2023 Data Science Showcase
52 participants across 16 teams presented research in the fields of computing, data science and artificial intelligence at the annual Data Science Showcase hosted by the HPE Data Science Institute and the Department of Computer Science at UH. The event, held last December, was first launched in 2022 to provide a platform for highlighting the accomplishments of outstanding young researchers and encouraging them to pursue a future in data science.
"This showcase allowed students to apply their knowledge and develop new skills through their research activities,” said Nouhad Rizk, Ph.D., instructional professor in the Department of Computer Science. “Many students enjoyed interacting with their mentors outside of the classroom, providing exceptional opportunities for them to learn and build lasting relationships."
The event featured presentations by UH students from various academic disciplines. Each group gave an overview of their abstract, background, results and more. Many research topics centered around applying AI techniques, such as neural networks, deep learning and machine learning models, toward real-life industry practices like disease detection systems and cybersecurity measures.
“We were excited to partner with Dr. Nouhad Rizk and the Department of Computer Science to support the Data Science Showcase for undergraduate students across UH,” said Andrew Kapral, Ph.D., Director of Engaged Data Science at the HPE DSI. “From classifying geologic formations in the Athabasca Oil Sands to predictive analysis of outcomes for patients with heart disease, the projects presented this year covered a broad range of topics and were of outstanding quality.”
The showcase offered students the opportunity to educate themselves on communicating their research, while also providing them a channel of peer support for a future in data science.
“Project-based learning is essential for honing data science skills, and we look forward to expanding opportunities for UH students to engage in these kinds of experiences in future,” Kapral said.
At the end of the event, a jury voted on the best student projects. The panel consisted of faculty and staff from the Department of Computer Science and the HPE Data Science Institute. Each winning group received an Amazon gift card.
Showcase Winners
First Place
Team: William Le, Ruben Daniel Montemayor, Charlies Tian
Project: Heart Disease Prediction Using Deep Learning
Second Place
Team: William Brieden, Khanh Nguyen, Osasenaga Obano
Project: Diabetic Retinopathy Classification Using Neural Networks
Third Place
Team: Wian van Dyk, Joshua Folh, Sammy Hamdi
Project: Brain Tumor Classification in MRI With Deep Learning
Fourth Place
Team: Jusvin Charles, James Graham, Justin Hose
Project: Retinal Disease Detection Using Convolutional Neural Networks
Fifth Place
Team: Nirorn Hong, Maximus Furtado, Erik Perales
Project: Age and Gender Prediction Using Convolutional Neural Networks