A message from Acting President Kimo Ah Yun: Engage in unique NMDSI research, professional development opportunities

Dear Marquette colleagues:

Launched in 2018, the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute (NMDSI) is a partnership among Northwestern Mutual, Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. The shared investment and partnership created a technology ecosystem that advances southeastern Wisconsin as a national hub for technology, research, business and talent development while creating pipeline of tech talent in the area.

I am incredibly proud of the groundbreaking partnership we’ve formed with Northwestern Mutual and UWM and strongly encourage you to explore the various research and professional development opportunities that are open to all faculty.

Affiliated Faculty Program

The NMDSI Affiliated Faculty Program provides resources that support data science faculty, data science research and education, and the building of expert multidisciplinary teams from faculty. Affiliated faculty will be the first to learn about funding and research opportunities, speaking engagements, and more through the NMDSI. Learn more or submit an application.

NMDSI subcommittee membership and leadership

Affiliated faculty members can collaborate with renowned experts and contribute valuable expertise to guide the institute’s strategic initiatives by joining a subcommittee. Affiliated faculty members can apply to serve as members-at-large or subcommittee co-chairs. Each subcommittee aligns to one of three pillars — Research, Talent, and Community and Partnerships — and includes representatives from the three founding partners. Faculty co-chairs are compensated for their leadership and service. If you are interested in joining a subcommittee, you must first apply to become an affiliated faculty member and then contact NMDSI Executive Director Jonathan Stark.

Center of Excellence funding

Applications are now open for three NMDSI Centers of Excellence programs that feature seed funding: Paving ROADS(supporting faculty research), Pioneer Collaborative Curricula (funding new course development) and Student Scholars(supporting students and faculty in research programs). These programs focus on building research capacity in five key areas — artificial intelligence), AI and data bias/ethics, behavioral economics, financial literacy, and health and wealth inequities — while promoting inter- and cross-disciplinary projects that leverage innovative topics, methods and technologies. Applications close Sunday, Nov. 17.  

Funding for engagement with future corporate partners

The NMDSI is working to identify and engage with additional corporate partners and offer engagement opportunities to faculty and students. If you are interested in engaging with industry by taking on capstone projects ($2,500 stipend per project) or engaging in consultation opportunities ($4,000 stipend for up to four-hour session), complete this form. Contact Jonathan Stark with questions.

Upcoming Events

To learn more about NMDSI at Marquette, contact Scott Rex, instructor of marketing and the university’s co-director of the NMDSI, or Jonathan Stark. Jonathan or a member of his team are happy to join faculty or department meetings to discuss the NMDSI in greater detail.

Follow the NMDSI on LinkedIn and subscribe to their newsletter for the latest NMDSI news and upcoming events.

This unique partnership between academia and the corporate world has successfully advanced academic research and created education pathways in data science. I’m excited to see how our Marquette faculty, staff and students will continue to contribute to the institute’s growth and impact.

Dr. Kimo Ah Yun
Acting President
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs