DASIE Opens Doors to Data-Driven Futures

As data reshapes science and society, Carnegie Mellon University's Data Analytics Summer Immersion Experience (DASIE) is helping students forge new career paths and pursue graduate education with purpose.

"DASIE is a transformational workshop for students," said Michael Young, associate dean for community engagement in CMU's Mellon College of Science and leader of the program. "It exposes students to opportunities, ignites purpose, builds confidence and connects them with faculty, staff and industry experts who shift their perspective."

Established in 2022, DASIE is an experience that introduces students to the power data analytics has to boost career and education opportunities while providing room and board and a stipend. The program is a partnership between Carnegie Mellon, Dow and PPG. Over the course of a week, students attend talks, panels, hands on experiences and networking events with professors, industry professionals and Carnegie Mellon graduate students. The goal is to inspire students to pursue in-demand data skills through higher education and expose them to real-world applications, helping them envision clear career pathways in science, technology and analytics-driven industries.

Carnegie Mellon researchers and faculty like Young; Subha Das, associate professor of chemistry; and John Urbanic, distinguished service professor for the Pittsburgh Supercomputer Center, talked about research during hour and a half long instructional sessions and tutorials.

In other one-hour program sessions, Carnegie Mellon faculty and staff discussed graduate programs such as the Master of Science in Data Analytics for Science program and funding opportunities such as the Carnegie Mellon University Rales Fellows Program, which removes financial barriers to obtaining advanced degrees and provides holistic support for scholars.

DASIE included hour-long talks by industry leaders who rely on data analytics in their daily work, giving students a glimpse into potential career paths. For example, Michael Dairyko, director of advanced analytics for the Milwaukee Bucks, shared how data plays a crucial role in boosting revenue, enhancing the fan experience and streamlining operations to understand practical insights and big-picture strategy.

Young said that programs like DASIE are critical for creating meaningful access and supporting students taking intentional steps toward their future.

"The program is designed to present students with different pathways into data analytics, so they can have more control over their academic and professional journey," he said. "A student who participated in the program a couple of years ago, took the materials and information back to her home institution and started a data analytics club. When she informed us about the club, I remember thinking that DASIE's impact will continue to grow and reach many students that I may never meet."

Ashley Esperanza, a recent applied mathematics graduate from Seattle University, said DASIE clarified how she could turn her passion for math and software engineering into a data-focused career.

"I've always gotten excited doing math," said Esperanza, who previously created a video game about mathematical concepts. "I thought DASIE would be a good opportunity to see what is out there, what I could do with my major and the different pathways data science could take me."

By the end, Esperanza said DASIE revealed career avenues where she could apply mathematics.

"What interested me the most was how data science can be applied to different fields, like chemistry and biology," Esperanza said. "I didn't think about the amount of data they have to use in their experiments. I really like the coding aspect of data analytics. Anywhere I can apply math, I want to go."

For Spelman College rising junior Sloan Louis, DASIE sparked a new goal: pursuing a graduate degree through CMU's Rales Fellows Program to expand her career options.

"I really do like that it is a close-knit cohort, and I like that the faculty and staff are obviously pouring into the students, ensuring that they have all the support that they need," Louis said. "It feels like a great space for me to be able to attain my goals."

Louis studies computer science and engineering, but is also drawn to biology. She attended DASIE because she said she thought Carnegie Mellon was the ideal place to learn how to combine those skills.

"I wanted to learn about the institution and learn more about data analysis skills and opportunities," Louis said. "I love that data science is ever changing, and it's basically the future."

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