Targeted infusion project: the datasmiths initiative: transforming stem education with data-centric approaches

Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) received a $399,930 Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Human Resource Development under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076), effective August 15, 2025 through July 31, 2028. The award funds the DataSmiths Initiative, a comprehensive year-long program designed to strengthen data science and bioinformatics competencies among underrepresented STEM undergraduates at this historically Black college and university. The initiative delivers integrated educational products and services including seminar series, hands-on computational boot camps, structured peer mentorship, and data-intensive research experiences that combine analytical and computational methods with professional development activities to prepare students for graduate study and competitive STEM careers.

The program addresses critical gaps in current undergraduate STEM curricula by infusing data-centric approaches across JCSU's STEM coursework and building student technical competencies in bioinformatics and data science—skillsets essential to workforce readiness in increasingly data-driven fields including natural sciences, biomedicine, and public health. By emphasizing experiential learning and STEM identity development, the DataSmiths Initiative contributes to NSF's broader objective of diversifying the STEM workforce, expanding national innovation capacity, and strengthening U.S. competitiveness in critical technology areas.

Abstract

The historically black colleges and universities undergraduate program (hbcu-up) through targeted infusion projects supports the development, implementation, and study of evidence-based innovative models and approaches for improving the preparation and success of undergraduate students enrolled at hbcus so that they may pursue science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (stem) graduate programs and/or careers. This project will contribute to the national needs by diversifying and expanding the stem workforce and strengthening U.S. Innovation and competitiveness by addressing critical data science and bioinformatics skill gaps essential to public health, economic growth, and national resilience. With the rapid advancement of technologies across stem fields, including natural sciences, biomedicine, and public health, these disciplines have become increasingly data-intensive. However, many undergraduate stem programs lack integrated training in bioinformatics and data science, leaving students underprepared for a data-driven workforce. To address this GAP, johnson c. Smith university (jcsu will establish the datasmiths initiative, a comprehensive year-long program designed to immerse underserved stem undergraduates in analytical and computational methods. Through a combination of seminar series, hands-on boot camps, structured peer mentorship, and data-intensive research experiences, students will develop the skills and confidence needed for success in graduate study and competitive stem careers. The program emphasizes experiential learning and professional development to ensure that students not only master technical content but also build a strong stem identity. The goals of the project include: (1) strengthening the integration of analytical and computational approaches in jcsu?s stem curriculum; (2) preparing students for advanced degrees and data-intensive careers through hands-on learning and mentored research; (3) empower faculty through training to incorporate data science and bioinformatics practices into the curriculum; and (4) establishing sustainable research and teaching partnerships with external institutions with data science expertise. Unlike a standalone course or single research experience, this initiative provides students with a structured and sustained learning experience across three semesters. Participants will engage in interdisciplinary collaborations, gain practical skills through research, and be supported through peer mentorship. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.