¶ Lucy Family Institute for Data & Society (LFIDS) |
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Education and Research | |
| Role(s) | • The Lucy Family Institute for Data & Society serves as Notre Dame's intellectual, interdisciplinary hub for students, faculty, and research scientists, an incubator for existing and emerging data science and analytics programs across the colleges, and a collaborator with leaders from industry, government, and academia to advance data innovations and to help transform society and individual lives. • Combining core capabilities in data science, network science, artificial intelligence and statistical and mathematical modeling enables the Lucy Family Institute to compile best-in-class research teams aligned toward specific societal challenges that translate out of research and into practice. |
| Mission | Contribute to scholarship and education related to the relationship between data and society, with the goal of using data and innovation as a force for good in the world. |
| History | 2019 – Founded in December of 2019 with a gift from alumnus Robert Lumpkins and his wife, Sara As a part of its establishment, the Lucy Family Institute integrated two existing research centers that have a primary focus on data science, societal interface, and interdisciplinary applications of data science: the Center for Network and Data Science (CNDS) and the Center for Social Science Research (CSSR). |
| Org | Institute faculty & staff: 20 full-time data scientists, research analysts, programmers, and project managers Leadership: • Nitesh Chawla, Director • Brian Fogarty, Assoc Director (CSSR) • Ying (Alison) Cheng, Assoc. Director of Education • Natalie Meyers, Assoc. Director Operations • Rick Johnson, Managing Director of AETL • Valentina Kuskova, Managing Director of AnalytiXIN • Katie Liu, Research Program Manager • Yanfang Ye, Assoc. Director of Applied Analytics 150 Affiliated faculty and staff (https://lucyinstitute.nd.edu/people/affiliates/) |
| Board | Steering Committee of interdisciplinary faculty (https://lucyinstitute.nd.edu/people/steering-committee/) |
| Finance | • Endowment from the Robert Lumpkins Family • Operational support from Office of Research, Notre Dame • Project funding from a variety of sources including NIH, NSF, Lilly Endowment, USAID |
| Data Source | Lucy provides geo-tagged open data for Northern Indiana through the dataMichiana portal (https://datamichiana-notredame.hub.arcgis.com). The data includes bespoke collections (e.g., lead exposure in South Bend) as well customized secondary data from national sources (e.g., US Census Bureau), state sources (e.g., Indiana Department of Education), and local sources (e.g., City of South Bend). In collaboration with Pulte Institute for Global Development and the City of South Bend, Lucy co-develops the South Bend Economy Dashboard: https://lucyinstitute.nd.edu/SBEconDB Other specific data sources from a variety of providers for specific research questions |
| Data Access | Publicly available data on the dataMichiana portal & SBN Economy dashboard can be accessed through (https://datamichiana-notredame.hub.arcgis.com) & (https://lucyinstitute.nd.edu/SBEconDB) |
| Tech Capabilities | • The Applied Analytics & Emerging Technology Lab (AeTL) pilots ideas and proof-of-concepts, accelerates use-inspired research that leads to application of analytics in relevant industry, and cultivates societal impact through community partnerships (e.g., collaboration with iNDustry Labs and Labs for Industry Futures and Transformation (LIFT) Network, a regional consortium of colleges and non-profits, led by the University of Notre Dame and the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership). • Center for Social Science Research (CSSR) is dedicated to improving the quality and efficiency of social science research at the University of Notre Dame by working with faculty, students, and staff across all academic disciplines. The CSSR's highly trained team offers expertise in research design, data collection, modeling and analysis, and visualization. The CSSR also offers training, database resources, and a virtual help desk available to all Notre Dame students. |
| Projects | AI & Ethics Researchers at the Lucy Family Institute bring forth innovation in AI algorithms to address 21st century challenges, including innovation in design thinking to develop a coherent framework collaboration with stakeholders about AI use and applications as well as inclusion of social responsibility and engagement elements such as issues ethics, trust, and bias from the very beginning of any initiative. Chemistry: Blockchain pilot project between the University’s Distributed Pharmaceutical Analysis Lab (DPAL) and ARTiFACTs that applies blockchain to organize and manage key data generated during the DPAL workflow, including a sample’s progress through the workflow, its physical location, provenance of metadata, and lab reputability. DPAL offers over 50 Primarily Undergraduate Institutions an opportunity for their analytical labs to demonstrate system suitability for an essential medicine and then carry out assays of samples from partners in low- and middle-income countries. Health and Wellbeing: Child Malnutrition, Successful Aging, MomLink, NetHealth, Environmental Lead detection, and Pediatric Cancer and Neutropenia monitoring using AI and machine learning to understand social determinants of health and healthcare access. Molecular Synthesis: The Center for Computer Aided Synthesis (C-CAS) uses quantitative, data-driven approaches to make synthetic chemistry more predictable. Manufacturing: Future of Work, participatory AI development, Industry 4.0. Neural Science and Brain Networks: Neural Dynamics and Computing, Brain Networks Social and Information Systems: Social Sensing, Using Smart Devices to Capture the Emotionality of Offline Communication, Dynamics of Human Behavior, Science of Science, The Socio-environmental Knowledge Commons’ SEEKCommons Research Coordination Network, Online Health and Wellness Information Consumption. |
| Talent Development | • The Lucy Family Institute is committed to training the next generation of data scientists to guide data-driven discoveries. Affiliated students develop an interdisciplinary understanding of networked and data-driven systems, and have the ability to design rigorous algorithms and models applicable to a broad range of careers. At the Institute, students are also trained to engage stakeholders and to incorporate the societal impacts and considerations of their craft. • The newly launched Interdisciplinary Traineeship for Socially Responsible and Engaged Data Scientists (iTREDS) program trains undergraduate students in data science through a lens of social responsibility and community engagement, including rigor and responsibility, ethics, society, and policy. The goal of the 15-credit program is to develop scholars with an in-depth data science background as well as communication, critical thinking, teamwork, and other skills necessary for professional development. • The Institute offers opportunities for visiting scholars, student interns, and fellows annually, including the AnalytiXIN internship program for University of Notre Dame graduate and undergraduate students. The program offers an opportunity for students to work with healthcare, insurance, and manufacturing companies in Indianapolis to help solve complex data science challenges. • In addition to offering data science and statistical software workshops & training programs for the University of Notre Dame community, the Institute also hosts two summer programs: the three-week Summer Education and Engagement for Data Science (SEEDS) program for local high school students and the Early Bridges to Data Science Program for middle school teachers. |
| Programs/ Publications | https://lucyinstitute.nd.edu/news-events/ |