Data Science Resources & Events

Discover a world where data science and artificial intelligence converge to create innovative solutions. Vanderbilt Data Science is your gateway to the latest in AI research, educational opportunities, and collaborative projects.

AI Days 2025

AI is now essential for research, education and industry in multiple areas. In this two-day event, we’ll cover essential topics in workshops, share research and breaking developments, and showcase work by students at Vanderbilt. We’ll cover the foundations of AI to equip you with the skills necessary to train others on how to use the technology confidently. And you’ll also learn how to develop cutting-edge AI models through training and novel architecture development.

Vanderbilt Data Science invites you to join us for the second ever,
"AI Days"
on March 5th, 2025 - March 6th, 2025 at the VU Student Life Center.

AI YOU CAN USE

AI Days offers attendees hands-on experience with the latest AI models through interactive workshops, while providing insight into the latest research and applications in education and industry. The event includes panels with thought leaders and insights from industry leaders in various sessions. This event is designed to expand participants' AI skills and provide networking opportunities with professionals in the field.

Date: Tuesday, March 5th-6th, 2024, 9:00 – 5:00 Central Time
Location: VU Student Life Center, (310 25th Ave S)

AI Fridays at the DSI

Every Friday from 10am to 4pm, starting January 26th, the DSI opens its doors for a series of AI and data science-focused activities. Whether you’re struggling with data, seeking advice on models, or looking for data science partnerships, AI Fridays have something for everyone:

  • Drop-In Consultations (10am – 12pm): Open office hours for advice on data science projects, best practices, tooling, and technical guidance. Ideal for researchers, students, and lab groups.
  • AI Deep Dive (1pm – 2pm): A focused session for exploring complex research problems with the potential for deep learning solutions. Brainstorm with DSI data scientists and the broader research community to kickstart new projects or directions. 
    Read More about AI Deep Dives
  • Demos (3pm – 4pm): Weekly sessions showcasing the latest data science projects at DSI. Present your work for feedback or learn from others’ updates in an informal setting.

We're located in the 18th Ave South and Horton building (formerly called the Sony Building), across from the Commons on Peabody's campus. We'll be in room A2116 - the main Data Science Team space.

AI Fridays are open to Vanderbilt University faculty, staff, researchers, and students. Join us at the 18th Ave S and Horton Building to dive into data science, find new collaborators, and engage with the DSI community.

AI Showcase: Experience the Future

Join us on August 23, 2024, for an afternoon showcasing Vanderbilt’s brightest minds in artificial intelligence. The AI Summer Showcase features student-led innovations that were worked on over the summer, providing a platform for the next generation of AI pioneers to present their projects. Whether you’re deeply embedded in the tech world or simply curious about the future of AI, this event promises to engage and inspire. Attendees can look forward to interactive presentations, networking opportunities, and a celebration of technological advancement.

Read our AI Showcase 2024 recap

Watch our AI Showcase 2024 recap

AI Summer

This Summer, dive deep into the world of AI with our intensive data science program. From understanding the basics of large language models like ChatGPT to deploying them for real-world applications, our program covers it all. Aimed at researchers, educators, and students, the AI Summer program is a perfect opportunity to enhance your skills, collaborate on projects, and contribute to the field of AI. With limited capacity, priority is given to those with a clear research or educational project in mind. Join us for a transformative experience designed to push the boundaries of AI research and application.

Past Events & Data Science Colloquia

  • 2023

    AI Revolutions Symposium

    Vanderbilt Data Science's AI Revolutions Symposium will be a two-day event, beginning with the virtual workshops on March 27th. These virtual workshops include:

    • Understanding AI Models, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
    • Making ChatGPT Work for Your Research, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
    • ChatGPT Prompt Engineering Clinic, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

    The in-person sessions on March 28th, including featured speakers, will last all day. The event will be held at the Wyatt Rotunda on Peabody’s campus. Speakers include:

    • Yaa Kumah-Crystal, MD, MPH, MS
      Assistant Professor, Biomedical Informatics
      Assistant Professor, Pediatric Endocrinology
    • John Yang, PhD
      Assistant Professor, Chemistry
    • Gregor Neuert, PhD
      Associate Professor, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
      Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering
      Associate Professor, Pharmacology
    • Hassane S. Mchaourab, PhD
      Louise B. McGavock Chair, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
      Professor, Physics
      Professor, Chemistry
      Professor, Structural Biology
    • Alex Christensen, MA, PhD
      Assistant Professor, Psychology and Human Development
      Department of Psychology and Human Development
    • Michael Bess, PhD
      Chancellor’s Professor of History
      Professor, Communication of Science and Technology Professor,  European Studies
    • Ole Molvig, PhD
      Assistant Professor, History
      Assistant Professor, Communications of Science and Technology
      Assistant Professor, Physics;
      Founder, emergent technology lab at the Wond’ry
      Curator, Garland Historical Scientific Instruments Collection
    • Frank Tong, PhD
      Centennial Professor, Psychology
      Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
    • Doug Schmidt, PhD
      Associate Provost, Research Development and Technologies
      Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor, Engineering
      Professor, Computer Science
      Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
      Co-Director, Vanderbilt Data Science 
    • Jules White, PhD
      Associate Dean, Strategic Learning Programs
      Associate Professor, Computer Science
    • Jesse Spencer-Smith, PhD
      Chief Data Scientist, Vanderbilt Data Science 
      Interim Director, Vanderbilt Data Science
      Professor of Practice, Computer Science

    A happy hour will follow.

    To register, please use this form.

