DataLab is recruiting a Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) for Experiential Learning in Data Science. This position supports DataLab’s training mission and our Adventures in Data Science 2-quarter undergraduate research immersion series. The job posting can be viewed on Handshake, job #5620048.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The UC Davis DataLab: Data Science and Informatics is seeking an Experiential Learning GSR (20 hours per week) to serve as the primary mentor for a group of undergraduate students from traditionally non-computational disciplines interested in acquiring basic data science skills and applying them to domain problems. This position includes supporting classroom instruction (hands-on lectures and labs, assessments, etc.), as well as active participation and leadership in interdisciplinary teams conducting real world, data-driven research. This position is for winter and spring 2022, with the possibility of extension. Duties from winter extend into spring and thus candidates must be committed to both quarters.
Background
A core mission of DataLab is growing and preparing students to enter today’s diverse, data-driven workforce. As part of our experiential learning activities in support of that goal, DataLab offers a two-quarter “Adventures in Data Science” series to undergraduate honors and other high achieving students from traditionally non-computational fields such as the arts and humanities, social sciences, and life sciences, with majors including but not limited to sociology, psychology, English, community and regional management, environmental studies, etc. During the first quarter of the sequence students participate in classroom-based learning of basic data science skills. In the subsequent quarter, students who successfully completed the first quarter of instruction are embedded in collaborative teams with DataLab’s data scientists, domain focused Principal Investigators (PI), postdoctoral scholars, and graduate student researchers to solve real, pressing research problems across a variety of domains. For more background, see the upcoming 2022 course description and blog post recap from the 2021 series.
Duties
The Experiential Learning GSR serves as the primary mentor and first point of contact for students as they work through this two-quarter series. During the first quarter, the GSR works similarly to a Teaching Assistant, attending the hands-on lectures, grading student work, leading student discussion sections, and guest lecturing. During the second quarter, the GSR holds regular office hours and leads a weekly course meeting on supplemental professional skills development and provides project management guidance to help the students think through and successfully complete their research work. The GSR is also expected to lead one or more of the technical student projects. A large focus of these engagements is advising the students on the intricacies of working in interdisciplinary teams. The GSR also assists with training assessment development, collection, and reporting in relation to this series and other ongoing DataLab activities.
Qualifications
Prospective GSRs must have documented experience working with the R programming language to solve data-driven problems and have a strong interest in supporting undergraduate learning and success. Prior experience teaching as well as working in teams on interdisciplinary projects is also a plus. Current UC Davis graduate students from any graduate program are encouraged to apply; candidates from non-traditional computational disciplines with corresponding required skills will be given priority consideration.
How to apply
Interested graduate students should send a vita and cover letter outlining relevant coding, teaching, and research experience to datalab@ucdavis.edu. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. This position will start January 3, 2022.
