Undergraduate Data Science Scholars

Call for Applications Fall 2024

Have you worked with social, behavioral, economic, or geographic data?

Are you interested in understanding how to extract useful knowledge from data?

The Center for Social Science Scholarship (CS3) is partnering with the UMBC Department of Information Systems for the UMBC Undergraduate Data Science Scholars Program (DSS) in Fall 2024.

Students admitted to the program will work as teaching fellows (TFs) and peer mentors. They will also network with UC Berkeley data science students, attend special events, and be mentored by faculty. The DSS program welcomes undergraduate scholars from multiple disciplines, including the social sciences, looking at all aspects of data and its impact on society. This year scholars will have the opportunity to be teaching fellows or research fellows. Scholars will have an opportunity to work on research projects in Climate Science, Deep fake detection, data storytelling, learning analytics and other data science related projects. For some projects look at these websites,https://www.umces.edu/chesapeake-global-collaboratory, https://iharp.umbc.edu/, https://mdata.umbc.edu/deep-fake-detection/

Responsibilities: 

• Scholars will work as TFs and peer mentors for undergraduate students in IS296 Foundations of Data Science. Dr. Chen’s class  meets Monday/Wednesday 10a - 11:15a  (ITE 237) and Ms. Zaidi’s class meets on Monday 4:30p - 7:00p (ITE 241). The cohort of DSS scholars will meet as a group with the IS296 instructor. Scholars will be paid $20.00/hour for specific TF tasks, for 5-10 hours per week in Fall 2024.

• Social science DSS scholars will attend at least two CS3 events in Fall 2024 and/or participate in research initiatives with social science faculty. The scholars will also be expected to attend one mentoring meeting with CS3 faculty.

Background and skills:

Applicants should have knowledge in at least one of the following:

• Analysis of social, behavioral, economic, or geographic data

• Python or one of the data science tools and/or languages (such as Rapid Miner, Weka, Orange, Knime, ML on cloud computing, python)

• Jupyter notebooks with python or taken IS 296 in a prior semester.

Interested students should complete the Google submission form, https://forms.gle/gKLakVQMEbWPHUtt6, by Sept 6, 2024.  

If you have any questions, please email iHARP@UMBC.edu. 

CS3 will run the admission and mentoring of the social science cohort of DSS, and the Department of Information Systems is also partnering with the Center for Women in Technology to run another cohort.

By Anasia Mickle

Internships are like stepping stones for career growth. They give students real-world experience, help them learn practical skills, and build professional connections. Let's dive into why internships are so important for shaping careers and how teachers can help students make the most of them.

A Teacher's Perspective-

Dr. Snyder says, "Internships give you experience, they give you a network contact, multiple network contacts. You can use that internship experience to make some, and build upon network connections, which are extremely valuable for when you do go on your job search." Teachers like Dr. Snyder don't only teach in the classroom; they also help students find internships by giving them advice on where to look, by sending internship opportunities through mass emails, or teaching classes on how to improve their resumes and cover letters, and how to prepare for interviews. Throughout the internship search teachers offer support and feedback, guiding students through challenges and celebrating their successes.

Student Experiences - 

Melanie says internships are important so, “Get to know your professors well and don’t be afraid to ask them for advice because it may lead you down the perfect road to find your passion.” She was a communications intern for our own Retriever athletics program!

Scherrie was accepted to intern for UMBC Interdisciplinary CoLab: FindingBlackGirhood: A Digital Archive. Throughout her internship she will work with a team to create and present a beta version of the site that will contribute to creating an innovative archive of freedom. The website will include an Introduction that considers the intersections of Black girlhood and film, film descriptions, and analytical essays on each film. She says, Through internships, “I’m allowing my passion to grow and as I learn”

Finding the Right Fit: Tips for Students

If you're looking for an internship, here are some tips:

1. Start Early: Don't wait until the last minute. Start looking and applying for internships early.

2. Use Resources: Talk to your teachers, use career services, and go to networking events to find the right internship for you.

3. Customize Applications: Make sure your resume and cover letter fit each internship you apply for. Show how your skills and goals match exactly what they're looking for.

Internships are like bridges that connect students to their future careers. They help students grow personally and professionally, giving them a taste of what's to come. With support from teachers and peers, students can make the most of their internship experiences and set themselves up for success in their careers.

 If you need more help, check out these resources:

1. Career Center:https://careers.umbc.edu/

2. MCS Internship website: https://mcs.umbc.edu/internships/

3. Email for more information: internships@umbc.edu.

Good luck on your internship journey!