I hope you will be able to make the faculty meeting this afternoon 1:00 and the following poster session 2:30. Our offices are filled with easels and posters are going up! Our meeting today will have a few elections, give out some awards, and then we’ll spend most of the time talking about the future of SDS and how we will be solidifying our foundation. All of you have contributed to the tremendous work and growth of the School. I appreciate all your efforts over the past 5 years and look forward to the continued evolution of SDS.  

Changes are afoot, but the future is bright!

Doug

The DSBA program is excited to announce a new Master's Thesis option for students completing their capstone requirement. This in-depth research project allows students to delve into a specific topic over two semesters, culminating in a thesis defense. Faculty members participate voluntarily by choosing to advise students or decline supervision requests. We encourage open communication between faculty and students to ensure an understanding of the academic rigor and challenges involved, including the possibility of not successfully defending a thesis.  Thesis vs. Internship Capstone:

• The Master's Thesis option is a more in-depth research experience compared to the traditional Internship Capstone (one semester, 3 credit hours).
• We continue to offer the Internship Capstone for those seeking a less resource-intensive research experience.

To learn more about the thesis process, expectations, and timelines, visit the dedicated DSBA Capstone webpage. For further questions regarding the thesis option, please contact SungJune Park, the DSBA Graduate Program Director.

May 1, 2024, 12:00 pm - 3:30 pm (Virtual Event – Link to be shared soon)

Join us for the Data Science and AI Education Share Fair: ADAPT Model Implementation! Whether you're a Data Science instructor, researcher, or simply passionate about advancing data science, this event is for you. The Share Fair will focus on the innovative ADAPT model (All-campus Data science through Accessible Project-based Teaching and learning), designed to enhance data science education. Our goal is to facilitate understanding and implementation of this model across educational settings.

Dongsong Zhang has shared a few NOFO options available to SDS faculty. Their deadlines and focuses vary, but the list with details can be found here.

Now is a pivotal time to shape the future of artificial intelligence. With Congress working on multiple legislative efforts, scientific and engineering expertise is needed immediately to inform federal policymaking. AAAS is seeking scientists and engineers from a wide range of disciplines to provide a rapid response to this urgent need on Capitol Hill. Congress is preparing to meet the urgent need to shape AI policies, and AI-STPF fellows will be extraordinary assets in helping to understand political, social, cyber, and economic impacts for our country and the world. AAAS is seeking leads and interested applicants.

The objective of the Data Science Corps program is to help build a strong national data science infrastructure and workforce. The Data Science Corps program seeks to engage data science students in real-world data science implementation projects. This engagement will help bridge the data-to-knowledge gap in organizations and communities at all levels, including local, state, and national, and will empower better use of data for more effective decision-making. Data Science Corps participants will be able to sharpen their skills in data science by working on real-world projects focused on specific community needs, including rural communities, urban communities, academia, industry, or government. This partnership between communities and data scientists will serve the nation by helping produce a workforce-ready cohort of data scientists and technologists, who have experience with data science in action in real-world settings. The program welcomes proposals that seek to broaden participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and STEM education.

Join 400+ UNC Charlotte faculty and students who have already completed the National Science Foundation Regional I-Corps program. The next cohort for innovators kicks off on May 20th. The virtual program supports your customer discovery process as you start to speak with industry and potential customers. Upon successful completion of the program, you are eligible to apply for the $50,000 NSF I-Corps Teams grant. Applications are currently open and are reviewed as they are submitted, closing on May 10th. More information and the application form can be found on UNC Charlotte's NSF I-Corps Webpage. Questions? Contact devin.collins@charlotte.edu.

The SDS undergraduate and graduate programs have a rich set of special topic offerings for both summer and fall. Here is the up-to-date list of classes. Please feel free to share this with your students!

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

• April 29, 2024: Last day of classes
• April 30, 2024: Reading Day
• April 30, 2024: SDS Advisory Board & Networking Reception
• May 1, 2024: Final Exams Begin
• May 10, 2024: Undergraduate Data Science Commencement Ceremony
• May 11, 2024: Graduate School Commencement Ceremony
• May 20, 2024: First Day of Summer Classes
• May 21, 2024: Last Day to Add or Drop a Class with no grade
• May 22, 2024: Payment Due Date/cancellation for nonpayment

April 30, 2024 | 5:00-6:00 pm | Dubois Center

The School of Data Science (SDS) invites all students to a networking reception following the Spring Advisory Board meeting on April 30th, 2024, from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Dubois Center. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with industry professionals! Mingle with SDS Advisory Board members, gain insights into the data science field, and enjoy light refreshments and drinks. We encourage all SDS students to attend! Please RSVP TODAY.

via Zoom: April 30 @ 3:30 pm - 4:15 pm

National Consortium for Data Science (NCDS)



The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released an AI Risk Management Framework for the trustworthy and responsible use of AI and analytics. NIST offers a portfolio of measurements, standards, and legal metrology to provide recommendations that ensure traceability, enable quality assurance, and harmonize documentary standards and regulatory practices. Register Today!

