Search
Loading

Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies News

NNLM $20K Award to Fund Project for Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies Faculty Studying Biomedical Data Challenges

NNLM $20K Award to Fund Project for Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies Faculty Studying Biomedical Data Challenges

May 23rd, 2019

Bethany McGowan, Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies
Bethany McGowan

Recently, two members of Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies faculty were selected to receive a Research Data Award from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM). The $20,000 grant award for the project, “Understanding Rates of Attrition in Biomedical Data Challenges: A Study of Failure,” will enable Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies Assistant Professor Bethany McGowan and Associate Professor Ilana Stonebraker to provide research data management training to students.

The award will facilitate a variety of training workshops including: FAIR Data Principles; Research Data Management Basics: Finding and Organizing Data; Cleaning and Formatting Data with OpenRefine; General Tips for Visualizing Biomedical Data; Biomedical Data Visualization with Tableau; and Useful R Packages for Analyzing and Visualizing Biomedical Data. The grant period began May 1 and will conclude April 30, 2020.

The workshops are part of a larger research project through which McGowan and Stonebraker will conduct a study to understand rates of attrition in biomedical data challenges.

Ilana Stonebraker, Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies
Ilana Stonebraker

“Our study will examine student motivation for participation in extracurricular innovation challenges, such as hackathons and case competitions, which involve the use of biomedical data, in an attempt to understand failure and reduce rates of attrition in these events,” said McGowan, who is the project lead.

In addition to presenting results of their research at conferences throughout the year, McGowan and Stonebraker will develop a digital open-education resource toolkit to help guide librarians in recruiting for and retaining diverse student populations in data-hacking challenges.

According to the NNLM’s Greater Midwest Region (GMR) website, the project supports Goal 3 of the National Library of Medicine’s Strategic Plan, which is to build a workforce for data-driven research and health.

“It supports the aligning objectives to expand and enhance research training for biomedical informatics and data science, to assure data science and open science proficiency, to increase workforce diversity, and to engage the next generation and promote data literacy,” states the NNLM GMR website.


Dawn or Doom 2018: Libraries’ Sessions Offer Data Visualization Tips for Max Impact

October 16th, 2018

Dawn or Doom 2018; Purdue Libraries' EventsLearn how to communicate and present your research data for maximum impact through Purdue Libraries-sponsored events at Purdue University’s fifth annual Dawn or Doom Conference.

Join Data Designer Jennifer Lyons (Evergreen Data) for two sessions about effective data presentation Monday, Nov. 5. Details for each event are listed below. Please note that registration is required for the afternoon workshop.

  • 11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m. — “Presenting Data Effectively: Practical Methods for Improving Evaluation Communication” (presentation), Stewart Center 314
  • 3-6 p.m. — “Effective Data Visualization: Communicating Your Findings for Maximum Impact” (workshop), Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC), B058

Registration is required for the workshop; register online at go.lib.purdue.edu/events/dawnordoom.

About Dawn or Doom

Celebrating its fifth year, Dawn or Doom explores the effects of rapidly emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and genetic engineering, by bringing together leading national experts and stars from Purdue’s large constellation of researchers to kick-start conversations about potential risks and rewards. Learn more about the conference at www.purdue.edu/dawnordoom/.