Data science department offers university-wide support for research and projects

The John D. Bower School of Population Health’s Department of Data Science is working to increase awareness of how it can support research and project development across UMMC. 

Led by Jeannette Simino, PhD, the department brings together expertise in biostatistics, artificial intelligence and statistical omics to support research teams from a wide range of disciplines and across the entire research lifecycle.

“We help collaborators turn data into meaningful insights.” Simino said. “We assist with study design, data management, statistical analysis, machine learning applications, grant preparation and manuscript drafting."

The department offers several ways to collaborate. Junior investigators may be eligible to receive free assistance through the MCCTR BERD Core which is directed by Seth Lirette, PhD. Any investigator can receive free grant preparation assistance from Data Science members in exchange for inclusion as key personnel. Departments, centers and principal investigators can fund a percentage of a faculty or staff member’s effort to access data science expertise year-round. Lastly, researchers may receive free assistance from senior Biostatistics & Data Science doctoral students who volunteer to analyze data for publications in exchange for co-authorships and collaborative experience. 

“We try to meet the data science needs of UMMC’s research enterprise while also bringing in enough funding to sustain the department’s personnel and providing time for faculty members to conduct their own independent research and mentor students.”

As data becomes increasingly central to research and clinical care, the Department of Data Science offers an important resource for teams seeking to build stronger projects and answer more complex questions.

Through collaboration across UMMC, the department continues to advance SOPH’s mission of using data, evidence and population health expertise to improve health in Mississippi and beyond.