February 2025

Welcome to the February edition of the Data Science Initiative newsletter!

As we dive into the new year, the Data Science Initiative is excited to bring you a lineup of engaging events and opportunities to connect, learn, and innovate. This February, join us for AI Makerspace Hours with occasional pop-in presentations, attend the 2025 DSI Seed Grant Showcase, and don't miss Dr. Yubin Park’s joint seminar with BACH. Also, be sure to catch David Joyner’s thought-provoking talk, the first in an exciting monthly webinar series on AI and higher education. Whether you're exploring AI, networking with experts, or discovering groundbreaking research, there’s something for everyone.

Register Now for the MinneMUDAC Student Data Challenge - Join the DSI and MinneAnalytics for the sixth edition of the MinneMUDAC Student Data Challenge, inviting students to explore real-world data while enhancing and showcasing their skills. This month-long challenge (plus an extra week for spring break) culminates at the main event on Saturday, April 5 at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

Registration is now open for:

Students: Undergraduate and graduate students welcome. Please note that you must enter the team name and name/email of a faculty or staff advisor to register.

Faculty/Staff Advisors: Each team requires a faculty or staff advisor to provide guidance throughout the challenge.

Judges/Mentors: Share your experience with the next generation of analytics professionals. Industry professionals who would like to judge and provide mentorship may register by selecting the “Judge/Mentor” ticket option.

We are excited to announce the MinneMUDAC 2025 client is Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Twin Cities. Details about this year’s challenge will be announced by March 1.

Register here

Reminder: RIO, SPA, and other University partners are closely monitoring newly issued Executive Orders and federal communications that could impact federally supported projects and programs at UMN. Stay up-to-date with the latest guidance available.

Stay engaged and inspired! Explore the latest updates, events, and news below or visit our website for more information.

Featured Article/Celebrating Success

On January 22, 2025, the Data Science Initiative (DSI) had the distinct honor of presenting to the Minnesota Senate’s Committee on Jobs and Economic Development, offering expert insights on the rapidly evolving role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in shaping Minnesota’s workforce and economy. The briefing underscored how AI is not just a tool of the future but a present-day force driving innovation, transforming industries, and creating new economic opportunities across the state.

DSI leaders highlighted the University of Minnesota’s long standing leadership in AI and data science, demonstrating how its cutting-edge research, education programs, and industry partnerships are positioning Minnesota as a national hub for AI-driven growth. The discussion covered AI’s increasing integration into sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, finance, and public policy, emphasizing the critical need for workforce development and ethical considerations as AI adoption accelerates.

Minnesota’s economy is uniquely poised to benefit from AI advancements, with a strong foundation of thriving industries embracing automation and data-driven decision-making, a world-class research institution pioneering new AI methodologies, and a highly skilled workforce ready to fill the jobs of tomorrow. The DSI team provided key perspectives on how policymakers, businesses, and academic institutions can collaborate to ensure that Minnesota remains at the forefront of AI innovation, fostering sustainable growth and inclusive economic opportunities.

Representing DSI in this pivotal discussion were:

Genevieve Melton-Meaux
Vipin Kumar
Galin Jones
Hayley Borck
Jim Wilgenbusch

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Minnesota Senate’s Committee on Jobs and Economic Development for the opportunity to contribute to this critical conversation. As AI continues to reshape industries and redefine the job market, DSI remains committed to advancing research, fostering innovation, and equipping Minnesota’s workforce with the knowledge and skills to thrive in an AI-powered future.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue working to shape Minnesota’s AI-driven future!

Watch the full discussion here

? Be the Star of Our Community Corner Spotlight! ?

This past year, the DSI Community Corner has proudly showcased incredible individuals both within and beyond our university, celebrating their remarkable contributions to data science and AI.

In 2024, we were thrilled to feature inspiring individuals like Dr. Jenna Marquard, whose work on human-centered AI has advanced how technology supports healthcare decision-making, and Zhenong Jin, a researcher whose innovative approaches to climate and agricultural data have sparked cross-disciplinary collaborations. We also spotlighted Ayisha Tabbassum, a dynamic external speaker at our WiADS conference, whose expertise in AI and data systems inspired new ideas and connections across our community.

Now, we’re inviting you to join this growing tradition.

Are you—or someone you know—pushing the boundaries in data science, AI, or interdisciplinary research? Whether you’re an internal member of our university community or an external collaborator making an impact through our events or programs, we’d love to feature you in our upcoming newsletters as part of the 2025 Community Corner Spotlight series.

