Data Science Clinic
Industry Affiliates participate in the Data Science Clinic. Students work in teams with real-world datasets to apply models and algorithms to data, navigate security and privacy issues, communicate actionable insights to diverse stakeholders, and even produce deliverables such as open-source software.
In addition to giving students a window into data science careers, these unique collaborations allow industry partners to identify top student talent, all while supplementing their internal data science teams with additional support and enlarging their capacity to experiment with new ideas.
Projects are tailored and scoped to address company objectives with all deliverables overseen by the Clinic Director. As needed, mentors and students will sign a non-disclosure agreement at the company’s request. All IP generated by the project is retained by the Clinic partner.
View past DSI Clinic Projects.
Watch a panel discussion on the real-world impact of a clinic project with founding member Prudential Financial:
Data Science Clinic Staff
Tim Hannifan is a Software Engineer at the University of Chicago Data Science Institute. He serves as technical lead designing and building data science workflows while mentoring student teams through end-to-end implementation across 15-20 concurrent partnerships with industry, public sector, and non-profit organizations.
Tim leads engineering for the AI in Education Working Group, developing agentic tutoring systems using retrieval-augmented generation and human-in-the-loop Socratic questioning. His work spans traditional machine learning and modern AI applications, translating technical concepts into development plans and delivering actionable insights for diverse stakeholders.
Prior to joining the University of Chicago, he automated large-scale healthcare text analysis at Mathematica Policy Research, created comprehensive employment datasets for World Bank economic research, and developed quantitative trading strategies at Credit Suisse. He also founded TJH Media LLC, building custom applications for clients across multiple sectors.
Tim holds an MS in Computational Analysis and Public Policy and a BA in Economics from the University of Chicago.
Industry Affiliate Program Staff
Anne brings a history of successful corporate engagement, strategic partnerships, and nonprofit leadership to her role as Director of Corporate Partnerships at the Data Science Institute. Anne previously served as a national program manager at the American Red Cross. There, she led several high-impact initiatives, including the Annual Disaster Giving Program, where she successfully partnered with over 150 top corporations to advance the organization’s disaster relief efforts.
Anne’s experience extends beyond national borders, having served as an international strategic advisor, where she worked closely with sister Red Cross Societies to craft and implement comprehensive resource mobilization strategies. Before her work at the Red Cross, she served on the Development team at Equal Justice Works, a nonprofit dedicated to creating a sustainable pathway for recent law graduates to enter public interest law.
Anne also holds a master’s degree in public policy from the Harris School at the University of Chicago.