Connection and Collaboration: UVA Researchers Unite at Inaugural Networking Event
The University of Virginia (UVA) is home to diverse and multidisciplinary research initiatives. According to the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR), UVA recorded $2.76 billion in research proposal activity in 2023, with $714 million in research and development expenditures. The university employs 10,100 academic faculty and staff and offers 1.3 million square feet of lab and research space.
However, it is not always easy for researchers across the institution to access the resources and support they need, as well as connect with potential collaborators. To address this problem, the OVPR is spearheading a series of events titled Advancing Discoveries and Driving Innovation to “spark new ideas, build connections, and explore interdisciplinary collaborations.” Their first event was cohosted by the School of Data Science and held earlier this month in their new building.
However, accessing the necessary resources and support, as well as connecting with potential collaborators, can be challenging for researchers across the institution. To address this issue, the OVPR is leading a series of events titled Advancing Discoveries and Driving Innovation to "spark new ideas, build connections, and explore interdisciplinary collaborations." The first event, co-hosted by the School of Data Science, took place earlier this month in their new building.
The theme of the event, "Where Data Meets Discovery: The Intersection of Science and Data," aimed to gather data scientists and interdisciplinary researchers for an informal evening that encouraged collaboration.
Nearly 70 researchers and academics convened in the Capital One Hub at the School of Data Science. Over light refreshments, they shared short elevator pitches about their research projects and proposal ideas.
Lori McMahon, vice president for research and professor of neuroscience, opened the event with a warm welcome. “This is an event to bring us, the research community, together,” she said. McMahon previously held a similar series at the Medical University of South Carolina, where she noted that “magic happens as a consequence of these events and the connections they foster.”
Phil Bourne, dean of the School of Data Science, also welcomed attendees. “This is exactly what we envisioned our building being used for,” he said, before introducing the host and moderator for the evening, Ken Ono, STEM advisor to the provost and Marvin Rosenblum professor of mathematics. Ono endorsed the event, pointing out that “collaboration funds research.”
McMahon was the first to pitch her research, discussing a project that seeks a data scientist to join a study using rat models to understand early changes in Alzheimer's disease. Other attendees, such as Josh Baller, associate vice president for research computing, and Tabor Flickinger, director of clinical research at UVA Health, shared their expertise as potential resources for collaboration rather than pitching specific projects.
The range of interdisciplinary research proposals highlighted the extensive applicability of data science across various fields. Mechanical and aerospace engineering professor Xinfeng Gao presented her research on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and expressed interest in collaborating with data scientists to apply artificial intelligence to CFD models and aerospace applications.
Tish Jennings, a professor of education, explained how data science could enhance her study of well-being in public schools, where she aims to use AI to evaluate curricula and analyze results.
Additional proposals included applications of data science in mental health, the neuroscience of autism and epilepsy, ultrasound technology development, data linkage, and healthcare reform.
Others, like Boris Kovatchev, founding director of the UVA Center for Diabetes Technology, shared broader insights. Kovatchev discussed the artificial pancreas, which collects data vectors every five minutes, and outlined the center’s goal for fully automated closed-loop control. He emphasized the importance of data science in these technologies, stating, “Technology works best when it is visible.
The animated discussions throughout the evening suggest that Advancing Discoveries and Driving Innovation is off to a positive start in uniting the UVA research community. The School of Data Science, which refers to itself as a "School Without Walls," was honored to serve as the inaugural host, showcasing the vast applications of data science and the significance of interdisciplinary research.