Thursday, May 2nd, from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM

NC TECH is hosting a Brews + Bytes networking event in Charlotte on Thursday, May 2nd, from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. This free event, open to both NC TECH members and non-members, offers a casual and intimate setting for tech professionals to connect, network, and learn about what's happening in the Charlotte tech scene. Light refreshments will be served. Registration is required in advance, so be sure to secure your spot.

May 10th & 11th | Dale F. Halton Arena

UNC Charlotte's Commencement Ceremony honors graduates, their families, and supportive faculty. Ceremonies are held May 10th & 11th at the Dale F. Halton Arena (Barnhardt Student Activity Center). Need information - visit the Commencement Website. Disability accommodations are available through the Office of Disability Services.

Wednesday, May 15, Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City

The 2024 AI Institute for Smarter Learning is intended to serve the UNC Charlotte community of faculty, administrators, and staff by showcasing innovative and practice-based approaches to the use of generative AI across our campus. The institute offers the opportunity to bring together UNC Charlotte educators to holistically come together, collaborate, and explore strategies on how to become more confident, productive, and effective with generative AI. View the schedule.

This competitive program is intended to provide special support for doctoral students in their last year, who will be on the academic job search for a tenure track or permanent teaching position during the 2024-2025 academic year. Doctoral students with strong academic and teaching records are encouraged to apply here by April 29. 10 participants will be accepted and will earn a $500 stipend upon completion of all program requirements. Questions? Email jhuerta2@charlotte.edu.

All SDS students get free access to DataCamp.  This is meant to be a resource for students and faculty.  Please explore DataCamp and our boot camp resources today!

Burtch Works is a specialized Data, Analytics, and Technology talent solutions and insights company. They produce an annual survey and report on market trends in the field. They also have a website with all kinds of resources for job seekers.

The NC Technology Association (NC TECH) has unveiled its latest update on the state's IT job landscape through its new, comprehensive IT Job Trends Dashboard.  NC TECH reports continued growth in IT job postings for March, the fourth month in a row. This generally aligns with the Bureau of Labor Statistics report showing overall US job growth. Additionally, a survey by NC TECH found that tech leaders in North Carolina are optimistic about growth in the next quarter, with a majority planning to hire new employees. Read More Here.

Looking for a challenge for your students and/or class?  WiDS Datathon challenges are based on well-curated, real-world datasets that are not readily available in the public domain. Competitions are hosted on Kaggle and teams are required to have at least 50% women. Participating in a WiDS Datathon is a fantastic opportunity for students to gain experience and see an application to a real and critical challenge! Learn about this year’s challenge tasks. The Current WiDS Challenge is online and opened on April 18th and is accepting individual and team registrations through May 29th.  The challenges can be offered as a 1-unit course or project in undergraduate or graduate courses that provide a first entry into data science. Similar datasets will be used in both datathon sprints. You are welcome to participate in one–or both–sprints. Audience: First entry to data science, data analytics, or machine learning  SIGN UP TODAY!

May 6th at 5:30-6:30pm - virtual 

Join this virtual session featuring 3 excellent panelists representing IT Auditing, Public Accounting and Consulting, and Data Analytics and Reporting from top firms in the Charlotte region. This free session will be a great resource for students; no registration is required. Please encourage your students to attend! 

Meeting Link

Meeting ID: 247 326 425 857

Passcode: i2T8sy

Notices for TA support for faculty teaching SDS summer courses (DSBA, HCIP, DTSC, SPOA) went out the week before last.  If you are teaching an SDS course, with a minimum enrollment of 25 students, you may qualify for a TA to support your 5 or 10-week class.  Please reach out to Joshua Hertel if you have any questions.  Notifications for Fall 2024 classes should go out the week of April 22nd.  SDS Assistantship Eligibility Reminders:

• Programs: Only SDS students (DSBA, Health Informatics, Data Science) are eligible.
• Types: Instructional Assistants (hourly, projects) or Teaching Assistants (semester contracts, support faculty).
• Hours: Full-time (20 hrs/week), half-time (10 hrs/week).
• GPA: Minimum 3.0 required.
• Credit Load: Max 9 credits while holding a full-time assistantship.
• Other: Open to all students (in-state, out-of-state, international, new admits). No tuition remission is included.
• Apply: Through the program portal: SUMMER & FALL 2024: APPLY HERE

Additional details can be found on the program websites under “Current Students” and general information on the Graduate School’s website.

