newsletter
Immersion Spotlight: Vanderbilt student-athlete drives sports performance through data analysis
Jul. 13, 2023—Recent Vanderbilt graduate and Division I student-athlete Jared Wheatley may have spent his whole life playing sports, but it wasn’t until he studied the real-world applications of data science that the idea for his Immersion Vanderbilt project was sparked. Combining his deep understanding of athletics and his coursework as an economics major and data science...
Building an AI-Powered Planning Assistant for Neurodivergent Students
Jul. 7, 2023—In the interest of developing assistive technologies, DSI Senior Data Scientist, Myranda Shirk, and Data Scientist, Umang Chandry, are leading a team to create AI-powered tools for neurodivergent individuals. The team, comprised of Data Science for Social Good (DSSG) Fellows Eleanor Beers, Sovann Chang, Minwoo Sohn, Ricky Sun, Logan A’Hearn, Jason Wisdom, and Katrina Rbeiz,...
New Course: DS 3891 Special Topics: Intro to Generative AI
Jun. 29, 2023—DS 3891-01 Special Topics Intro to Generative AI Generative artificial intelligence (AI) models encompass ChatGPT, GPT4 and successors, and related transformer-based deep learning models. This introductory course aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of generative AI models and their applications. This course introduces the theory and use of these models, including prompt engineering,...
MS DS Student, Rio Jia: Innovating in Augmented Reality Art
Jun. 28, 2023—We are thrilled to highlight the achievements of one of our graduate students at the Data Science Institute, Rio Jia. Rio has made significant contributions to an Augmented Reality (AR) Art project in collaboration with the FRIST Center for Autism & Innovation and Dr. Kendra H. Oliver. Dr. Oliver is Director, Design, School of Medicine...
DSI playing integral role in Vanderbilt University’s recently announced Initiative for the Future of Learning
Jun. 14, 2023—Vanderbilt University unveiled June 7 its ambitious new Future of Learning and Generative AI Initiative, a pioneering endeavor centered around the transformative potential of generative AI technology in education. As the university embarks on this groundbreaking initiative, key faculty members from the Data Science Institute (DSI) are set to play a pivotal role in shaping...
DSSG 2023: AI Storybook project aims to create AI tool to help parents teach their children to read with dialogic questioning
Jun. 13, 2023—Seeking to uncover novel methods for fostering meaningful interactions between parents and children during reading sessions, a team of researchers in the Data Science Institute’s Data Science for Social Good (DSSG) program is currently engaged in an innovative project called AI Storybook. Led by Postdoctoral Fellow, Abigail Petulante, the project aims to develop an AI-based...
Announcing DSSG 2023 Projects: Fostering Classroom Tools and Assistive Technology
Jun. 6, 2023—The Data Science Institute is excited to announce the projects for this summer’s Data Science for Social Good 2023. This year, we are placing a special focus on developing tools for classrooms and assistive technology projects to cater to the needs of neurodivergent individuals. Classroom Projects: English as a Second Language: Caroline Miller, an ESL...
WATCH NOW: Deepen Your Understanding of Algorithms and Architectures with optional AI Summer workshop
May. 19, 2023—The Data Science Institute hosted an optional workshop for our AI Summer participants in which we discussed the algorithms and architectures that make transformer models possible. The workshop is now open to everyone on our YouTube page. During the workshop, the Data Science Team discusses the influential paper “Formal Algorithms for Transformers” by Mary Phuong...
Ocean HackWeek 2023 offers unique data science learning experience in oceanography
May. 16, 2023—Vanderbilt University Data Science Institute Senior Data Scientist, Myranda Shirk, is a member of the planning committee for the upcoming OceanHackWeek 2023 (OHW23) and invites any interested DSI students to apply. Myranda will be doing a special session at OHW23 on AI-assisted programming. The deadline to apply for the program is Friday, June 9. The...
Follow along with AI Summer on the Data Science Institute’s YouTube page
May. 16, 2023—The Data Science Institute’s AI Summer workshop is now in its second week. This free course is specially designed to provide researchers, educators, and students with a comprehensive understanding of the latest AI technologies and techniques, focusing on deep learning and transformers and their applications in solving diverse problems. Those unable to participate in the...