DASIE Opens Opportunities to Data Science Careers
Heidi Opdyke
- Associate Dean of Marketing and Communications, MCS
- Email opdyke@andrew.cmu.edu
- Phone 412-268-9982
Keenan McKibben entered Carnegie Mellon University’s Data Analytics for Science Immersion Experience (DASIE) unsure of his plans for after graduation. He left with the goal of pursuing a career in data science — and with the knowledge and connections to help him get there.
“My takeaway was that data drives every single industry,” McKibben said. “If you’re not making data-driven decisions, you’re not going to succeed. It sparked my passion.”
Established in 2022, DASIE introduces students to career and education opportunities in data analytics while providing room, board and a stipend. The program is a partnership between CMU’s Mellon College of Science, Dow and PPG. It encourages students to build in-demand data skills through higher education and shows how those skills apply in real-world careers in science, technology and analytics-driven industries.
In May, 29 students from across the United States spent a week in Pittsburgh, learning about data science topics including artificial intelligence, computational biology and sports analytics. They also networked with industry professionals from companies like Google, Dow, PPG and JMP, and spoke with Carnegie Mellon faculty and staff about educational opportunities.
Students also attended events, such as a dinner with Glen de Vries Dean of the Mellon College of Science Barbara Shinn-Cunningham and a tour of Mill 19. The facility houses the Manufacturing Futures Institute and the Robotics Innovation Center, allowing university researchers partner with industry experts on advanced science and technology projects.
Support from the program goes beyond the week. Students stay in touch with mentors and discuss paths in academia and industry, including what classes to take and how to apply.
“Many of the students in the program are first-generation, and some of them haven’t found the right mentors,” said Michael Young, associate dean for community engagement for the Mellon College of Science and associate professor of mathematical sciences. “The program helps students address those things while giving them insight into their future.”
Young leads DASIE, and he said that the program makes a significant impact on participating students, and he aims to expand the program through future partnerships. More than 900 people applied for this year’s spots.
“One of the goals of the program is for students to make more informed decisions afterward,” Young said. “One student said he had learned a lot, and he was changing his course schedule to include more programming.”
Partnerships lead to participant industry success
Matt Baker, a Carnegie Mellon alumnus and a current associate research scientist at Dow, is part of the DASIE steering team. After earning a Ph.D. in chemistry, he transitioned into data science and is passionate about helping students recognize the wide array of career paths available.
“It’s very important to get people interested in and foster existing interests in STEM fields and to give students perspective,” Baker said.
McKibben said that DASIE provided that perspective. He participated in the program in 2025 when he was an undergraduate student studying robotics at Purdue University. Although he had interned at Dow, he wanted to explore data science more deeply and decide between entering the workforce or pursuing graduate school. DASIE, he said, provided him with the tools and insight he needed to launch his current career as an associate operations IT data scientist at Dow.
In his role, McKibben helps develop generative artificial intelligence systems to deliver accurate operations information to workers in Dow’s chemical plants. Workers can consult automated systems to determine the cause of an alarm and determine appropriate solutions.
To ensure reliability, the models are trained to minimize hallucinations, the tendency of AI systems to generate incorrect or fabricated information. McKibben improves model accuracy by providing verified data sources and refining outputs when errors arise. Once the systems demonstrate consistent accuracy, they are deployed in the chemical plants.
“DASIE helped me develop my communication skills because you need to be able to communicate what data means,” McKibben said.
Ogechi Colvin, a business process manager at Dow and a member of the DASIE steering team, works alongside McKibben. She emphasized that programs like DASIE are important to support the next generation of data scientists.
“Organizations across industries rely on data to drive strategy and innovation, and the demand for people who can interpret and apply that data continues to grow rapidly,” Colvin said. “If we want to build a workforce that’s truly future-ready, we must equip people with the skills to not just consume information but to turn it into insight and action.”
McKibben said that DASIE prepared him for his current work and any data science career path he might pursue in the future. He hopes that one day, he can support the same program that supported him.
“I’m very passionate about DASIE and getting people involved,” McKibben said. “I hope someday I can come back to Pittsburgh and help inspire other people to get involved with data science.”
Young said that partnerships are essential for DASIE to grow and for students to flourish.
“Being able to partner with Dow and other companies opens the door for us to be able to help with workforce development and placement,” Young said. “It’s a benefit to the students.”