The information regarding compensation and support packages for the 2024-2025 academic year has been updated. Please review the provided guidance, including linked resources and policies. Read more here. For any further inquiries, the following key contacts are available:

• Dr. Julie Goodliffe, Assistant Dean for Funding and Research (Graduate School)
• Peter Szanton, Director of the Office of Research Services (ORS)
• Holly Durham, Associate Provost for Academic Budget (Academic Affairs)

Applications due May 1, 2024

The DEDICATE Program will build institutional capacity as well as individual faculty capacity in teaching data science at not only historically underserved institutions (HBCUs and HSIs) but also within the interdisciplinary areas (Social Impact Areas) of 1. Criminal Justice 2. Geosciences and Health Disparities 3. Food and Water Systems. To solve some of the biggest challenges to broadening participation in STEM at a systems level, four problems were identified that are barriers to success: 1) Instructor-designed “projects” not based on research-based pedagogies, 2) Silos of projects across STEM and Non-STEM disciplines, 3) Lack of faculty-centric design, and 4) Lack of systemic-change networks. DEDICATE seeks to support faculty from across the Southern census region of the US and from California, in designing and implementing the POGIL curriculum and data-enabled code modules in the social impact areas of 1. Criminal Justice 2. Geosciences and Health Disparities 3. Food and Water Systems. Faculty from these disciplines will be selected from HBCUs and HSIs. February 15, 2024 Registration Opens -  May 1, 2024 Registration Closes. Registration for the Summer Cohort May Be Accessed Here

The Graduate School's Funding Team provides updates, upcoming deadlines, tips, and information you need to be informed and comfortable with the processes for funding students. Please sign up for the need-to-know digest.

• 10 GitHub Repositories to Master Python - Learn Python through tutorials, blogs, books, project work, and exercises. Access all of it on GitHub for free and join a supportive open-source community. KDNUGGETS

• Vision Language Models: Introducing the new tiny VLM Moondream 2 - Data Science Dojo, APRIL 9, 2024- While language models in generative AI focus on textual data, vision language models (VLMs) bridge the gap between textual and visual data. Before we explore Moondream 2, let’s understand VLMs better. Understanding vision language models VLMs combine computer vision (CV) and natural language processing (NLP), enabling them to understand and connect visual information with textual data.

• AMA president discusses AI in health care - American Medical Association President Jesse Ehrenfeld says that a national governance policy is necessary to ensure that artificial intelligence for use in health care is designed, developed, and deployed ethically, equitably, responsibly, and transparently. A majority of physicians are optimistic about the potential for AI to improve their practices, but many also have concerns about patient privacy and how AI will affect the physician-patient relationship, Ehrenfeld says. Full Story: Forbes (tiered subscription model) (4/19)

• Report: Health care disparities exist across all US states - A Commonwealth Fund report indicates that major ethnic and racial disparities in health care and health outcomes persist across and within US states, particularly among Blacks, American Indians, and Alaska Natives, caused by disproportionate access to high-quality care. Policymakers should work to ensure access to affordable and equitable health care coverage, improve primary care and service delivery, invest in social services, and reduce administrative burdens to promote health equity and reduce health disparities, report authors wrote. Full Story: The American Journal of Managed Care (4/18)

• Coalition to develop guidelines for AI in journal papers - Researchers and representatives from scientific journal publishers will join the Committee on Publication Ethics to develop guidelines for using and disclosing the use of generative artificial intelligence in manuscripts. A variety of guidelines have been issued by publishers and scientific associations, creating confusion, and the coalition aims to standardize guidance based on a systematic literature review. Full Story: Science (4/16)

Essential Data - From Data Leaders, a global data solutions firm, targeted to Chief Data Officers.

Data Law: Reuse of Data Held by the Public Sector Under the EU Data Governance Act



Data Governance and Management • April 17, 2024- Public entities in the EU hold an abundance of data - both personal and non-personal - opening the door to exciting new possibilities for businesses and academic research. Data Leaders members can download a detailed 25-page report and connect with peers via the Data Leaders Hub.

Suggestions are always welcome- please email Lindsay Lennon with any questions or recommendations.

• Data Science Community Newsletter- One more resource to keep in the know for new tools, events, job postings, and developing trends in data science- subscribe here. 

• KDnuggets- KDnuggets is an online site for Data Science, Machine Learning, AI, and Analytics, edited by Matthew Mayo. KD stands for Knowledge Discovery.

• Kaggle- Kaggle, owned by Google LLC, is a platform and community for data scientists and machine learning practitioners. Users can discover and share datasets, create models in a web-based environment, collaborate with others, and compete in data science challenges.

• Medium- Medium is an open-source online publishing platform where anyone can publish and share insightful perspectives and useful knowledge. It has a wide-ranging offering of topics including: Programming, Data Science, Technology, Self Improvement, Machine Learning, etc. In addition to their website, they also publish a daily e-newsletter.

• National Consortium for Data Science (NCDS)- The National Consortium for Data Science (NCDS) brings together academia, industry, and government to tackle 21st-century data challenges. It aims to leverage digital data for creating jobs, advancing healthcare, making scientific discoveries, and giving industries a competitive edge.

• SouthBDHub- The monthly newsletter contains a listing of news, events, and opportunities in data science, analytics, engineering, and policy. A selection of stories and announcements are below