Dear faculty of the School of Data Science,

I am pleased to announce that the school has launched the website of the new data science Ph.D. program, which is pending final approval from SACSCOC, at https://datasciencephd.charlotte.edu/. The website provides details about the admission and degree requirements, curriculum, tuition and fees, etc. If the program is approved, the school will welcome its first cohort of students in Fall 2025. 

The School has also started recruiting two tenure-track assistant professors in AI/data science this Fall, in which the faculty position description is available at https://jobs.charlotte.edu/postings/59369. Both new faculty will have SDS as their tenure home, The School will also be involved in the hiring process of four new faculty members at CHESS who will be joint faculty of SDS.

We will have the second SDS faculty meeting at 2:30 pm on Nov. 8 (Friday). The two major agenda items of the meeting include the introduction to the data science Ph.D. program and an explanation of different levels of faculty engagement with SDS and their implications for reappointment, tenure, and promotion, and the upcoming MOUs that individual SDS faculty members will need to agree and sign.

Warm regards,  

Dongsong Zhang, Ph.D.

Interim Executive Director, School of Data Science

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Have an event or story idea for the SDS community? Please send your submissions to Lindsay Lennon, SDS Communications and Events Manager.

The School of Data Science (SDS) has received approval for a new Ph.D. program by the UNC System Board of Governors, launching in Fall 2025, pending final SACS accreditation. This program offers two pathways: one for future industry leaders and another for academic careers. Students will engage deeply with machine learning, AI, statistics, data ethics, and the social implications of data.



We have two Information Sessions Scheduled:

• Virtual Session: Monday, November 11, 9:00 - 10:00 AM, Online. REGISTER HERE

• In-Person Session: Wednesday, November 13, 6:00 - 7:00 PM, Dubois Center/CCB. REGISTER HERE

• Both sessions will cover curriculum, application process, timeline, degree expectations, and funding opportunities.

Join us for the SDS Alumni Social to celebrate the (almost) end of the semester! This event is for all current and former students, faculty, and staff. Enjoy complimentary food, SDS swag, reconnecting with peers, and a surprise announcement at the Barrel Room, Triple C Brewing, 2900 Griffith St, Charlotte, NC.

Applications for Spring 2025 SDS Assistantships are now available for both undergraduate and graduate students! If you have SDS students (DSBA, HIA, Data Science BS) interested in serving as Teaching, Research, or Instructional Assistants, please encourage them to apply HERE or through their program website. Eligibility is limited to students enrolled in SDS programs with a minimum GPA of 3.0. The assistantships are open to in-state, out-of-state, and international students, including newly admitted students in DSBA, Health Informatics, or Data Science. Appointments can be full-time (20 hours/week) or part-time (10 hours/week), with awards granted for one semester and potential extensions. Please note that SDS assistantships do not include tuition remission.

The SDS Resume Book is now open for students seeking internships or full-time positions for Spring 2025. This opportunity is available to undergraduate and graduate students in the HIA or DSBA master’s programs, or the Bachelor’s in Data Science. Eligible students should plan to graduate in December 2024 or seek a Spring 2025 internship. Please check your program’s website for specific internship requirements. To participate, complete the form and upload your resume as a PDF with your name in the title (e.g., JOHN_SMITH_RESUME.pdf). Utilize UNC Charlotte's Career Center for additional support.

The statistics bootcamp on Canvas has been having issues processing grades. We are currently working on fixing the problem. If you are requiring students to complete the bootcamp for your class and need to know who has completed it, please reach out to the GA, Katherine Davis at kdavi247@charlotte.edu. In three weeks, we will be resetting the course to fix the issue.

The Center for Research Excellence has several opportunities to advance research projects Ignite Planning Grants and Faculty Research Grants. The Center is also offering a New Assistant Professor Workshop Series which seeks to help professors to the FRG process. Additionally, external funding opportunities are available. More information

SDS faculty Shan Yan recently published a lab research article titled "Distinct regulation of ATM signaling by DNA single-strand breaks and APE1" published at Nature Communications. The paper can be found here. A news article on this paper was released at EurekAlert titled "Demystifying APE1: New findings on direct activation of ATM signaling by DNA single-strand breaks” which can be found here.

Find the full SDS Calendar of Events on the program website. 

• November 11: Veterans Day – No Classes
• November 11: SDS Alumni Social
• November 28-29: Thanksgiving Break – University Closed
• December 4: Last day of classes
• December 5: Reading Day
• December 5: SDS Industry Advisory Board Meeting

SIM Charlotte and HMG Strategy are hosting the 10th Annual Charlotte Technology Leadership Summit on November 14 at Providence Country Club. Everyone is welcome to attend, and registration is free through this link. Bojan and Jeff will be among the speakers. You can find the full agenda HERE.

On November 12, 2024, NIST will host the first in a series of public workshops for its Assessing Risks and Impacts of AI (ARIA) program. ARIA aims to bridge current risk measurement gaps and account for AI’s opportunities and threats in the real world. The first workshop will provide an overview of ARIA and how to participate, followed by a group exercise and open discussion about the objectives for annotation in the program’s experimentation environment. The workshop will take place at the American Geophysical Union in Washington, D.C Registration for in-person attendance closes on November 6, 2024.

Agus Sudjianto, Executive of Residence at the School of Data Science, will be giving a guest lecture on model interpretability/assessment to Applied Machine Learning. Open to all students interested in data science and machine learning! Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to learn from industry experts about developing and validating predictive models for real-world applications. This presentation will cover essential practices in model risk management, ensuring your models are not only technically sound but also resilient and effective under real-world conditions. Perfect for anyone looking to enhance their skills and prepare for a career in data-driven fields, this talk is a must-attend! Join us to gain valuable insights and take your modeling expertise to the next level!

Join us every Monday from 4:00 to 5:00 PM at the Dubois Center for exclusive insights from national and local employers across financial services, manufacturing, retail, and healthcare. Connect with industry leaders, explore career opportunities, and tackle data challenges. Enhance your career—don’t miss out! Check out the full fall schedule HERE and register to secure your spot.

• A Day in the Life of a Data Scientist at IDiyas, November 4, 2024, 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Dubois Center: IDiyas, a global legal-tech platform, uses data science to enhance operations and serve its community. Data scientists at IDiyas contribute to trend analysis, product development, and name entity resolution. They also support key business functions like newsletter publishing, research reports, and web advertising. By fostering a strong internal data science community, IDiyas empowers informed decision-making and company success.

• Resume and Career Development in the Age of AI, November 18, 2024, 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Dubois Center: This seminar will explore how AI is reshaping job search strategies and career planning. Attendees will learn to leverage AI tools for optimizing resumes, navigating automated systems, and enhancing personal branding. Keith Neus, Managing Director at Sherpa, will lead the seminar, sharing insights from his experience in business transformation and financial consulting.

The Informatics Research Seminar Series, sponsored by Duke University and collaborating institutions (UNC-Chapel Hill, NCCU, UNC-Charlotte, ECU, and WFU), offers valuable insights into Health Informatics. Seminars cover industry perspectives, research results, and diverse projects in the field. Join us on Wednesdays at 4 PM EST to engage with industry leaders and researchers. 

Upcoming Seminars:

• East Carolina University (11/6): David Marc, PhD, CHDA, Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer of Superior Insights, will discuss "Predicting Health Informatics Workforce Trends in a Rapidly Evolving Landscape."
• Wake Forest University (11/13): Mohammad Seyyed Moghimi, PhD, Assistant Professor at Rowan University, will present on a topic to be determined.
• Duke University (11/20): Chuck Jaffe, MD, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of HL7, will speak on a topic to be determined.