Got Data Skills?

Gain experience consulting on real-world data problems, supporting analysis, visualization, workflow, and more.

Do you love exploring diverse datasets? Want to put your skills to use, and help others achieve their goals? Perhaps you’re excited about the way that data analysis can connect the research community across disciplinary borders. You may be driven to enable and inspire new ways of thinking about existing problems and data. If you’re looking for opportunities to build experience, get documented recognition of your skills, and add a bit of material to your CV and portfolio, dataCoLAB would love to hear from you.

The dataCoLAB program can connect you with opportunities to work on interesting real-world data problems and gain valuable consulting, collaborating, and teaching experience. The project is open to anyone in the CMU or Pittsburgh community. We welcome expertise in planning and designing data collection, programming languages and tools like R and Python, statistics, methods of analysis, storing and sharing, or visualizing and interpreting data.

How it works and what to expect

You’ll be matched with opportunities based on your skills, strengths, and needs, and supported by the dataCoLAB’s information specialists. Working as a consultant will get your profile on the dataCoLAB website, and completing your commitment to the dataCoLAB project earns a certificate to recognize your contribution.

Submitting the Data Consultant Sign Up is your first step towards getting involved. Providing a clear and detailed description of your skills and interests will help speed up the process! Click here for guidance on how to write a great description. Once the dataCoLAB team has reviewed your form, we’ll reach out and invite you to come in for an orientation. You’ll work with the dataCoLAB team to design a participation commitment that works for you.

Based on your availability, expertise, and needs, consultants may create different kinds of participation commitments with the dataCoLAB project. You may be matched with a researcher for a collaborative project, but participation may also include providing regular support at open hours, or helping with workshops or other events.

Once matched for collaboration, you’ll attend a project initiation meeting with a dataCoLAB information specialist. At this meeting you’ll get to know your consultant, learn more about best practices and tools for collaboration and project documentation, and make a plan for working together.

Want to learn more or ask questions?

Email dataCoLAB@andrew.cmu.edu or join us during Consulting Hours, held weekly!

Ready to get started?