Rochester Uni Commits $50m to Data Science Institute

In the US, the University of Rochester has committed $50m to the creation of an Institute for Data Science, including the construction of a 'state-of-the-art' building in which to house it.

The initiative builds on current university strengths in data science, and research carried out in fields such as machine learning, artificial intelligence and biostatistics. It will also extend existing collaborations with companies such as IBM and Xerox.

Three domains of initial research focus have already been identified: cognitive systems and artificial intelligence, which focus on understanding how the brain makes sense of the world; analytics on demand, to develop tools for analyzing large-scale data; and predictive health analysis.

The university says its expertise in data science is currently dispersed across many departments, and relies on individual groups of researchers to connect with each other to share their knowledge. Through the new Institute, these faculty members will be brought together under one roof, and be given the resources to drive collaborations in data science. In addition, the university plans to appoint up to 20 new faculty members across a number of departments such as political science, psychiatry and computer science.

Robert Clark (pictured), who is SVP for Research and Dean of the university's Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, comments: 'The field of data science is taking off and we're jumping in with both feet. We want to make the most of the opportunities that the discipline offers and, by hiring a significant number of experts in this field in the next few years, we can ensure that the applications of data science advance research across campus.'

Web site: www.rochester.edu .