National Data Mine Network

National Data Mine Network (NDMN)

The National Data Mine Network (NDMN) is a collaborative initiative between Purdue University and the American Statistical Association aimed at providing undergraduate students at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) with hands-on data science training.

Details About The National Data Mine Network

An NSF-funded grant in collaboration with the American Statistical Association to enable MSIs’ undergraduates to learn data science through research or industry projects.
Provides $4500 in monthly research stipends ($500/month) plus up to $500 for conference travel to 100 students annually.
Projects run throughout the 9-month academic year (August-April) with access to support, training, materials/tools ,and high-performance computing from Purdue.
Students work on projects with research mentors or Industry Partners through the Corporate Partners Program. Currently, there are 80+ corporate partner projects with plans to expand.
Research stipends are provided directly by the American Statistical Association. (Faculty participation is free for those at MSIs.)

Our Program Goals and Reach

The NDMN is dedicated to broadening access to premier data science education and research experiences for students across the nation.

Core Mission: We directly fund 300 undergraduate students at MSIs with research stipends ($500/month for 9 months, totaling $4500 per student), which are administered by the American Statistical Association (ASA).
Powerful Collaboration: Our leadership team unites the strengths of the ASA, the Math Alliance, Purdue University, American University, and the Atlanta University Center Data Science Initiative.
Inclusive Outreach: We actively share application materials with a wide range of institutions, including:
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs)
- Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in general
- Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs)
- Universities geared toward deaf participants
Growing Cohorts:
- In the 2023-24 academic year, 133 students participated in the program.
- Over 120 students have already been recruited for the upcoming 2024-25 academic year.

Real-World Projects & Industry Partnerships

NDMN students gain critical, real-world experience by tackling complex challenges through research projects and direct collaborations with industry leaders.

Diverse Project Engagement:
- Students engage in research with faculty mentors or work on Corporate Partners projects with mentors from industry.
- The Data Mine manages an extensive portfolio of over 80 Corporate Partners projects.
Developing In-Demand Skills:
- Participants learn and apply cutting-edge data science skills directly within their projects.
- This includes proficiency in Python, R, and SQL.
- Students work in high-performance computing environments.
- They gain expertise in data modeling, data visualization, natural language processing, predictive analytics, full-stack development, and cybersecurity.

Student Success & Program Outcomes

The NDMN delivers substantial benefits to students and corporate partners alike, cultivating the next generation of data science leaders and innovators.

Value for Corporate Partners:
- Student research, software, and analyses offer a significant return on investment for partner companies.
- Companies highly value the students’ fresh insights and modern approaches to data-driven challenges.
- Students often tackle research and development projects that companies may not have the internal capacity or specialized skills to address.
Student Career & Academic Pathways:
- A notable number of Data Mine students are hired by the companies where they conduct their research.
- Many participants also choose to pursue graduate programs.
Showcasing Student Research:
- Students regularly present their findings at various prestigious forums, including:
  - An online symposium in April 2024.
  - The annual Data Mine Corporate Partners Symposium, which featured 84 posters and approximately 2000 attendees.
  - The Joint Statistical Meetings in Toronto (August 2023).
Developing Future Leaders:
- By integrating data-driven research with domain-specific knowledge, students gain a deep understanding of how data science can create impact in their chosen fields.
Open Educational Resources:
- The Data Mine has developed an extensive library of over 2000 pages and 1000 videos of instructional content.
- These valuable resources are freely shared with the public at https://the-examples-book.com.