The University of Minnesota Division of Biostatistics & Health Data Science and the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain invite eligible undergraduate students to apply for the Equitable Data Science in Adolescent Development Summer Research Program for Undergraduates. This 10-week program is a paid, full-time position designed to give undergraduate students hands-on training and research experience in data science, statistical modeling and machine learning, and scientific communication.

Students will receive mentorship and have opportunities for professional and academic development. Topics on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and their role in data science form the foundations of this program, emphasized early through DEI modules and discussions.

Through this program, students may encounter and address questions such as:

1. How do we discover the sources of bias in data?
2. How do we assess the fairness of statistical models?
3. Is it possible to modify existing statistical models to make them more fair?
4. How do we quantify and compare the performance of statistical models across population subgroups?
5. Can we develop de novo statistical models that balance accuracy with equity?

Research in equitable data science investigates how the collection and composition of data sources, the use of analysis techniques and algorithms, and the interpretation and application of analysis results can reflect, reinforce, and mitigate systemic inequalities. Students will analyze data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, the largest longitudinal study on adolescent development in the United States.

• Dates: June 3, 2024 – August 9, 2024 (10 weeks)
• Expected time commitment: full day, with occasional field trips
• $6000 stipend
• U of M Twin Cities-campus dormitory housing and meals provided
• Travel reimbursement up to $740

• Must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or US permanent resident
• Must be enrolled in a degree program (part-time or full-time) leading to a baccalaureate or associate degree
• Interested in a data-oriented career, including (but not limited to) majors in mathematics, statistics, psychology, computer science, engineering, neuroscience, and biology
• Able to commit to the entire full-time, eight-hour day, 10-week program
• Women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply
• Students attending an institution where research programs are limited are strongly encouraged to apply

The following documents will be required for a complete application:

• Unofficial undergraduate transcripts
• Two letters of support/recommendation, sent to biostats@umn.edu using the subject heading “Summer REU”
• Professional resume or CV, and
• A one-page personal statement summarizing what they hope to gain from participation in the program, and optionally describing any challenges or barriers they have faced during their educational experiences