NOVEMBER 13, 2024 — The UTSA School of Data Science (SDS) has opened the application process for its new SDS Undergraduate Research Fellowship, a paid, semester-long research experience for undergraduate students of all majors. Applications will close on Friday, November 22. All eligible students are encouraged to apply.
Participating students will receive a $3,000 stipend along with mentorship and professional development such as opportunities to attend conferences and meetings with other fellows to discuss their work and receive additional support. Throughout the fellowship, faculty members will mentor students, who will conduct real-word research with practical applications.
“The goal is to open this opportunity to all students who meet the basic eligibility criteria and to expose undergraduate students to research,” said Amanda Brown, associate director of strategic initiatives in the SDS. “One of the many things the School of Data Science does really well is making sure we’re appealing to students from all backgrounds. Data science is interdisciplinary, so we’re not necessarily looking for typical science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) majors.”
The eligibility requirements for the SDS Undergraduate Research Fellowship include a minimum of 60 credit hours of coursework and a basic grasp of coding and programming. Coding experience is required, Brown explains, because the program is intended to provide research experience, instead of data science fundamentals.
Students with prior research experience can get started earlier while those without it will spend a semester learning research methods in the classroom before securing a placement in a laboratory.
“Even if students decide that they do not want to pursue graduate studies, research is a good skill to add to their resume if they want to go straight into the workforce,” she said. “Many entry-level jobs require applicants to have research skills, so a fellowship like this can help students gain a competitive advantage as they look for jobs.”
The program allows faculty to submit projects and work with students who are eager to gain hands-on experience. Faculty will receive a $1,000 stipend for each student matched to their project, with a maximum of three students per project.
Brown noted that the fellowship can last one to two semesters, depending on students' backgrounds.
This emphasis on preparing undergraduate students for the workforce, especially locally, has been a key feature of the H-E-B-sponsored programs at the SDS.
“H-E-B has been a great supporter of the university, particularly the UTSA School of Data Science,” she said. “It’s great that they focus on our undergraduate students, because a lot of them will tell you that they don’t get the same types of opportunities that graduate students receive.”
The fellowship is the second SDS program made possible through a $2 million gift that UTSA received from H-E-B in 2023, following this summer’s successful Data Science & AI Community Innovation Scholars internship.
Orientation for the SDS Undergraduate Research Fellowship program will be held in January 2025.
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