Being in the spotlight offers you the chance to:

✨ Share your innovative work and story with a wide, engaged audience.
✨ Inspire others through your insights, tools, and vision for the future.
✨ Celebrate the connections and contributions that drive the DSI forward.

? How to Get Involved:

Let us know if you’d like to be featured or nominate someone who’s making an impact. This is your chance to shine and help us showcase the amazing talent and innovation that defines the DSI community.

Submit your interest to Leah Saaristo at [email protected]. Let’s celebrate the diverse voices that make the Data Science Initiative extraordinary!

View Previous Spotlights

Events

AI Makerspace Hours

When: Every other Friday starting September 13, 2024 to April 18th, 2025
Where: Walter 575

The DSI and MSI invite all students, staff, and faculty to our AI Makerspace Hours, a unique event where you can dive into AI on our state of the art HPC with hands-on experience. With the support of our expert MSI staff, you'll learn everything from basic coding to training advanced generative AI models. Enjoy access to dedicated HPC nodes for practical learning and a set of comprehensive tutorials.

RSVPs are not required but highly recommended; otherwise, attendees will need to spend a few minutes creating an account on the HPC. Please bring your own laptop (it doesn't need to be a high-performance one). There will be one or two laptops available to loan out if needed.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn, explore, and innovate with us! RSVP Now!

DSI Seed Grant Showcase

When: Tuesday, February 11th, 2025 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Where: Coffman Union’s Mississippi Room

Join us to celebrate the impactful work of the DSI seed grant recipients. This event fosters community, encourages collaboration, and sparks ideas for future research development. Light refreshments will be provided—don’t miss this chance to connect with fellow data science enthusiasts and explore cutting-edge research.

Schedule:

3:00–4:00 PM: Lightning Talks (2023 winners)
4:00–5:00 PM: Poster Reception (2024 winners)

What to Expect:

Hear from recipients about their research.
Gain insights into interdisciplinary collaborations driving innovation.
Network with fellow data science enthusiasts.
Enjoy light refreshments.

Please accept the calendar invite to add the event to your schedule. RSVP Now

AI and Higher Education Webinar with David Joyner

When: Tuesday, February 25, 12:00 PM CT
Where: Online (Zoom link after RSVP)

Join the DSI for the AI and Education Webinar Series – RSVP Today!

The University of Minnesota’s Data Science Initiative (DSI) invites you to the AI and Education Webinar Series. Kicking off the series, David Joyner, Associate Dean and Executive Director of OMSCS & Online Education at Georgia Tech, will present “Generative AI: A Problem for Education that Solves Itself.” In this talk, David will delve into how generative AI is transforming education by addressing complex challenges with innovative solutions.

This free, virtual event promises valuable insights into the future of AI in education.

LLMs as Bridges: Connecting Healthcare Data, Policy, and Operations in the AI Era with Yubin Park

When: Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Where: Walter Library, Room 402 (In-person only)

Join the Business Advancement Center for Health (BACH) and the Data Science Initiative (DSI) for an exciting talk by Dr. Yubin Park, founder and CEO of mimilabs, on how Large Language Models (LLMs) are revolutionizing healthcare. Discover real-world applications of LLMs in healthcare analytics, policy implementation, and decision-making.

Schedule:

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Talk & Q&A
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch Reception

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a LinkedIn Top Voice in AI healthcare solutions and explore actionable strategies to enhance healthcare operations through AI. For more details, visit the DSI website.

RSVP Here - RSVP Deadline: February 10, 2025 (or until capacity is reached).

Data Discovery Across Departments

Events in other departments/initiatives/institutions - (External (Non-DSI Events)

Drawing reproducible conclusions from observational clinical data with OHDSI

When: February 4, 2025, 12:00 - 1:00 pm

The Center for Learning Health System Sciences (CLHSS) is focusing on interoperability in health data. Join George Hripcsak, MD, MS, Vivian Beaumont Allen Professor of Biomedical Informatics at Columbia University and winner of the 2022 Morris Collen Award, for a discussion on "Drawing Reproducible Conclusions from Observational Clinical Data with OHDSI." Learn how the OHDSI network—a global collaborative of over 4,000 researchers—leverages large-scale observational health data to improve medical research and inform treatment decisions.

Register now

Innovations and Emerging Technologies in Africa: AI Made in Africa

When: Wednesday, February 11th, 2025, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Where: Humphrey Forum (HHH Room 105) Humphrey School of Public Affairs (Hybrid)

This webinar explores the localization and contextualization of AI in Africa, a critical and timely topic. Four Africa-based panelists will share their motivations for engaging with AI, their innovations, and how these address pressing national and continental challenges. The discussion will conclude with a Q&A session.

