DataLab is accepting applications from UC Davis Faculty and professional researchers for Start-Up Project Collaborations for the 2020 academic year. Exploratory Project Collaborations are exploratory or early phase research projects that pair domain area researchers with data scientists in order to test basic hypotheses related to data-driven domain problems. The intent of the program is to allow researchers with an idea for a data driven research project, but who lack the technical and data science expertise to carry out the research, to gather data and perform preliminary exploration and hypothesis testing. The specific aim of this exploratory work will be to hone or determine the validity of proposed research question(s) relative to the available data, and to produce pilot results suitable for the joint development of successful proposals for multi-year, collaborative, externally funded research. Proposals are due by December 5, 2019. Questions? Contact us.

Duration and scope

  1. Accepted projects will be scoped to include statements of work and project deliverables that can be successfully achieved within 8-12 weeks from the start of work;
  2. Start dates will be rolling during the Winter 2020 and Spring 2020 quarters to accommodate the schedules of project PIs and DataLab staff.

What researchers receive

  1. Regular consultation with the DataLab directorate;
  2. Project management by DataLab staff;
  3. Up to 40 hours per week of dedicated DataLab staff data scientist time to work on the project (may be spread across staff members with different specialties as needed to best support the project):
  4. Access to DataLab compute infrastructure;
  5. Up to $1,500 dollars as needed in fees for licensing data required to complete the proposed project;
  6. Access to DataLab physical facilities, including interior office space if desired;
  7. All project collaborators automatically become DataLab Affiliates and are expected to engage with our community.

Expectations of participating researchers

  1. Participation in weekly project meetings in the DataLab;
  2. Ability to document that you have time available to focus on the completion of the proposed project during the identified time period;
  3. Availability to DataLab staff and directorship for communications (phone, email, Zoom, etc.) required to keep project moving forward successfully between project meetings;
  4. Present research at a DataLab hosted event to be mutually determined;
  5. Attendance at quarterly DataLab networking event during the quarter (or next immediate quarter) during which the project is active;
  6. Desire and willingness to co-write and co-PI suitable follow-up applications for external funding to expand and continue the research.

Evaluation of proposals

  1. All proposals will be evaluated by an external review committee consisting of one representative from each college (as appointed by the DataLab advisory board) and the DataLab directors.
  2. Priority will be given to projects that the committee deems: (a) to have the highest potential for impact; (b) most likely to lead to larger, externally funded research efforts; and (c) most technologically feasible within the scope and resources of the program.

Application process

Applicants should submit a narrative proposal of no more than 5 pages (including tables and figures) that includes the following:

  1. A description of the basic research question/hypothesis;
  2. A description of the dataset to be analysed, including any known issues with access or required licensing fees;
  3. A description of how the project fits with your larger research goals and agenda;
  4. A discussion of the potential impact of findings on your research domain;
  5. A list of known funding programs and/or sources which would be targeted for funding follow-up research;
  6. A list of the domain project team including PIs and any postdocs, graduate students, undergraduate students, or other human resources who will participate in the project;
  7. CVs of all project participants (not counted as part of proposal page limit).

Submit applications for the Fall application cycle via email to datalab@ucdavis.edu no later than 5:00 pm on Friday, December 5, 2019. Applications will be reviewed during the month of January, with projects beginning Winter or Spring quarter 2020.

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