The Data Science Institute (DSI) is defining the growing field of data science and AI through high-impact research, integration with community and industry, and foundational education.

The DSI Industry Affiliates Program lowers barriers to collaboration between companies and academic researchers and students, connecting industry partners to groundbreaking data science research, emerging technologies, and talent acquisition opportunities at UChicago. Members become part of the field-defining UChicago data science research ecosystem, forming mutually-beneficial, long-term partnerships with our world-class, interdisciplinary experts to address the most challenging and promising questions in this emerging field.

The DSI Industry Affiliates Program welcomes partners from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Members are integrated into the groundbreaking work of the DSI, through partnerships with students who provide support for partner projects through the UChicago Data Science Clinic, opportunities to join UChicago work directly as a Guest Scientist or with a named postdoctoral fellow, professional education with world-renowned UChicago faculty, talent acquisition opportunities and profile raising, and more.

Partners can also be a part of work being done in the six DSI research initiatives, including Internet Equity, AI + Science, and Data & Democracy, AI for Climate, Data Ecology, and Complementary AI, as well as help shape new initiatives. Industry Affiliate Program partners directly work with and hear from leading UChicago faculty in data science, computer science, and statistics, as well as experts in fields such as economics, physics, medicine, and computational social science.

These academic-industry partnerships will set the intellectual agenda for the field of data science and AI, defining its foundational principles, advancing innovative applications, and anticipating its ethical and societal impacts.

“Data science is going to be integral to solving many of the societal issues we will face in the future,” said Kjersten Moody, Chief Data Officer of Prudential Financial, a Founding Partner. “We looked at a number of different institutions to potentially partner with, and the University of Chicago stood out because of its multidisciplinary approach to the topic. It’s not the mathematical skills or the computational skills that will take a practitioner of data science to the leading edge of this field. It is the interdisciplinary approach and the ability to ask questions and to see problems from multiple perspectives. Diversity of thought matters, and that’s why we are seeking talent that shares our appreciation for seeing things through the eyes of others.”

MEMBERSHIP LEVELS

Industry Affiliates can become a part of the DSI at three different membership levels:

Founding Members are integral to the work of the DSI and receive the most in-depth level of engagement. Benefits include:

• Support of up to four Data Science Clinic teams per academic year
• Seat on the DSI Industry Council
• Named postdoctoral fellow
• Opportunity to nominate a Visiting Scientist at the DSI
• Access to professional development and specialized training programs
• Curated UChicago recruitment opportunities
• Reserved speaking events with faculty

Core Member benefits include:

• Support of up to three Data Science Clinic teams per academic year 
• Access to professional development and specialized training programs
• Curated UChicago recruitment opportunities
• Reserved speaking events with faculty

Key Member benefits include:

• One Data Science Clinic teams per academic year 
• Access to professional development and specialized training programs
• Sponsored UChicago recruitment opportunities

LEADERSHIP

Over the past decade, DSI leadership has engaged with over 200 companies in partnerships driving innovation, research, and student education in data science, machine learning, and data analytics through AMPlab at University of California, Berkeley and The Data Institute at University of San Francisco and brings this expertise to UChicago to create high-impact data-centered partnerships in Chicago and beyond. 

The DSI is co-directed by Michael J. Franklin, who among other notable achievements, co-founded Berkeley’s AMPLab, created groundbreaking software including Apache Spark, and is a Founding Advisor at DataBricks. Alongside Franklin is Dan Nicolae, Distinguished Service Professor in the Departments of Statistics, Human Genetics, Medicine, and the College, with a research focus on developing statistical and computational methods for understanding human genetic variation and its broad implications.

To learn more about the Industry Affiliate Program, please contact Anne Brown, Director of Corporate Partnerships, Data Science Institute.

Learn more about our work:

Data Science Clinic

All Industry Affiliate Program members are eligible to participate in the Data Science Clinic. The Data Science Clinic is an experiential project-based course where students work in teams as data scientists with real-world clients with mentor support from our faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and research staff. Students are tasked with producing deliverables such as data analysis, open-source software, client presentations and reports. By participating in the clinic course, Affiliate members gain access to undergraduate or graduate student teams to work on data science projects, experiment with proof of concepts and identify top student talent. Projects are tailored and scoped to address company objectives with all deliverables overseen by the Clinic Director.

These unique collaborations allow industry partners to supplement their internal data science teams with outside support and perspectives, enlarging their capacity to experiment with new ideas. They also give students a window into a data science career, learning how companies build and use these tools internally.

Watch a panel discussion from the 2022 Data Science Institute Summit on a clinic project with founding member Prudential Financial.

Professional Education

Demand for professionals with expertise in machine learning, cybersecurity, and analytics is exploding. Designed for working professionals, DSI professional education programs provide an opportunity to learn from world-renowned experts through innovative virtual certificate programs or intensive in-person courses. All courses are taught by University of Chicago faculty and managed by DSI. Members will receive early access and discounted tuition on certificate programs.

Programs include topics such as: 

• Machine Learning for Cybersecurity
• Augmented Reality & Human Computer Interaction 
• Applications of Deep Learning