In collaboration with the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) BD2K Center for Big Data in Translational Genomics, California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) will establish a summer research experience for up to 40 undergraduate students (juniors and seniors) at the BD2K center for the next five years. To complement the summer research experience, CSUMB faculty, under the mentorship of UCSC faculty, will develop new courses and programs to train students for research in biomedical data science. In addition, a series of co-curriculuar activities, including workshops, mentoring, and professional development, will be provided to students in collaboration with the university's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center, a cross-campus center that trains, supports, and engages students in undergraduate research, and other campus services. The proposed training program is designed to attract, support, and retain underrepresented groups in biomedical data science.
Our ability to harness the full potential of big data to promote human health and combat disease depends on the availability of a diverse, highly-trained biomedical workforce. The present shortage of qualified, cutting-edge big data scientists and other professionals able to translate big data to knowledge is poised to dramatically increase in the coming years. This training program is designed to graduate interdisciplinary professionals from underrepresented backgrounds, who will be able to apply their knowledge of biomedical big data to solve pressing human health and disease challenges.
| Canner, Judith E; McEligot, Archana J; Pérez, María-Eglée et al. (2017) Enhancing Diversity in Biomedical Data Science. Ethn Dis 27:107-116 |
