CNSE Grad Student Selected for National Data Science Program
By Andrew McMains
A master’s student in environmental and sustainable engineering at UAlbany’s College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering has earned a place in a national data science summer school offered by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Emmanuel Kipchirchir is in his first year of studies after co-founding a company that designs and installs solar energy systems. He’s among just 29 students that the DOE’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) User Facility selected for the week-long program, known as the Big Open Data Science Summer School. It will take place at the National Weather Center in Norman, Okla.
“What interests me most is the opportunity to work with large atmospheric datasets and learn advanced data analysis techniques,” said Kipchirchir, who’s also a graduate research assistant. “I hope to deepen my understanding of ARM datasets, open science tools and connect with researchers working in atmospheric observations and climate data.”
3 components
The school has three main components: lectures on atmospheric science, machine learning and big data science, a hackathon to gain insights into the Earth’s atmosphere and a tour of ARM’s flagship observatory near Lamont, Okla., according to Scott Collis, workforce development lead for ARM and an atmospheric scientist at Argonne National Laboratory.
Participants are selected based on academics and their likelihood of contributing to open science and ARM’s mission of helping researchers better understand the work behind earth system models, Collis said. They also need a letter of support.
Collis described the process as “highly competitive,” with most applicants not gaining admission.
Prime opportunity
Kipchirchir has a passion for renewable energy, a strong resume and is now learning how to conduct research, said his academic advisor, Professor of Empire Innovation Sukanta Basu.
“Emmanuel has been doing very well,” added Basu, who wrote a letter on his behalf. “This will be a really good opportunity for him.”
Kipchirchir’s company, W.S Energy Ltd., works both commercially and residentially, with clients such as manufacturing plants, hospitals and schools.
Kipchirchir chose CNSE’s graduate program because he wants to expand his knowledge of the environmental sustainability and atmospheric processes that influence renewable energy systems.
“This degree will help me develop the analytical and data-driven skills I need to advance sustainable energy solutions,” he added.