Topics include:

Harnessing AI to strengthen human capital development
Transforming rural healthcare access with AI and telemedicine
Technology for transparent justice delivery
Transforming agriculture with locally developed AI

Sponsored by: The African Studies Initiative (ASI), Global Programs and Strategy Alliance, UMN Data Science Initiative, CLA Data Science Initiative, Human Rights Program, and the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies.

Find out more and register here

DARPAConnect Regional Pop-Up

When: Tuesday, February 25th, 2025, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM CT
Where: McNamara Alumni Center at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (and virtually)

DARPA and the University of Minnesota invite you to the DARPAConnect Regional Pop-Up Event in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Tuesday, February 25, 2025!

DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) is the U.S. Department of Defense’s premier research and development agency, dedicated to advancing the nation’s technological edge. What sets DARPA apart is its relentless pursuit of groundbreaking innovations that push the boundaries of possibility—whether in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity, or countless other fields. DARPA has a reputation for turning bold ideas into reality, transforming concepts from "mere doubt" to field-ready capabilities.

Whether you’re new to DARPA or a seasoned performer with the agency, this event will provide valuable insights on "How to DARPA" with its dynamic and visionary leadership, and offer networking opportunities to help advance your efforts in national security innovation.

Register here

NIH Data Sharing Index (S-index) Challenge

When: Mandatory Registration (intent to participate) Due: March 3, 2025

Are you passionate about Open Science and FAIR data principles?

Calling all researchers, healthcare professionals, data scientists, informaticians, and anyone interested in expanding data sharing in research to participate in the Data Sharing Index (S-index) Challenge.

Total prize pool of $1million, with a first prize of $500,000!

Led by the National Eye Institute (NEI) with contributions from multiple National Institutes of Health (NIH) Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs), aims to incentivize the creation, development, and validation of a quantitative data sharing index.

To learn more and register

National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting (NICAR) Conference

When: March 6-9, 2025
The NICAR conference will be held in Minneapolis March 6-9, 2025. Lots of data journalism training at all skill levels, with discounts for freelance, early career and student journalists. Not sure if it’s for you? Here’s an interesting take from a “NICAR newbie."

CatchLight and Prism Photo Workshop are collaborating to develop a better understanding of the current state of local visual journalism in U.S. media with their Local Visual Journalism 2024-2025 Survey, open until January 10. It’s long, but there are prizes!

Annual Research Ethics Day Webinar

The Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence in Research: Challenges & Emerging Guidance
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
9:00am – 3:00pm Central | 10:00am – 4:00pm Eastern | 7:00am – 1:00pm Pacific

Researchers across many disciplines are increasingly utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), including large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT, to support empirical research and data analysis, academic writing, peer review, and development of new tools. The broad reach of AI in research raises pressing ethical questions about scientific integrity, authorship, data privacy, bias, and equity.

This conference brings together leading experts from a range of disciplines, from biomedical sciences to the humanities, to confront the challenge of ethical use of AI in research. National leaders will discuss how AI is being used in research, the challenges to research ethics and integrity, current guidance on using AI in research and publication, and much more. Learn more about Research Ethics

Mental Health Mass Communication: Using Messages to Relieve the Plight of People with Mental Illness

When: Friday, March 28 & Saturday, March 29, 2025
Where: University of Minnesota - Twin Cities | Minneapolis, MN

Are you interested in developing and testing messaging that can effectively promote mental health in the general population, reduce stigma of mental illness, and encourage people affected by mental health challenges to seek professional help?

Then register now for this first of its kind symposium to hear and speak with 12 renowned scholars from communication, psychology, psychiatry, and public health.

The symposium connects graduate students, research faculty, and practitioners who do or want to do the type of work that is necessary for strengthening mental health communication.

There will be two sessions on Friday March 28 and two sessions on March 29. Each session has talks from three speakers and a roundtable discussion with speakers and other attendees. Light breakfast and lunch are provided at no cost to you.

To maximize outcomes, the symposium is designed as a small group meeting. There is only a limited number of attendance spots, so register now!

Registration is free. Register Now

2025 Data-Intensive Research Conference

When: August 6-7, 2025
Where: Minneapolis, MN & Virtual

The IPUMS Big Microdata Network and NDIRA, a collaboration between IPUMS and the University of Minnesota Life Course Center, are currently accepting submissions for the 2025 Data-Intensive Research Conference, to be held in person in Minneapolis, Minnesota; key components of the program will also be available to virtual participants. The conference theme is Understanding Health and Population Dynamics through Big Microdata.

