A senior Information Technology (IT) student from Dominican University is one of just 100 students nationwide to receive a prestigious research stipend funded by the National Science Foundation. Marlon Valverde-Suazo was awarded a $5,000 research stipend to participate in The National Data Mine Network. The goal is to ensure that students at Minority Serving Institutions have access to cutting edge courses, research opportunities, and industry partnerships. Purdue University established The Data Mine, to teach data science to undergraduates from all majors.
Valverde-Suazo has access to data science training materials, materials, and high-performance computing from Purdue University. In addition, there are corporate partners who enable the students to learn data science with hands-on work. Valverde-Suazo has been working with Bayer. He meets remotely with his partners and peers for several hours each week. “They have lessons and programs in which you learn all the coding language you need for the project,” he said.
Valverde-Suazo hopes that this all leads to even bigger things in his future. “I plan on trying to work at NASA or an aerospace or astronomy facility and this is one of the biggest steps to head me toward my goal,” he said. Jovan Zigic, Instructor of Mathematics and Physics, suggested Valverde-Suazo apply for the stipend because of his talent and passion for programming and software development.