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Data Science and Demography Training Program

Data Science and Demography Training (DSDT) Program

The Data Science and Demography Training (DSDT) is an NIH-supported fellowship program that aims to advance pre-doctoral, population health scientists’ and demographers’ training by equipping them with the skills to conduct data intensive research with advanced computational and statistical methods. Pre-doctoral trainees receive interdisciplinary mentorship and training in data science and demographic methods. 

Trainees enter from their respective disciplines and identify a demography and data science mentor from the CSDE Affiliate list (UW affiliates) and/or home department. Under the guidance of their mentoring team and the DSDT Program Director, our trainees work at the cutting edge of computational and statistical demography, employing the highest standards of research ethics, rigor, and reproducibility.  During their training program, they will be expected to participate in a research internship where they will participate in a team science endeavor that develops and applies data science techniques. Trainees are expected to pursue research careers in population science following their training program. 

The DSDT is a two year fellowship program where the first year focuses on training in Demographic Methods, Data Science and Population Health depending on fellows background. With direction from the Program Director of the DSDT, all students engage in:

  • Coursework (depends on trainee background; typically 2-3 courses):
    • Trainees with Demography Background
      • Design a curriculum centered around data science and statistics courses 
    • Trainees with Data Science Background
      • Design a curriculum centered around demography and statistics courses 
    • Trainees with Population Health Background
      • Design a curriculum centered around demography and data science courses 
    • All Trainees 
      • Take part in training in the responsible conduct of research (RCR) and in rigor and reproducibility (R&R) (typically accomplished via enrollment in CSDE 502)
      • SOC 538: Data Science, Population Processes, and Health
  • Professional Development:
    • Attend CSDE 501, the CSDE Seminar, for the entirety of the fellowship
    • Computational Demography Working Group participate for the entirety of the fellowship
    • Participation in labs, working groups and conferences
    • Preparation of research products (code, papers, presentations)
  • Mentorship (Data Science and Demography/Population Health Co-mentors)
  • Internship/Applied Demography Lab

DSDT Program Leadership and Current Fellows

For more details about the program and eligibility, contact DSDT Program Director and PI, Professor Zack W. Almquist by email (zalmquist@uw.edu).