Learning Resources

Leveraging Generative AI for Business

June 2-3, 2025

AI, both traditional and generative, can enhance efficiency, elevate products and services, and drive innovation. In our 2-day Leveraging Generative AI for Business course, you’ll gain a practical Gen AI toolkit and develop an actionable plan for a tangible project. You’ll leave the program with a concrete strategy to implement a value-driven, Gen AI-aided initiative and the confidence to lead as an AI champion within your organization.

Enroll today and enhance your ability to:

Apply practical frameworks to identify and prioritize potential Gen AI-aided projects
Understand the limitations of Gen AI and avoid common pitfalls

Navigate the impact of organizational culture on the acceptance and use of Gen AI

REU: AI, Data Analytics, and Mixed Reality for Smart and Connected Health

Texas State University and Texas A&M San Antonio are accepting applications from undergraduate students to attend their 9-week summer program: REU: AI, Data Analytics, and Mixed Reality for Smart and Connected Health

This Texas State University (TXST) REU site engages undergraduate students in innovative Smart and Connected Health and Communities research in collaboration with Texas A&M-San Antonio. Students explore areas like AI-driven emotion recognition for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), enhanced firefighting systems, and tech-assisted sports assessments for spinal cord injuries. Projects apply machine learning, AI, and IoT to real-world challenges, such as developing AI-powered smart homes for individuals with ASD and improving chronic ankle instability diagnosis. Students also study advanced computer vision for object tracking in engineering. This interdisciplinary experience prepares participants for advanced STEM studies and careers.

The program runs from June 2 to August 1, 2025

A stipend of $6,300 ($700/week)
A travel stipend of $700
Housing and meals are included
The site will support nine student positions for the summer

Eligibility:

Undergraduate students – sophomore, junior, or non-graduating senior
US Citizen or permanent resident
GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)

Requirements for the application:

Your current Resume/CV (PDF file)
Purpose Statement (PDF file)
Unofficial University transcript (PDF file)
Two recommendation letters (PDF files)
You can express interest in a specific project(s) in your statement. - see projects

Starting to review application: March 1st, 2025

Decision notifications: Ongoing until positions are filled

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Damian Valles, [email protected]

Funding Opportunities and Deadline

If you're interested in exploring these or other data science opportunities, whether it's finding the right team, preparing your submission, or partnering with industry on federal and state funding initiatives, please reach out—we’re here to help!

DARPA Satellite Guest Investigator Data Challenge - The “Guest Investigator” (GI) program to broaden the basic research utility of the in situ datasets collected during the Ouija low earth orbit satellite mission. Selected GIs will initiate research projects that supplement or enhance the Ouija science return with their unique methods, facilities, missions, or capabilities. Deadline - Feb. 28, 2025
DARPA I20 Securing Artificial Intelligence for Battlefield Effective Robustness (SABER) - This program (BAA not out yet) seeks performers who can assist in surveying, assessing, selecting, developing, and employing state-of-the-art physical (including manufacturing/materials), adversarial AI (including digital), cyber and electronic warfare techniques and tools, or other relevant vectors for enabling the operational assessment of AI-enabled system development and deployment pipelines.The Air Force Research Laboratory is soliciting white papers under this Broad Agency Announcement for research, development, integration, test and evaluation of technologies/techniques to support research in the focus areas computational diversity and efficient computing architectures, machine learning and artificial intelligence in embedded system and architectures, computing at the edge, nanocomputing, space computing, and robust algorithms and applications. Deadline TBD
DARPA I20 RFI - Techniques and Tools for Vulnerability Assessment of AI-enabled Systems - This RFI will use responses to inform a future program on AI vulnerability assessment. They are looking for information on tools that: 1) consider a spectrum of relevant adversarial access threat models (white box, grey box, black box, hidden box), 2) consider not just the AI model, but also vulnerabilities presented by the entire AI-enabled system development and deployment pipeline, and 3) consider the platform specific quirks in operationally assessing vulnerabilities including environmental conditions, multi-modal sensor ingest, and system purpose. Deadline: Feb. 28, 2025
DoD AFRL Extreme Computing - The Air Force Research Laboratory is soliciting white papers under this Broad Agency Announcement for research, development, integration, test and evaluation of technologies/techniques to support research in the focus areas computational diversity and efficient computing architectures, machine learning and artificial intelligence in embedded system and architectures, computing at the edge, nanocomputing, space computing, and robust algorithms and applications. White papers accepted on a rolling basis
DoD AFRL Advanced Tracking Architecture using AI - Seeking research to design, develop, test, evaluate, and deliver innovative technologies and techniques for Next Generation Target Tracking architectures, which exploit a wide array of data sources and leverage the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Machine Inferencing (MI) algorithms in a High Performance Computing (HPC) enabled framework. White papers accepted on a rolling basis
NSF Emerging Mathematics in Biology - The Emerging Mathematics in Biology (eMB) program seeks to stimulate the development of innovative mathematical theories, techniques, and approaches to investigate challenging questions of great interest to biologists and public health policymakers. It supports the development of the mathematical foundation of Artificial Intelligence/Deep Learning/Machine Learning (AI/DL/ML) enabling explainable AI or mechanistic insight. The program emphasizes the uses of mathematical methodologies to advance our understanding of complex, dynamic, and heterogeneous biological systems at all scales (molecular, cellular, organismal, population, ecosystems, evolutionary, etc.). Deadline - March 3, 2025

