Data Science Research Service
The Data Science Research Service (DSRS) fosters innovation and advances data-driven research within Gies College of Business and beyond by providing world-class data science solutions.
As a subunit of Disruption and Innovation at Gies Business, we assist students, faculty, and staff with their data science, machine learning, computational infrastructure, and data acquisition needs. Our goal is to make Gies Business the most technologically forward and data-capable business college in the world.
Let us help you with key data services
We assess your research needs to determine what type of data and computational infrastructure you need, providing services within our infrastructure and offering recommendations if you need external services.
Costs
Gies Business covers the cost of consultations and initial tasks, but there may be a cost for contracting external services. In some cases, researchers can provide their own funding to have their projects continue for longer periods of time or to receive exclusive help from our interns.
Analyses
Our student interns conduct analyses – the core service of DSRS. We use fundamental principles of data science to help deliver research solutions. Our team features students from business, computer science, statistics, and social science backgrounds who bring in data and methods from each of these disciplines.
Consultations
We assess and make recommendations for what statistical and data science methods are appropriate for specific research questions. We’ve used the following methods and more:
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Data
The College licenses several datasets that can be used by all members of the Gies Business community for research, teaching, and more. If specific data are needed to answer research questions, we can assist in locating and acquiring the right data. There may be an additional cost to acquire or license a dataset.
Some of the datasets we license include the following:
- Bloomberg Terminal
- Bureau van Dijk
- Capital IQ
- Gies Consumer and Small Business Credit Panel
- Nielsen
- Wharton Research Data Services
Computational capability
We use on-campus computation and cloud computing to assist faculty research. We can help subcontract the analyses to other units on campus, such as NCSA, if certain computational infrastructure is already built or is more cost-effective.
We have our own cloud computing cluster with over 600 cores and over 30TB of storage in addition to access to Microsoft Azure credits.
"Harnessing the power of data is no longer an option in today's fast-paced, digital-centric world - it's a necessity. At Gies College of Business, we're always striving to push the envelope, to be the pioneers of tomorrow's business landscape. That's why, at DSRS, we are set to revolutionize the way we and our faculty approach data-driven research."
Matias Carrasco Kind - Director of Data Science Research Services and Research Assistant Professor of Accountancy
Student interns make an impact
DSRS provides experiential learning opportunities for students across campus, giving them hands-on experience applying data analytics skills to business education.
Our student interns come from Gies Business and other areas of campus, like the Computer Science Department, Statistics Department, and School of Information Sciences, bringing these skills and more:
- Data science
- Programming
- Data analysis
- Web development
- Data visualization
- Web scraping
- Text mining
Frequently Asked Questions
What services does DSRS offer?
We offer a broad spectrum of data science services, including statistical and data analysis, machine learning model development, data visualization, data acquisition and cleaning, AI application development, and cloud computing services.
What's the mission of DSRS?
Our mission is to drive research within Gies College of Business by providing comprehensive support in data science, machine learning, computational infrastructure, and data acquisition as part of the Gies Disruption initiative.
Who can use DSRS services?
Our services are available to faculty, researchers, PhD students, and other members of the university community who require data science expertise for their projects or research.
How can I request DSRS services?
You can submit a service request by sending an email to dsrs@business.illinois.edu with a general explanation of your research study and question. We’ll schedule a meeting to discuss the project and provide recommendations.
What are the costs for DSRS services?
Gies College of Business supports initial consultations and tasks. However, any costs related to specific project needs, such as subcontracted analyses, computational infrastructure, or data acquisition, will need to be covered by your or your department’s research funding sources.
I’m a student. Can I get involved with DSRS?
Absolutely. We value the contribution of students and offer several internship opportunities. Learn more about becoming an intern. We regularly recruit data science student interns for various projects.
What types of projects has DSRS worked on in the past?
We’ve worked on a wide range of projects, including textual analysis, NLP data mining, image analysis, algorithmic development, deep learning models, and blockchain research.
What computational resources does DSRS provide?
We provide access to high-performance computing resources, cloud computing, and Jupyter Notebooks, among others. We also assist in database deployment, including SQL and non-SQL databases.
How does DSRS handle data privacy and security?
We’re committed to maintaining the highest standards of data privacy and security. We adhere
strictly to university guidelines and regulations concerning data privacy, confidentiality, and security.