Program Overview

Program Overview

Datasets of enormous complexity and size are being generated in the diverse areas of genomics, imaging, electronic health records, social media and environmental monitoring. The insights obtained from these massive data sources will inform the prevention and treatment of human diseases and play a major role in biology, medicine and public health in the coming decade. But more training is needed to prepare the next generation of leaders to tackle these challenges.

The Big Data Summer Institute, a six-week interdisciplinary training and research program at the University of Michigan, has been designed to introduce undergraduate students to the growing number of approaches to big data:

  • First, you will gain a comprehensive overview of the field of big data by attending a variety of lectures in the mornings and working on research projects in the afternoons.
  • On Fridays, you will take part in professional preparation activities and attend journey lectures at lunch. Journey lectures showcase academic journeys of researchers at different stages of their career in data science.
  • At the conclusion of the institute, you will present your work and learn about other student projects at a research symposium and attend a professional development workshop.
  • Throughout the program, you will have the unique opportunity to interact with distinguished faculty and graduate students from the U-M departments of biostatistics, information science, statistics, and electrical engineering and computer science.
  • There is no cost to attend. All accepted participants receive a stipend to cover their travel, housing, and meals.

There are also social events like canoeing in the Huron River, trips to the Michigan Stadium and Museum of Art, a group BBQ and a welcome dinner.

SPONSORS

The summer institute is presently funded by the generous support of:

  • The National Institutes of Health (NIH), BD2K R25 Courses and Skills grant R25EB022363
  • The Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health
  • The University of Michigan Department of Statistics
  • The University of Michigan Department of Computer Science and Engineering
  • The University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School
  • Michigan Institute for Data Science (MIDAS)
  • Trehan Foundation

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The program receives input and guidance from an internal advisory committee consisting of five University of Michigan faculty members: