University of Chicago – InsuranceNewsNet

Aug. 01, 2022 (NewsRx) — By a News Reporter – Staff News Editor at Daily news on climate change — The Data Science Institute (DSI) is a UChicago effort defining the burgeoning field of data science through research, outreach, and education. The Industry Affiliate Program lowers barriers to collaboration between companies and academic researchers and students, connecting industry partners to groundbreaking data science research, emerging technologies, and learning opportunities. talent acquisition at UChicago.

“Data science is an inherently practical discipline. Its roots and many of its key advancements began in industry, and high-speed dialogue between researchers and practitioners is crucial for its future development,” said Michael J. Franklinfaculty co-director of the Data Science Institute, Liew Family Chair of Computing and Senior Advisor to the Provost for Computing and Data Science. “The new DSI Industry Affiliates program will anchor collaborations with companies, from startups to large, established companies, to work with DSI faculty, students, and staff on research projects that expand the capabilities and applicability of the science of data and train the next generation of scientific data.”

Through the program, core affiliates receive opportunities for exclusive events, student recruitment, professional training, and engagement with the field-defining UChicago data science research ecosystem. Industry partners can also propose projects for the UChicago Data Science Clinic, an experiential journey at the heart of the new undergraduate Data Science major. The DSI is seeking other industry affiliates, from startups to Fortune 500 companies, for future collaborations; information is available on the DSI website.

Founding partners include:

Collaboration on Rigorous Data Science Training and Research Joining the DSI Industry Affiliates program connects companies with the thought leadership of University of Chicago data science, offering the unique opportunity to collaborate with UChicago faculty and students on the most challenging and promising questions in this emerging field. A pathway of interaction is the Data Science Clinicwhere partners deliver projects that allow UChicago students to gain real-world data science experience while tackling data issues that are of high importance to partner businesses.

“It is critical that data science students gain rigorous, hands-on experience applying data science and technology-based solutions to problems facing industry and other partners,” said David Uminskygeneral manager of the Data Science Institute. “These clinical projects also provide an entry point for deep and mutually beneficial research collaborations with DSI faculty and staff that expand the potential of data science in industry and academia.”

Clinical projects with industry partners cover topics such as ethical uses of artificial intelligence, algorithmic trading, performance of communication networks, and the effect of climate change on the insurance industry. founding partner Prudential Financial participated in the inaugural offer of the Data Science Clinic last fall, sponsoring a team developing an ethical AI framework using public financial data. UChicago students worked with data scientists from Prudential on building the framework, quantifying the ethics and economic and social impact of how companies use AI.

“Data science is going to be an integral part of solving many of the societal problems we will face in the future,” said Kjersten Moodydata manager, Prudential Financial. “We looked at a number of different institutions that we could potentially partner with, and the University of Chicago stood out for its multidisciplinary approach to the subject. It is not math skills or computer skills that will bring a data science practitioner to the forefront of this field. It is the interdisciplinary approach and the ability to ask questions and see problems from several angles. Diversity of thought is important, which is why we seek talent who shares our appreciation of seeing things through the eyes of others.

These collaborations allow industry partners to complement their internal data science teams with external support and insights, broadening their ability to experiment with new ideas. They also offer students a window into a career in data science, learning how companies create and use these tools internally.

“I knew that if I was going to get into data science, I wanted to get as many skills and hands-on experience as possible,” said Alex Haywarda 2022 University of Chicago graduate who worked with Prudential and then took a job with the company. “The data science clinic was one of the most formative parts of my data science training and definitely prepared me for the field.”

As the Industry Affiliate Program grows, partners will be able to join DSI research initiatives on Internet Equity, AI+Science and Data, and Democracy, as well as contribute to shaping new initiatives in areas such as the impacts of climate change and the data economy. . By participating in DSI activities, companies work directly with leading UChicago faculties in data science, computer science and statistics, as well as experts in fields such as economics, physics, medicine and computational social sciences. These university-industry partnerships will set the intellectual agenda for the field of data science: defining its fundamental principles, advancing innovative applications and anticipating its ethical and societal impacts.

“We have built partnerships, both locally and nationally, to make data science a fair and ethical field from the start,” said Daniel Nicolasfaculty co-director of the Data Science Institute (DSI) and professor of statistics. “Our hope is to bring data science expertise to industry, nonprofits and social impact organizations on the ground, amplifying their work in many different areas.”

“The University of Chicago has a proven track record of delivering financial innovations while connecting data science students with leading companies across Chicago. We are excited to work with the Industry Affiliate Program, where we can provide our own mentorship and expertise to the city’s next generation of data science engineers,” said Dennis Cueglobal head of Talent development for DRW. “It is crucial that we continue to invest in the students and resources that can make Chicago an intellectual hub for financial innovation.

Contact: Rob Mitchum [email protected]

(Our reports provide factual information on research and discoveries around the world.)