Working Groups
Leading Data Science researchers and program representatives from the Faculty Council lead these four Working Groups to guide DSI operations.
- Identify targeted funding opportunities
- Develop research seed grant mechanisms
- Co-host research symposia in priority areas
- Drive research initiatives and team science
Co-Chair

College of Engineering (COE), College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)
Chair, DSI Faculty Council
Co-Chair, Research Working Group
Professor, Computer & Information Sciences
Founding Director, Data Science Institute
wuc@udel.edu
Co-Chair

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)
Co-Chair, Research Working Group
Associate Professor, Political Science & International Relations
bagozzib@udel.edu
https://www.benjaminbagozzi.com/
Members
Jeffrey Buler
Professor, Entomology and Wildlife Ecology
Shanshan Ding
Assistant Professor, Applied Economics and Statistics
Gregory Dobler
Associate Professor, School of Public Policy and Administration
Xiao Fang
Professor, Management Information Systems
Mina Ostovari
Lead Research Investigator, Christiana Care Health Services, Inc.
Ilya Safro
Associate Professor, Department of Computer and Information Sciences
Rodrigo Vargas
Professor, Plant and Soil Sciences
Eric Wommack
Professor of Environmental Microbiology
Senior Assoc. Vice President for Research, Research Office
- Create training opportunities for interdisciplinary groups
- Collect and leverage existing resources on and off campus
- Identify and support development of sponsored training grants
- Provide a structured environment for above
Co-Chair

College of Health Sciences (CHS)
Co-Chair, Training Working Group
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
sconaty@udel.edu
https://sites.udel.edu/nursing/susan-conaty-buck-dnp-aprn-fnp-c/
Co-Chair

Workforce Development Director, Data Science Institute
Co-Chair, Training Working Group
khoober@udel.edu
Members
Adam Davey
Professor, Behavioral Health and Nutrition
Vu Dinh
Associate Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences
Karen Hoober
Associate Director, Graduate Education & Outreach, Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology
Jennifer Horney
Professor and Director, Epidemiology
Arthi Jayaraman
Professor, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Thomas Powers
Associate Professor, Philosophy Dept. and Biden School
Arthur Trembanis
Associate Professor, School of Marine Science and Policy
Timothy Webb
Assistant Professor, Hospitality Business Management
Xiao-Hai Yan
Mary A. S. Lighthipe Chair Professor, School of Marine Science and Policy
Co-Chair

College of Engineering (COE)
Co-Chair, Infrastructure Working Group
Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Director, Center for Data-intensive and Computational Science (DiCoS)
eigenman@udel.edu
http://www.ece.udel.edu/research/by-faculty.Rudolf.Eigenmann.html
Co-Chair

College of Engineering (COE)
Associate Professor, Computer & Information Sciences
Co-Chair, Infrastructure Working Group
schandra@udel.edu
https://www.eecis.udel.edu/~schandra/
Members
Benjamin Bagozzzi
Associate Professor, Political Science & International Relations
Chuming Chen
Associate Professor, Computer & Info Sciences
Julie Cowart
Software Engineer, Data Science Institute
John Huffman
Director, IT – Research Cyberinfrastructure
Annie Johnson
Library Assistant Director, Library
Anita Schwartz
Scientific Appl Consultant IV, IT-Client Support & Services
Rodrigo Vargas
Associate Professor, Plant and Soil Sciences
- Establish Data Science Distinguished Lecture Series and co-sponsor lectures
- Host and co-sponsor training workshops and networking events
- Promote visibility and engagement via local/national media and social media
- Engage industry & government partners
- Host meetings, seminars, brownbag lunches to share research, incubate ideas and promote networking of faculty, students, partners
Co-Chair

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)
Co-Chair, Networking & External Relations Working Group
Professor, Physics and Astronomy
Associate Director, Data Science Institute
gizis@udel.edu
http://www.physics.udel.edu/~gizis/
Co-Chair

College of Education and Human Development (CEHD)
Co-Chair, Networking & External Relations Working Group
Associate Professor, School of Education
Director, Center for Research in Education and Social Policy
hmay@udel.edu
http://www.cresp.udel.edu/
Members
Saleem Ali
Blue and Gold Distinguished Professor, Geography & Spatial Sciences and Biden School of Public Policy & Administration
Benjamin Bagozzi
Associate Professor, Political Science & International Relations
Michael Blaustein
Business Specialist – Corporate Partnerships, Office of Economic Innovation & Partnerships
Rich Braun
Professor, Mathematical Sciences
Bintong Chen
Director, Lerner College of Business & Economics
Susan Conaty-Buck
Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
Gregory Dobler
Assistant Professor, School of Public Policy and Administration
Martin Heintzelman
Professor and Department Chair, Applied Economics and Statistics
Karen Hoober
Associate Director, Graduate Education & Outreach, Center for Bioinformatics & Computational Biology
Tom Ilvento
Professor, Applied Economics & Statistics
Allison Karpyn
Associate Director, Center for Research in Education & Social Policy Assistant Professor of Education, Behavioral Health & Nutrition, Behavioral Health & Nutrition
Dan Leathers
Professor, Geography
Eric Wommack
Professor of Environmental Microbiology
Senior Assoc. Vice President for Research, Research Office
Ming Zhao
Associate Professor, Business Administration