The Texas A&M Institute of Data Science (TAMIDS) 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 artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and other data science areas in new communities. Ambassadors are Texas A&M graduate students who wish to serve as representatives for TAMIDS and champions for AI and data science literacy in their field of study and across Texas A&M University.
Two Tracks
The Ambassador program offers two distinct tracks, allowing students to choose the track that best fits their interests and career aspirations and ensuring a personalized and impactful experience. Ambassadors typically spend about 3–5 hours per week on program activities. Additionally, each Ambassador receives a $2,000 scholarship that qualifies them for the Non-resident Tuition Waiver for Competitive Scholarship Recipients.
Domain Data Science (DDS) Ambassadors Track
DDS ambassadors propose and conduct engagements to promote data science literacy within their departments
DDS Expertise:
- Proficiency in Python, R, MATLAB, C++, Fortran, or other relevant programming languages, demonstrated through course or project work.
- Experience with machine learning frameworks, tools, and cloud platforms is a plus.
Generative AI (GAI) Ambassadors Track
GAI ambassadors conduct online drop-in sessions, guiding students, faculty, and researchers in formulating and developing AI-based approaches to address their problems.
GAI Expertise:
- Strong generative AI expertise (fundamentals, tools, applications) through courses or projects
- Knowledge of relevant platforms/tools (e.g., HuggingFace, Ollama, LangChain/LangGraph)
- Proficiency in Python, ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch), and cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP, Azure).
What Ambassadors Do
TAMIDS Ambassadors play a crucial role in promoting AI, machine learning, and data science literacy and connecting new individuals to our growing Data Science Community. Each track has a different focus:
Domain Data Science Ambassadors
DDS Ambassadors help improve data science literacy among students and researchers in communities with limited expertise, based on their department, field, or experience level.
Engagements & Outreach
DDS ambassadors will plan and deliver departmental outreach activities (see examples below), with TAMIDS providing guidance, connections to researchers, and logistical support.
Cohort Meetings & Collaborations
DDS ambassadors attend two group meetings per semester with TAMIDS to discuss progress, seek advice, and offer support. We encourage collaboration between ambassadors on events and activities, with additional support from TAMIDS’s programs, like our Workshop Development grants.
Faculty Supporter
DDS applicants will identify a faculty supporter who will facilitate the implementation of the engagements and provide an assessment of their operation to TAMIDS each semester.
TAMIDS Representation
DDS ambassadors will learn about TAMIDS resources, refer community members to its personnel for further help as needed, and recruit participants to TAMIDS events.
Content Creation
DDS Ambassadors develop and share materials and will occasionally assist in other TAMIDS-initiated engagements that utilize their skills and knowledge.
Generative AI Ambassadors
GAI Ambassadors offer drop-in sessions on generative AI tools and connect students, faculty, and researchers with AI computing and training services, guided by mentors from TAMIDS Generative AI Literacy Initiative.
Online Drop-In Sessions
GAI ambassador engagements will host two to three weekly 50-minute online drop-in sessions for students, staff, and faculty, offering guidance on using generative AI, developing prompts, navigating tools and libraries, and accessing Texas A&M’s AI resources.
Promote Generative AI Literacy
GAI ambassadors will document session outcomes as adaptable case studies for workshops, videos, webpages, and notebooks.
Cohort Coordination & Collaboration
GAI ambassadors will coordinate session coverage, discuss progress, and support each other’s activities, meeting monthly with mentors from TAMIDS’s Generative AI Literacy Initiative.
TAMIDS Engagements
GAI ambassadors will occasionally assist in other TAMIDS-initiated engagements that utilize their skills and knowledge.
How To Apply
The application process begins in the Spring, and activities begin the following Fall. TAMIDS is not currently accepting applications for the 2025–2026 Cohort.
Students interested in becoming Ambassadors should review the 2025–2026 Scholarship Guidelines for details on the requirements and application process. Each applicant must submit an application package by May 30, 2025, (11:59 pm) deadline. Program organizers may invite applicants for interviews as part of the review process. Awards will be communicated by June 30, 2025.
The application package must be submitted online as a single PDF file by May 30, 2025.
Eligibility
Scholarship applicants must be enrolled full-time and have completed at least one (1) year of a Texas A&M University graduate 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 graduate program during the award period to maintain their scholarship.
The DDS Ambassador Track is open to all majors and encourages promoting data science literacy in communities of students and researchers (specified, e.g., by subject domain and/or level of experience) in which AI and data science skills and expertise are not currently strongly represented. DDS applicants should:
- Be proficient in Python, R, MATLAB, C++, Fortran, or other relevant programming languages, demonstrated through course or project work.
- Have experience with machine learning frameworks, tools, and cloud platforms.
- Propose engagements that address data science literacy needs within the target departmental community, where expertise is currently limited.
The GAI Ambassador Track is geared toward students with strong backgrounds in AI and machine learning development and implementation. There are no prescribed majors or departments, but applicants should demonstrate the prerequisite expertise:
- Strong generative AI expertise (fundamentals, tools, applications) through courses or projects
- Knowledge of relevant platforms/tools (e.g., HuggingFace, Ollama, LangChain/LangGraph)
- Proficiency in Python, ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch), and cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP, Azure).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Data Science Ambassador Scholarships will be awarded?
We will award up to 12 Domain Data Science (DDS) Scholarships and 4 Generative AI (GAI) Scholarships for the 2025–2026 Academic Year, including any renewals from the 2024–2025 cohort.
Can I get help planning and implementing engagements?
Yes. The TAMIDS team works with ambassadors to develop and improve engagements throughout the year.
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. TAMIDS reviews each application independently.
Do Ambassadors qualify for non-resident tuition waivers?
Yes. Ambassadors become eligible for the Non-resident Tuition Waiver for Competitive Scholarship Recipients for that academic year, and in the following year if the scholarship is renewed.
Does the faculty mentor need to be the applicant’s graduate 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 the 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