From Statistical Rigor to Business Impact: Recognizing the Next Generation of Data Scientists

UChicago MS-ADS Capstone Showcase highlights innovative AI projects in healthcare, finance, and more, judged by global experts.

CHICAGO, IL, UNITED STATES, October 3, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ -- As an alumnus of the University of Chicago’s Master’s in Applied Data Science (MS-ADS) program, where I serve as an Instructional Assistant and Grader, I am committed to fostering the next generation of data science leaders. In this role, I guide students through complex topics like data analysis, machine learning, and ethical AI, drawing on my journey through the program’s challenging curriculum. My professional experience as a Principal Consultant in Global Decision Science & Innovation further enriches this effort, blending academic rigor with practical insights from over a decade of advising global brands and retailers. Leveraging advanced analytics, predictive modeling, and optimization, I help clients navigate growth and efficiency challenges, skills I honed at UChicago and now impart to students. Judging the MS-ADS Capstone Showcase was a natural extension of this dual perspective, offering a chance to give back while evaluating cutting-edge projects.

The MS-ADS program is built to shape future data science leaders, equipping students with programming, cloud computing, data engineering, big data, and ethical AI expertise. The two-quarter Capstone project immerses students in real-world problems from corporate and nonprofit sponsors. With problem statements submitted yearly, data provided early, and mentors offering guidance under non-disclosure agreements, the process cultivates technical proficiency alongside business acumen and ethical grounding, essential traits for the field.

Held on August 12, 2023, and moderated by Assistant Clinical Professor Don Patchell, the Summer Capstone Showcase featured six student teams tackling healthcare, finance, automotive, and causal inference challenges. Projects were judged on technical rigor, innovation, methodology, and business impact. Patchell and Alison Ossyra lauded the students for surpassing baseline coursework, mastering advanced tools, crafting compelling data narratives, and setting a high bar for the event.

The Showcase’s strength lay in its diverse, innovative projects. UChicago Medicine’s “Medical Language Processing – Patient Based Radiology Q&A System” (Ananth Prayaga, Evelyn Wu, Nitin Gupta, Vivian Yeh; advised by Utku Pamuksuz) used large language models to enhance diagnostic efficiency and ease physician burnout, earning Best in Show. iLykei Teaching Tech Corp’s “Automatic Bayesian Network Construction from Natural Language Prompt” (Oscar Carvajal, Iris Soohyun Lee, Yao Zhang, Xiao Pang; advised by Yuri Balasanov) automated financial risk assessment with NLP and Bayesian modeling, securing Honorable Mention. Other standouts included UChicago Medicine’s AI-driven “Oropharyngeal Tumor Segmentation” with convolutional neural networks, CME Group’s “Price Gap Risk Study with Implied Volatility Index (CVOL™)” for financial forecasting, Nissan’s “Vehicle Price Forecasting” showcasing advanced machine learning algorithms like XGBoost, and a “Causal Simulation System in Python” built on DoWhy for causal inference education. Each project showcased technical depth, scalability, and ethical consideration.

Recognition of Global Expertise

I was honored to judge alongside Vinodhkumar Gunasekaran, a globally recognized innovator in applied AI and analytics whose breakthroughs in pricing and promotion science are used by leading Fortune 50 companies. His reputation as an international authority, acknowledged by academic institutions and industry leaders, was evident throughout the Showcase. He consistently pushed us to evaluate projects for technical accuracy and their transformative business potential. Fellow judges noted that Gunasekaran’s insights set a benchmark for assessing projects, linking scientific rigor with real-world scalability. His contributions elevated the Showcase and reinforced the high standards of excellence expected from UChicago’s MS-ADS graduates.

We were also privileged to have Don Patchell on the judging panel. With over thirty years of experience in academia and industry, including leadership in advanced analytics for global brands like McDonald’s and Coca-Cola, Don provided critical context, emphasizing practical deployment and leadership readiness. His presence highlighted the program’s commitment to preparing students for impact inside and outside the classroom.

The Showcase was a testament to student resilience and innovation, delivering actionable insights for sponsors and a talent pipeline for the industry. For me, it reinforced the power of mentorship in shaping AI’s future. As an alumnus and instructor, I see the Capstone as a vital stepping stone, preparing graduates to tackle a dynamic field with the skills, ethics, and vision to drive lasting change. This experience highlighted student potential and deepened my commitment to guiding the next wave of data science leaders.

Alexander Huba
University of Chicago
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