Data Analytics Students Train at National Science Foundation

Photos: Stefan Faistenauer, Elaheh Rajab Larijani, and Erin Caldwell

The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics selected three students from LIU’s Master of Science in data analytics program to participate in the Coleridge Initiative applied data analytics training program held by the National Science Foundation at its headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. The students, Erin Caldwell, Elaheh Rajab Larijani and Stefan Faistenauer, worked with representatives from federal government agencies and students from other top universities to define and complete data analytics projects aimed at gaining insights into employment outcomes for U.S. doctoral recipients. Both Caldwell and Faistenauer already received full-time job offers before their graduation. Erin will work for the Bank of Switzerland base in New York, and Stefan will work for the German Economic Development Center in San Francisco. “The program has so much potential and I am so honored I was able to be a part of the first graduating class,” Caldwell said. “It was such an amazing program and I learned so much from all of my professors. I will recommend this program to all my friends, future colleagues and prospective students.” The University started the specialized Master of Science in Data Analytics (MDA) program—the first of its kind by a business school on Long Island—with a blend of data science, information technology and business courses to prepare students for the industry demand for data-literate managers and data analysts with solid business knowledge and quantitative analytical skills. The inaugural cohort arrived for the Spring 2019 semester, coming from over a dozen undergraduate institutions including The University of Arizona, Penn State University and LIU. Helped by recruiting efforts from faculty and wordof-mouth praise from students, the number of enrolled students nearly quadrupled for the Fall 2020 semester.

The program is a STEM designated degree program and boasts a diversified faculty with strong academic and industry experience in prestigious organizations. They include Dr. Ling Zhu, a former science and technology policy fellow at the National Academies of Sciences; Dr. Syed Osman, a former economist at Amazon; Dr. Henry Han, a former director of the Big Data Lab at Fordham University; and Dr. Jiamin Han, a former post-doc fellow at University of Toronto. The Nespola Foundation, named after Richard Nespola, a member of LIU’s Board of Trustees, established the Nespola Scholars Program in Data Analytics to support the program. Nespola Scholars serve as student ambassadors and mentors for the next MDA cohort after graduation. Six students were recognized at LIU’s Award Ceremony for Nespola Scholars earlier this year. These outstanding students committed to study the application and impact of data analytics in the industries of transportation and logistics, higher education, sports, healthcare and environment protection.