February deadlines:

DOD FY25 Minerva Research Initiative University Research Program - Minerva’s University Research program aims to support innovative basic research projects that contribute to the advancement of social science and provides new methods and understandings on social and behavioral questions of security and defense-related interest. Minerva aims to improve DoD's basic understanding of the social, cultural, behavioral, and political forces that shape regions of the world of strategic importance to the U.S. The research program seeks to: Leverage and focus the resources of the Nation's top universities; Define and develop foundational knowledge about sources of present and future conflict with an eye toward better understanding of the political trajectories of key regions of the world; and Improve the ability of DoD to develop cutting-edge social science research and foreign area and interdisciplinary studies that is developed and vetted by the best scholars in these fields. Deadline - Feb. 28, 2025
NSF Webinar Brining Mathematical and Statistical Foundations to Advance Precision Medicine - Bringing Mathematical and Statistical Foundations to Advance Precision Medicine Development of novel approaches in precision medicine has a potential to shift the existing healthcare paradigm, improving lives of millions of people. However, a wider adoption of such emerging approaches is impossible without offering a principled assessment of such new techniques, ensuring their reliability, safety, and fairness. This seminar will showcase how mathematical and statistical methods help to develop such foundational approaches in precision medicine, including such diverse problems as individualized risk factors for glaucoma, AI-assisted stroke rehabilitation, and predictive models of maternal health for women of color. Thursday, February 27, 2:00-3:00pm. Register.
DOE EXPRESS: 2025 Exploratory Research for Extreme-Scale Science (Opens PDF) - Includes 5 topic areas: Quantum computation based on topological concepts; B) Local and Campus-Area Quantum Networking for Next Generation Parallel Quantum Computing; C) Neuromorphic Computing; D) Computational Physical Systems; and E) Deep Understanding of AI Models: "Advancement in AI has been driven by both significant advancement in practical techniques for the creation and use of large-scale AI models and by a solidifying, but still relatively nascent, theoretical understanding of the AI training process and the models that emerge from that process. To enable the creation and use of AI models for science, many aspects of the AI training and inference processes require optimization, including speed, energy efficiency, memory and data usage, and accuracy of the predicted values and the characterized uncertainty of those values." Pre-applications (required) due February 25, 2025; Pre-application Response Date: March 18, 2025; Final Application due May 6, 2025.

For students:

The NSF PACK fellowship: The PACK fellowship is a graduate student opportunity to conduct research at the University of Kiel, Germany for 3 weeks. Applicants from any science or engineering discipline are encouraged to apply now!

Open Positions, Assistantships, and Internships

Quantinuum Internships - Quantinuum is looking for summer interns in Quantum information theory (PhD) and Metasurface optical design.
Statewide California Earthquake Center Internships: Through hands-on research and professional development, SCEC interns acquire skills in data analysis, problem-solving, and systems thinking, collaborating with a diverse community of experts from over 90 institutions. SURE offers immersive, in-person research, while SOURCES provides accessible, remote opportunities. Both programs empower students to deepen their knowledge, expand professional networks, and contribute to impactful projects that address pressing geoscience challenges.
Department of Defense High-Performance Computing Internship Program: The Department of Defense’s (DoD) High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP) sponsors two summer research opportunities: the High-Performance Computing Internship Program (HIP) and the Faculty Immersion Experience (FIX). These 10-week experiences are offered in collaboration with more than a dozen DoD hosting organizations nationwide. Both programs seek to strengthen DoD and academic collaboration, enhance research capabilities, and encourage broader university-level participation in high-end computing.