining the National Data Mine Network.”

“The Atlanta University Center Data Science Initiative works with four historically black colleges and universities—Spelman, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Morehouse School of Medicine—to increase opportunities for students to become trained in data science,” said Talitha Washington, director of the AUC Data Science Initiative. “We are excited about providing opportunities for students at minority-serving institutions to create data-driven solutions for data science projects informed by industry partners.”

Students in the National Data Mine Network will use high-performance computing to solve data-driven challenges that arise in every sector of industry, including biomedical engineering, health care engineering, image processing, manufacturing, supply chain management, and transportation. The network will directly fund 300 undergraduate students at a cross-section of minority-serving institutions with 100 research stipends per year.

Source Article: https://www.amstat.org/ASA/News/ASA-Awarded-NSF-Grant-to-Boost-Underrepresented-Students.aspx

New Employment Opportunity: Deputy Director

New Employment Opportunity: Deputy Director

Nov 4, 2021 | , ,

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative invites applications for the position of Deputy Director, for a term of two years, beginning as early as January 4, 2022. The AUC Data Science Initiative is located in Atlanta, GA, and was established in 2019 through a UnitedHealth Group grant. The Initiative facilitates and coordinates data science-focused research, activities, and programs across four historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Spelman College, as well as the AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library.

AUC Data Science Initiative scientific and academic programs are overseen by a Director and one Deputy Director and assisted by an Administrative Director charged with specific projects or responsibilities. The Deputy Director is a half-time appointment and is expected to be a faculty member in an appropriate department at an AUC member institution (Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Spelman College). The Deputy Director will be expected to work during the academic year and the summer.

 

Download Full Job Description: AUC DSI Deputy Director 2022

New Employment Opportunity: Deputy Director

New Employment Opportunity: Executive Assistant

Sep 22, 2021 | ,

The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative invites applications for the position of Executive Assistant. The AUC Data Science Initiative is located in Atlanta, GA, and was established in 2019 through a UnitedHealth Group grant. The Initiative facilitates and coordinates data science-focused research, activities, and programs across four historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Spelman College, as well as the AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library.

Download Full Job Description: AUC DSI Executive Assistant – 2021

The Coca-Cola Company and SAP announce a partnership with the Atlanta University Center Data Science Initiative to impact 9,000 students

The Coca-Cola Company and SAP announce a partnership with the Atlanta University Center Data Science Initiative to impact 9,000 students

Sep 22, 2021 | ,

ATLANTA, GA – The Coca-Cola Company and SAP announce a partnership that will feature a virtual computer lab and offer internships in a multi-year phased approach. The Initiative is housed in the Atlanta University Center (AUC) Consortium, Inc. This joint program will engage with the AUC Robert W. Woodruff Library to develop the AUC Virtual Computer Lab that will be available to all students, faculty, and researchers at AUC member institutions that are historically black colleges and universities: Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine and Spelman College.

Download Full Press Release: SAPCOKE-PressRelease_FINAL_

HBCU Students Showcase Data Science Success in Inaugural Symposium

HBCU Students Showcase Data Science Success in Inaugural Symposium

Sep 21, 2021 |

ATLANTA, GA – The Atlanta University Center (AUC) Data Science Initiative is excited to announce the inaugural AUC Virtual Student Data Science Symposium on Friday, September 24, from 11:00 am ET to 6:00 pm ET. The Symposium is a groundbreaking one-day virtual, interactive event that celebrates and highlights the data science work of AUC students and those that participate in AUC programs. This event is free for all students, faculty and staff at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

The Symposium offers students across all HBCUs the opportunities to engage with industry professionals and gain access to exclusive networking opportunities. All student registrants will have the opportunity to upload a resume that will be shared with partnering corporations seeking top African American data science talent.
Highlights of the student-focused one-day event include networking sessions to facilitate opportunities for students to engage with potential employers and graduate schools. In addition, 5-minute lightning talks will be given by students showcasing how data science brings innovative solutions to hard societal issues including incarceration rates, child trafficking, genetic diseases, urban planning, and medical technology. Joining the inaugural event are several distinguished alumni that will comprise the Data Science Alumni Panel:

• Dr. Yamisha Bermudez, Biostatistician / Data Manager at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and graduate of Spelman College (C’12) and Morehouse School of Medicine (C’14);
• Samuel Floyd, Sr. Analyst, Online Analytics and Experimentation at Home Depot and graduate of Morehouse College (C’16);
• Terrance Pryor, Legal Counsel, Data and Privacy at General Motors and graduate of Clark Atlanta University (C’14); and
• Asya Spears, Founder & Principal Consultant at Rose Data Studio and graduate of Spelman College (C’11).

The panel will be moderated by the AUC Data Science Club President, Shai Waldrip, who is a PhD Candidate in Biomedical Sciences at Morehouse School of Medicine.

The noon keynote presentation will be given by Dr. Lorin Crawford, a Senior Researcher at Microsoft Research New England and an Assistant Professor of Biostatistics, Brown University. He will share how data science uncovers interactions between genetic features to address diseases. As an alum of Clark Atlanta University (C’13), Dr. Crawford will also inspire all attendees to make innovative advances in data science that can benefit us all. This exciting one-day will be concluded with virtual gamification sessions, interactive expo booths, and prizes awarded to registrants.

Students, sponsors, exhibitors, and general attendees can access and learn more about this event by registering online at: www.accelevents.com/e/aucstudentdatasymposium or by visiting the AUC Data Science Initiative website at: www.datascience.aucenter.edu.