USC Big Data Health Science Center

Deadline to apply for Community Scholar (c-Scholar) Training Program
2025-09-01 17:00 UTC
Read more about the c-Scholar program at https://bigdata.sc.edu/r25-c-scholar-program/
The NIH Strategic Plan for Data Science suggests that a Big Data approach will uniquely advance our understanding of disease prevention, identification, control, and treatment in the coming decades and will be a key to reducing national and global health disparities. Despite rapidly increased efforts in the application of Big Data and advanced data analytics for health science research, the progress of translating Big Data research findings to effective public health and clinical practices for improved health outcomes has been slow due to many challenges. Such challenges include the limited participation of community members in Big Data health science research and a lack of effective communication between data science researchers and communities. As a multi-stakeholder effort, health data science crosses boundaries between research and practice, as well as between science and health policy. The involvement of and communication with members of local communities is critical to actualizing the benefits of data science research.
To address this critical need for community involvement in Big Data health science research, we offer data science training and mentored hands-on research experience to a group of community scholars through the R25 Community Scholar (“c-Scholar”) program. Guided by a citizen science model, the c-Scholar program provides structured support to four community scholars from various governmental and community organizations in South Carolina each year. Specifically, the R25 c-Scholar program (1) identifies and recruits community members interested in participating in Big Data infectious disease research and utilizing Big Data research findings to improve the health outcomes of their communities; (2) implements a multi-module training program that provides mentoring, curriculum-based training, and hands-on research experience to better equip c-Scholars with necessary knowledge, skills, and competence for Big Data infectious disease research; and (3) trains and supports c-Scholars to promote and utilize Big Data research in their communities by developing or improving their necessary professional skills (e.g., health communication, presentation of scientific findings to the public, community outreach and engagement).
Interested individuals should attach their resume or CV to an email expressing their interest in the program and their desire to promote and utilize Big Data infectious disease research in their community to Dr. Banky Olatosi (olatosi@mailbox.sc.edu) by close of business on September 15th, 2025.
The R25 Executive Committee will evaluate all applications and contact finalists for additional documentation, including a letter from their employer or supervisor stating their approval and agreement for the applicant to participate in this one-year program.
