Image
Student Perspective: Opportunities to Learn About Ph.D. Research
Getting involved in research is one of the most exciting parts about starting the Ph.D. program at the University of Virginia's School of Data Science. But how do you find out what your research interests are? Or what might be available to you? Read on for several ways you can learn about the ground-breaking research being conducted at the School of Data Science and elsewhere during your first year.
Speaker Series
Data Science Symposiums, Distinguished Lectures, guest lectures, and research talks occur regularly throughout the academic year and are usually hour-long sessions where researchers from the School of Data Science and other institutions present and discuss their work. These series are a great opportunity to network and learn about cutting-edge research that might be of interest to you.
Journal Club
Journal Club is open to all data science Ph.D. students and meets regularly throughout the academic year and summer. Prior to each Journal Club meeting, members read a leading data science research paper and come prepared to discuss it. One member facilitates the discussion and faculty members attend to offer their perspective and participate in the discussion. Journal Club helps you learn about seminal research articles in the data science field and prepares you for your own research by familiarizing you with how to read academic papers. It can also help you identify the areas of data science research you find most interesting.
Lunch & Learns
Every other week during the academic year, the School hosts Lunch & Learns, during which School of Data Science faculty discuss their research with current Ph.D. students. These free and fun lunches are a fantastic way to learn more about current and upcoming research and to build relationships with faculty members.
First Year Professors
Talking to your professors about their research during office hours or by scheduling a 1:1 meeting is another easy way to learn about research and identify what you might be interested in. School of Data Science professors are a great resource!
News Articles/Faculty Webpages
The School of Data Science does a great job elevating its research, faculty and news. The School regularly publishes articles about research and has a dedicated webpage for each faculty member. If you read about someone whose research you find exciting, don't hesitate to reach out to them and ask them to grab a cup of coffee to learn more about their work. School of Data Science faculty members love to meet with students and share about what they are working on.
Image
Datapalooza
Datapalooza is an annual fall conference hosted by the University of Virginia’s School of Data Science that brings together more than 500 attendees from across higher education, industry, and the greater data science community.
First launched in 2015, Datapalooza has evolved from a research exposition to a platform where anyone interested in data science can connect with experts and expand their knowledge and skill sets, while learning more about responsible data science research and education.
TL;DR
There are several different ways you can learn about the exciting research and discovery at the School of Data Science. Taking advantage of the many opportunities is a great way to discover what research you might be interested in.
These experiences will also prepare you well for selecting who you want to work with during your Summer Research Experience, which is where you will participate in full-time research during the summer after your first year, working with one or more faculty members on specific projects that are part of their research portfolio.
Keep up with all School of Data Science events here, or sign up for our monthly Newsletter to keep up with research and opportunities. Learn more about the University of Virginia PHD PLUS initiative here.
