The mission of the Data Sciences Institute (DSI) is to provide the leadership and capacity to catalyze the transformative nature of data sciences in disciplines, in fair and ethical ways, leveraging and strengthening the University of Toronto’s pre-eminence in data sciences to solve society’s complex and pressing problems.

To support this mission, the DSI will develop and support Thematic Programs in focused topic areas. The inaugural Thematic Programs are Inequity and Reproducibility. These topics are fundamental to the DSI identity while at the same time being broadly relevant to numerous fields.

• Inequities can arise from almost any aspect of society. Recognizing that data-based technologies can potentially increase inequities, this theme encourages the generation of evidence (data and inference) and tools that enhances our understanding of inequity while supporting equitable social change. The availability of new, heterogeneous data has transformed traditional disciplines, encouraging researchers to address pressing questions. The opportunity to link these newer resources with socioeconomic and demographic data, and/or to co-develop research projects with under-resourced communities, extends the breadth of possible investigations to understand and act upon social inequities in service of empowering the communities they affect. More info.
• Robust and reproducible processes are critical to maintaining confidence in the research enterprise and ensuring the generation of reliable results upon which science builds. Reproducibility requires standards for fundamental research activities, such as reproducible pipelines for processing, cleaning, and sharing of data and code, and best practice application of analytic procedures. This theme focuses on the development of widely adoptable methodology, processes, and infrastructure to share data and code locally and in privacy-compliant ways, and the development of infrastructure, methods and models that support reproducible and reliable research. More info.

Each Thematic Program will be co-led by two faculty members from complementary disciplines. Co-leads will have substantial flexibility in developing their Program. Examples of activities that may be organized within a Thematic Program include supporting scholarly exchange (e.g., workshops, conferences, seminars), organizing new research collaborations, writing white papers, applying for substantial funding opportunities, developing new student training programs, and participating in multi-institutional collaborations. This list is not exhaustive; we are looking for energetic and creative leaders to develop an exciting vision for each Program.

Co-Leads will assemble an interdisciplinary working group to guide the activities and outputs of the Thematic Program. Operational support will be provided by DSI staff.

Co-leads will be provided with a Thematic Programming budget for one to two years, which may be renewable.

About DSI Thematic Programs

DSI Thematic Programs foster new opportunities to cultivate multi-disciplinary collaborations between data science methodologists and researchers in various application domains. Each Thematic Program is intended to foster research activity in both methodologies and applications. A portion of DSI funding (Catalyst Grants, Doctoral Fellowships, Postdoctoral Fellows) is earmarked for research teams engaged in a DSI Thematic Program and for support for events.

Eligibility

Professoriate from the University of Toronto community and DSI Funding Partners who meet the eligibility criteria for the DSI Catalyst Grants. 

Application

The expression of interest form (maximum two pages) includes:

• Name
• Appointments and affiliations
• Research experience/output or interest in the specific Thematic Program area (Inequity or Reproducibility)
• Rationale and vision for serving as DSI Thematic Program co-lead
• Suggestions for a complementary co-lead

Deadline

(Closed) November 15, 2021

Application Process

Please email the completed Expression of Interest Form to info.dsi@utoronto.ca