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DSI-MnDRIVE PhD Graduate Assistantship Program

Application period: August through September each year.

Eligibility: Applicant must be a current PhD student at the University of Minnesota. Applicants must have completed their preliminary oral exam by the start of the assistantship. Post-docs are not eligible for these awards.

Summary: The Data Science Initiative-MnDRIVE Graduate Assistantship program supports UMN PhD candidate pursuing research at the intersection of the Data Science focus areas and any of the five MnDRIVE areas: Robotics, Sensors and Advanced Manufacturing; Global Food Ventures; Advancing Industry, Conserving Our Environment; Discoveries and Treatments for Brain Conditions; and Cancer Clinical Trials. 

• Funding limit: The maximum award value will be a 12-month (2 semesters and 1 summer), 50% graduate research assistantship, including tuition for up to 14 credits each semester (fall & spring) and subsidized health insurance through the Graduate Assistant Health Plan.
• Assistantship duration: 12 to 18 months
• 2025 Program Application deadline: October 4th, 2024 at 5:00pm CST. The application window for this program will open in early August and fellowship awards will be announced by early December.

To view additional program details, click the Apply Now button below.

DSI Rapid Response Seed Grants 

Eligibility: 

• Interdisciplinary Approach: Proposals should involve interdisciplinary collaboration, at least cross-departmental, however, cross-collegiate levels are preferred and demonstrate a clear integration of data science and AI methodologies.

• Faculty and Researcher Teams: The principal investigator (PI) must be a faculty or research staff (P&A) with their primary appointment at the University of Minnesota. Collaborators from diverse backgrounds and disciplines are strongly encouraged. Adjunct or affiliated faculty are not eligible for funding under this program.

Summary: The Data Science Initiative (DSI) is pleased to announce a rapid response seed grant opportunity to foster innovative research and collaboration in data science and artificial intelligence (AI). With a maximum of $15,000 available per project, this initiative aims to catalyze projects that address emerging research needs, including projects that involve outreach and engagement, in data science and AI. Priority will be given to those proposals that align with specific external funding opportunities. Applications will be reviewed and award notifications will be made within 3 weeks of submission.

• Funding limit: Up to $15,000
• Application deadline: Rolling. Applications will be reviewed and notifications sent within 3 weeks of submission.

DSI Data Set Grants

Eligibility: 

• Faculty members and research teams from diverse disciplines across UMN are encouraged to apply. Faculty or research staff (P&A) with their primary appointment at the University of Minnesota throughout the UMN system are eligible to apply to be a faculty fellow. Adjunct or affiliated faculty are not eligible for funding under this program.
• Proposals must focus on the creation or expansion of data sets necessary for innovative research.
• Collaboration between multiple departments or research centers is highly encouraged.
• Plans should address how infrastructural challenges, such as data storage limits and costs, storage governance, and user access will be addressed.  

Summary: The PI will deliver a 2-page progress report to the DSI detailing the current status of the timeline, milestones, and budget information. Upon completion of the project, the data set must be uploaded to a UMN-owned data repository. A manual for usage including an overview of the data set, types of research the data could be used for, detailed meta-data, and methods of data collection must be uploaded with the data set. Evidence that the data set has value to groups other than those generating it.  Value can be measured in several ways, including monetarily and related to research advancement. Finally, the PI agrees to provide the DSI with an abstract and optional image which will be used for promotional purposes including in the annual Seed Grant Showcase (annually in December).

• Funding limit: Up to $100,000 for projects spanning up to two years. Projects intending to pursue external infrastructure grants can apply for up to $200,000.
• Application deadline: October 1st, 2024. 

DSI Faculty Fellowships

Eligibility: Regular (Tenured and Tenure-Track) Faculty with their primary appointment at the University of Minnesota with a research area related to, encompassing, or using data science or AI throughout the UMN system are eligible to apply to be a faculty fellow. Adjunct, Affiliated, or Term Faculty are not eligible for funding under this program.

Summary: DSI Faculty Fellowships are intended to promote, catalyze, accelerate, and advance UMN-based collaborations in data science and AI research so that UMN faculty and staff are better prepared to compete for external funding opportunities. Faculty with research in data science and AI in all disciplines and across all campuses, including interdisciplinary collaborations intersecting with Data Science and AI are encouraged to apply for this fellowship.

The DSI faculty fellow will pursue 1-2 specific grant opportunities as a result of their participation in the program. The DSI faculty fellows are expected to nurture and lead interdisciplinary teams to pursue large-scale proposals where DS/AI is central to their success. Of special interest are projects that may require long-term planning and leverage unique UMN strengths (as reflected in faculty expertise, facilities, or data sets) and priorities. This initiative seeks to lower barriers to multidisciplinary collaborations and to accelerate the advancement of data science and AI research by providing faculty with financial support (see below) and grant organization and writing assistance.  Assistance will be tailored to help identify funding opportunities that require or prioritize interdisciplinary collaborations. The DSI is prepared to assist in facilitating these multidisciplinary collaborations at all levels including organizing meetings and facilitating introductions to other experts needed to strengthen a team,  as well as pre- and post-grant administration and technical writing. At least one funding opportunity must be identified in the proposal.

• Funding limit: Up to $75,000.
• 2025 Program Application deadline: October 1st, 2024.