  • 2021

    Spring Data Science Colloquia

  • 2020

    Fall Data Science Colloquia

    Spring Data Science Colloquia

    • Data Science in Astronomy - January 31
    • Machine Learning for Ultrasound Imaging Applications - February 14
    • Political Semantics: Methods and Applications in the Study of Meaning for Political Science - February 28
    • From Moral Reasoning to Visual Reasoning: Using AI to Model and Understand Intelligent Decision Making - March 13
    • Identifying and Visualizing Typical Treatment Paths: New Tools and a Case Study Using Data on Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease - March 20
    • Confronting the Digital Deluge: Archaeological Data in the Age of Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Machine Learning - April 3
    • Evaluating the Effectiveness of Mental Health Interventions and Access for Rural Children in Tennessee - April 10
  • 2019

    2019 Symposium

    Friday, April 26, 2019

    If you attended our 2019 symposium, thanks! If you were unable to make it, we are sorry to have missed you. Below are the recordings to all of the sessions.

    Program Agenda

    • 8:30am – 9:45am: Registration
    • 8:30am: Graduate Student Poster Session & Breakfast
    • 9:45am: Welcome & Opening Remarks: Video Recording
    • 10:00am: Short Talks: Video Recording
    • 11:00am: Faculty Lightning Talks: Video Recording
    • 12:00pm – 1:00pm: Lunch
    • 12:15pm – 12:20pm: Graduate Student Poster Award: Video Recording
    • 12:20pm – 1:00pm: Panel Discussion: Video Recording
    • 1:00pm: Key Note Talk
      “Terra Cognita: The Silicon Age of Earth Exploration”
      Dr. Ian Howat, Ph.D.
      Professor, The Ohio State University
      VIDEO RECORDING
    • 2:00pm: Coffee Break
    • 2:30pm: Short Talks: Video Recording
    • 3:30pm: Live Deep Learning Demo: Video Recording

    Fall Data Science Colloquia

    • What Could Go Wrong?: Seven Data Ethics Fables - October 9
    • The Lessons of Data Science Through Astronomy, Finance, and Technology - November 5
    • Demystifying Data Science Roles - November 19

     

  • 2018

    2018 Symposium

    Friday, March 30, 2018

    8:00-9:45am – Student Poster Session & Breakfast  (lobby outside Flynn auditorium)

    • 9:45-10:00am – Welcome Remarks – Andreas Berlind, Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy – Video Recording
    • 10:00-11:00am – Short Talks – (chair: Douglas Schmidt) – Video Recording
      • Analyzing Thousands of Genomes to Map Human Evolution and Disease
        Tony Capra, Assistant Professor of Biological Science
      • Data Analytics and Decision Support for Public Safety
        Yevgeniy Vorobeychik, Assistant Professor of Computer Science
      • Using Big Data for Population Health Services and Policy Research
        Stacie Dusetzina, Associate Professor of Health Policy
      • Affluence and Congruence: Unequal Representation Around the World
        Noam Lupu, Associate Professor of Political Science
      • Power of Simulation (Even if You Have ‘Big’ Data)
        Leena Choi, Associate Professor of Biostatistics & Sara van Driest, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
    • 11:00-12:00am – Lighting Talk Session – (chair: Yu Shyr)
      • Research IT Working Group Progress Report
        Douglas Schmidt, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Engineering – Video Recording
      • 15 2-minute talks – Video Recording
    • 12:00-1:00pm – Panel Discussion & Lunch – Video Recording
      • Panel Discussion: Ethics of Data
        Moderator: Jonathan Gilligan, Associate Professor of Earth and Environmental Science
        Panelists: Sarah Igo, Associate Professor of History, Chris Slobogin, Milton R. Underwood Chair in Law, Eugene Vorobeychik, Assistant Professor of Computer Science
    • 1:00-2:00pm – Short Talks (chair: Kelly Holley-Bockelmann) – Video Recording
      • AI for Law and Law for AI – A Typology of Themes
        J. B. Ruhl, David Daniels Allen Distinguished Chair of Law
      • Statistical Thinking for Data Science
        Chris Fonnesbeck, Assistant Professor of Biostatistics
      • Genetic Discovery at Scale through Phenome Phishing
        Nancy Cox, Mary Phillips Edmonds Gray Professor of Genetics
      • Using Spatial Analysis to Understand Access to Higher Education
        William Doyle, Associate Professor of Public Policy and Higher Education
      • Data Science at HCA
        Jesse Spencer-Smith, Director of Data Science at HCA Healthcare
    • 2:00-2:30pm – Coffee Break
    • 2:30-3:30pm – Keynote Talk: Digital Echoes: Understanding Patterns of Mass Violence with Data and Statistics
      Patrick Ball, Director of Research, Human Rights Data Analysis Group – Video Recording
    • 3:30-4:00pm – Student Poster Awards – Video Recording
      • Winner: Andrew Summers
      • Runners-up: Victor Calderon, Linda Zhang

    Data Science Colloquia

    Visual Trumpery

    Alberto Cairo, U. Miami | September 20


    Data Science: the What, Why, and How of my Transition from Science to Tech

    Cameron McBride, Rubicon Project | May 4


    Planetary Science in a Data Rich Era

    Daniel Tamayo, CITA | April 13


    Building Your Applied Data Science Toolkit

    Brian Johnson | March 16
     

  • 2017

    Data Science Colloquia

    Big Data & Analytics – Driving Change at Nissan

    Danielle Beringer, Nissan | December 1


    Data Science in Practice: Essential Skills and Training for an Evolving Field

    Jesse Spencer-Smith, HCA | October 5