Data Fellows
Helping social sector data leaders succeed through training and mentorship
What is the program?
The Uptake.org Data Fellows program is a six-month fellowship designed to connect data professionals at non-profits, foundations, governmental agencies, and social enterprises to experts in data science and security. The fellowship begins with a week in Chicago where fellows meet with mentors, participate in workshops on topics in data science, and network with like-minded data-for-good professionals.
At social sector organizations, there’s often only one “data person” responsible for managing the organization’s data. Many are self-taught without much training or support from their resource-strained organizations. At Uptake.org, we aim to change that. We provide data-for-good professionals with the tools and community they need to solve big problems in the social sector.
Our Data Science fellows are focused on developing skills in machine learning and data product development; they’re trying to find ways to gain insight and build tools with data.
Data Fellows
Why You Should Apply
Define Data Standards
The fellowship is for experienced data leaders employed by nonprofits, social enterprises, and government agencies who want to improve their data science or security knowledge, skills and methodologies.
Develop Shareable Applications
We provide ongoing coaching and mentoring from Uptake’s core team as well as advisors from Uptake partners based on fellows’ needs, skills and preferences.
Promote Data Sharing
You’ll join a network of data leaders and connect with other professionals in the “data for good” ecosystem.
Data Fellows
Program details
Uptake selects and mentors a cohort of Data Fellows biannually. The fellowship kicks off with a week of workshops, mentor meetings, and networking in Chicago and continues remotely for six months. Fellows then re-convene for a Fellow Showcase Day in Chicago. Each fellow is expected to work on a project during the course of the fellowship, although we stress that this fellowship is primarily about skill development.
The Fellowship Consists of Four Parts:
What we’re looking for:
We’re looking for data scientists, analysts, and leaders at nonprofits, social enterprises, or government agencies that have been operating for two years or more. Most of this fellowship centers on helping you grow as an individual.
We want individuals who:
- Have experience building models. We expect most of our fellows to understand the use of R or Python.
- Have sound quantitative skills, including the use of data analysis methodologies.
- Interested in building technical skills or work better with a technical team in application development, programming, data engineering or a related field.
- Are deeply passionate about using data science for social good.
- Have great communication skills and want to connect with peers and experts in the data-for-good field.
- Embody Uptake’s core values: clarity, curiosity, flexibility, industry and trust.
- Are willing to commit to a six-month fellowship period with an in-person session from March 4-8, 2019. Travel expenses are covered by Uptake.
Participants in the fellowship to date
Months of mentorship and project support
Cities from all over the world
Data Fellows
Meet Our Current Fellows
Cohort 5
Lucy Abbot
Manager of Data and Strategy, Braven
Higher Education
San Francisco, CA
Arpit Arora
Data Analyst, Pratham Books
Global Literacy
India
Kevin Crowe
Data Journalist, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Data Journalism
Milwaukee, WI
Justin Elszasz
Data Scientist, City of Baltimore
Smart Cities
Baltimore, MD
Monica Hersher
Jr. Data Scientist, IDinsight
International Development
India
Jonathan Hudlow
Director of Research and Analysis, Love Justice International
Anti-human Trafficking
Thailand
Nesha Jairam
Data and Systems Manager, Georgria Division of Family & Children Services
Social Services
Atlanta, GA
Francis Lavoe
Group Data Scientist, PEG Africa
Energy & Microfinance
Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal
Kate Murray
Operations Associate, mRelief
Healthcare
Chicago, IL
Juan Vega Rodriguez
Outcomes and Data Manager, CentroNía
Early Education
Washington, D.C.
Professional Network
Data Fellows Alumni
We have a growing community of data leaders working in different change sectors across the globe.
The Data Fellows application for Spring 2019 is now closed.
Our team will be reviewing all applicants and be following up with finalists in July 2019. If you have any questions you can also email the Uptake.org team using the Contact Us form.