Cynthia Tong / Psychology

 Data can lead us to insights. The field of data science and data analytics has gained prominence because it presents us new ways to process and interpret data that dump us every day. Although our University town is small in its size, it has become a growing data hub. From the University Data Center and Research Computing, to well established data science companies like S&P Global and Elder Research, to non-profit organizations like Center for Open Science, to hot startups, a data science community in Charlottesville is quickly taking shape!

I will assemble a group of undergraduate students from my Engagement classes to immerse them in the world of data science and quantitative methods. Once a month, we will visit a research/academic organization or a company in Charlottesville. Students will learn what a data center consists of, and get a strong sense of what data science and AI are and what kind of problems those companies try to solve. We will write blogs together to summarize opportunities related to data analytics in our local area and post those on my lab’s publicly accessible website as resources for the community.  In addition, I will provide a small group of students with more hands-on research activities. We will work together to attend the Undergraduate Statistics Class Project (USCLAP) Competition organized by the Consortium for the Advancement of Undergraduate Statistics Education (CAUSE) which is a professional organization that encourages the free expression and exchange of ideas. This Mead project will prepare students for quantitative research as well as a career in data science.

 Budget:

Regular lab meetings (books, food, UVA research computing service hours): $150/month x 9 months = $1350

Lab website maintenance: $200

Students commute: $50/months x 9 months = $450

Activities with local organizations and companies: $1350 (on average $150/month x 9 months)

Total: $3350