Applications are accepted each Spring!
The Texas A&M Institute of Data Science (TAMIDS) Data Science Student Ambassador Scholarship Program provides ambassadors with leadership, technical, and training skills which they practice through engagements in their home departments. This competitive scholarship program aims to help ambassadors become agents for change who will catalyze the adoption of Data Science in new communities.
Ambassadors are Texas A&M Ph.D. students who wish to serve as representatives for TAMIDS and champions for Data Science literacy in their field of study, both at Texas A&M University and in their subsequent careers. Scholarship recipients also act as a point of contact for TAMIDS and engage with our growing community of students, educators, researchers, and industry professionals.
Established in 2022, each Ambassador receives a $2,000 scholarship that qualifies them for the Non-resident Tuition Waiver for Competitive Scholarship Recipients.
TAMIDS supports students in developing and implementing data science skills that help them achieve their educational and professional goals. The program allows ambassadors flexibility to align their engagement plans to activities that leverage what they are already doing or would like to pursue within their program department.
What Ambassadors Do
TAMIDS Ambassadors play a crucial role in promoting Data Science Literacy and connecting new individuals to our growing Data Science Community.
Active Engagement
Ambassadors plan, develop, and deliver engagement activities to improve Data Science literacy in their departments under the mentorship of the TAMIDS team. These activities can include office hours, tutorials, workshops, poster sessions, and much more. TAMIDS works with Ambassadors to find the right type of engagement that fits with their goals and the needs of their department/community. Each Ambassador also has a faculty mentor in their department who provides additional guidance on the design and implementation of their engagements.
Community Outreach
Ambassadors collaborate with TAMIDS staff, researchers, and Thematic Labs in outreach activities, including K-12 students and educators. The Data Science community is continuously growing and more students, staff, and faculty need to learn or incorporate data science skills in their work. Ambassadors also serve as advocates for their departments and peers by voicing concerns, providing feedback to faculty and administration, and working to improve the student experience.
TAMIDS Representation
Ambassadors share TAMIDS capabilities for operation, training, and research support and refer departmental members to these resources. They represent their department and TAMIDS at various events and activities, both on and off campus, such as alumni gatherings, conferences, community service projects, research activities, and student recruitment events. Ambassadors assist with the recruitment of new students to data science programs across Texas A&M.
Peer Mentoring
Ambassadors act as mentors for undergraduate and graduate students within their departments who show interest in delving into the field of data science. Drawing from comparable experiences, these ambassadors empathize with the specific hurdles encountered by students in their departments. This shared understanding creates targeted guidance and assistance. Moreover, ambassadors can play a role in organizing orientation sessions for newcomers and offering direction on accessing campus resources, academic counseling, and extracurricular activities.
Content Creation
Ambassadors develop and share educational materials that improve interest, understanding, utilization, or implementation of data science techniques, methods, and tools. Ambassadors often contribute to social media and marketing efforts aimed at prospective and current students. They may share their experiences through blog posts, vlogs, or social media posts to give others a glimpse into how they utilize data science in their academic career. Materials and programs created by ambassadors form resources that future students and ambassadors may use or extend in future years.
How To Apply
Applications are accepted each Spring for the following Fall. TAMIDS is currently accepting applications for the 2024–2025 Cohort.
Students interested in becoming Ambassadors should review the 2024–2025 Scholarship Guidelines for details on the requirements and application process. Each applicant must submit an application package by the May 12, 2024 (11:59 pm) deadline. Some applicants may be invited for an interview with the program organizers as part of the review process. Awards will be communicated by June 1, 2024.
The application package must be submitted online as a single PDF file before the May 12 deadline.
Eligibility
The program is open to all majors, the Student Ambassador program prioritizes promoting Data Science literacy in communities of students and researchers (specified, e.g., by subject domain and/or level of experience) in which Data Science skills and expertise are not currently strongly represented.
Scholarship applicants must be enrolled full-time and have completed at least one (1) year of a Texas A&M University Ph.D. program (including the Galveston and Qatar campuses) at the time of application. Applicants should have completed at least two methodological or domain-focused graduate or advanced undergraduate courses involving significant Data Science content.
Ambassadors must be in good academic standing, have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and maintain full-time enrollment in their Ph.D. program during the award period to maintain their scholarship.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Data Science Ambassador Scholarships will be awarded?
Up to 15 Data Science Ambassador Scholarships are expected to be awarded for the 2024–2025 Academic Year, including any renewals from 2023–2024.
Is it possible for students to join the program without having received a scholarship award?
No. The program size was chosen to ensure sufficient engagement with ambassadors during the TAMIDS mentoring portions of the program.
Are there any quotas for the award of scholarships by department or college?
No. Each application is reviewed independently by TAMIDS.
Do Ambassadors qualify for non-resident tuition waivers?
Yes. Ambassadors become eligible for the Non-resident Tuition Waiver for Competitive Scholarship Recipients for the academic year 2023-24, and in the following year if the scholarship is renewed.
Does the faculty mentor need to be the applicant’s PhD advisor?
No, but the advisor should be familiar with the applicant’s academic career.
Sponsorship
The Data Science Ambassador Scholarship Program is supported in part by external sponsorship. We gratefully acknowledge continued support of Industry Affiliates for this and other Data Science education, research, and engagement programs.
For more information, visit TAMIDS Industry Affiliate Program.
Program Contact
For more information, please reach out to Drew Casey at drew.casey@tamu.edu