The University of Chicago, Data Science Institute

The Data Science Institute (DSI) advances the University of Chicago’s vision of data science as a transformative, interdisciplinary discipline. DSI catalyzes research at the frontiers of the field, builds partnerships across industry, government, and social impact organizations, and supports comprehensive education in data science and AI.

DSI’s mission is to address critical scientific and societal challenges through coordinated advances in applications, models, algorithms, and platforms. To achieve this mission, DSI focuses on three core areas:

Research: DSI fosters high-impact, interdisciplinary research that transcends traditional academic boundaries. Through multi-year initiatives, seed grants for high-risk, high-reward projects, and the development of a robust research ecosystem, DSI accelerates innovation with the potential to benefit society at large.

Partnerships: DSI leverages data science to reimagine the University of Chicago’s engagement with the South Side of Chicago, the greater Chicagoland area, and global communities. Using a community-centered approach, DSI collaborates with industry, government, and nonprofit partners to drive innovation and create meaningful social impact.

Education: DSI expands the conventional definition of data science beyond statistics, computer science, and domain expertise. Its educational efforts emphasize foundational theory, ethical and societal considerations, and effective communication of discoveries to ensure data science delivers powerful and positive real-world outcomes.