Data Science Summer Hangouts

Data Science Summer Hangouts

Each summer, DDDI hosts a data science workshop for undergraduates involved in research. Penn faculty members from both the natural and social sciences present work that applies data science to their research. Undergraduates also attend tutorials led by our postdocs and graduate students on data science methods.  This article by Omnia highlights some of the student experiences from the 2019 hangouts. Here are some themes we've explored in the past: 

  • 2025 - Machine learning, statistics, optimization, and generative AI for scientific discovery across fields.
  • 2024 - Causal inference, machine learning, and generative AI for scientific discovery across fields.
  • 2023 - A “choose your own adventure” through data science. 

Hangouts will be held twice a week. A pizza lunch will be provided. All talks and tutorials will take place in the RDDSX space, conveniently located near the Collaborative Classroom in Van Pelt-Dietrich Library. Below you'll find our past hangouts with recordings. 

Upcoming Summer Hangouts

No events are currently scheduled.
Please check back soon.

Past Summer Hangouts

Summer Hangouts: Lyle Ungar and Louis Hickman

Assessing Interpersonal Judgments using Explainable AI

RDDSX space outside the Collaborative Classroom

Van Pelt-Dietrich Library

We use deep learning models to predict ratings of the warmth, competence, and morality of people introducing themselves in short videos. By showing which multimodal features drive these predictions, we provide insight into first impression formation.

Summer Hangouts: Sergey Molodtsov, Sunghye Cho, and Erçağ Pinçe

Python data analysis and visualization; Introduction to Automatic Speech Recognition; Image processing and Computer Vision with Deep Learning Tools

RDDSX space outside the Collaborative Classroom

Van Pelt-Dietrich Library

Python data analysis and visualization: This tutorial will provide basic concepts of data processing and visualization. Introduction to Automatic Speech Recognition: In this tutorial, we will walk through very basics of Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR). Image processing and…

Summer Hangouts: Chang-Yu Chang and Brynn Sherman

The Art of Naming Your Pets and R Objects; Data Visualization with R and ggplot

RDDSX space outside the Collaborative Classroom

Van Pelt-Dietrich Library

The Art of Naming Your Pets and R Objects: We’ll dive into the world of naming conventions for R objects and functions. Data Visualization with R and ggplot: In this tutorial, we’ll discuss tips and tricks for data visualization in R.

Summer Hangouts: Jingye Yang and Carlos Schmidt-Padilla

Introduction to LLMs and Introduction to Causal Inference

RDDSX space outside the Collaborative Classroom

Van Pelt-Dietrich Library

Time Instructor Title Description 11:00 – 12:00 Jingye Yang Introduction to LLMs Ever wonder how ChatGPT seem to ‘understand’ what you’re saying? This friendly talk will dive into the world of large language models. We’ll break down how these AI brains learn to chat just like us…

Summer Hangouts: Vlad Ayzenberg, Sam Dillavou, and Kieran Murphy

First steps with Python and Introduction to Machine Learning

RDDSX space outside the Collaborative Classroom

Van Pelt-Dietrich Library

First steps with Python: Similar to the “First steps with R” tutorial last week, we’ll take an introductory walk through Python for data science. Introduction to Machine Learning: how do you make a machine learn?

Data Science Summer Hangouts Series 2023

RDDSX space outside the Collaborative Classroom
Van Pelt-Dietrich Library

DDDI's 2023 Summer Hangouts program offers students the opportunity to participate in informal, hands-on tutorials led by our team of DDDI postdoctoral research fellows.

Summer Hangouts: Colin Twomey and Sarah Lee

Coding for Data Science and First Steps with R

RDDSX space outside the Collaborative Classroom

Van Pelt-Dietrich Library

Coding for Data Science: We’ll give a big picture introduction to programming for data science that should be accessible to everyone. First Steps with R: We’ll walk through some practical steps for working with R for the first time.

Summer Hangouts: Allyson Mackey, David Abrams, Bhaswar Bhattacharya, and Kieran Murphy

Environmental Influences on Brain Development, Improving Criminal Justice System with Data Science, H12 Graph-Based Methods for High-Dimensional Inference, and Seeing from the shoulders of giants: Computer vision and Pre-trained models

Faculty Talks at Meyerson B1, Hangout at lounge outside Meyerson B1, Tutorials at Meyerson B13

Join us for food, share your research experience with other undergrads, discuss our faculty talks, and more!

Summer Hangouts: Martha Farah, Erol Ackay, and Dimitrios Tanoglidis

SES, brain, inflammation, and depression: Carving (unhappy) nature at its joints, What determines social status? The case of spotted hyenas, and Intro to Deep Learning

Faculty Talks at Meyerson B1, Hangout at lounge outside Meyerson B1, Tutorials at Meyerson B13

Join us for food, share your research experience with other undergrads, discuss our faculty talks, and more!

Summer Hangouts: Sundeep Bhatia, Mike Levy, and Ivan Simpson-Kent

Predicting Heath Judgement, Levering Data to Control Insects in Cities, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)

Faculty Talks at Meyerson B1, Hangout at lounge outside Meyerson B1, Tutorials at Meyerson B13

Join us for food, share your research experience with other undergrads, discuss our faculty talks, and more!