Capstone Project

To become an expert data scientist you need practice and experience.

 

Auburn data science and data engineering students are required to enroll and complete the STAT 7940 Capstone Project course upon completion of all or at least five required Data Science courses. Capstone projects are consulting projects that allow students to gain real-world experience in data engineering, modeling, and analysis. Note that the STAT7940 Capstone project is currently offered only in the fall semester, and concludes with a paper and presentation. Most projects are sponsored by an organization—academic, commercial, non-profit, and government—seeking valuable recommendations to address strategic and operational issues. 

Students are split into teams with a faculty advisor to help oversee their project. Depending on the needs of the sponsor, project teams consist of two to five students overseen by a faculty advisor. Sponsors are vital partners in these projects, providing datasets, guidance, and orientation of project parameters to the teams. Capstone projects allow sponsors to explore critical business questions, gaining insights about their operation in tangible reports and other deliverables, while contributing to the development of the data science workforce. Sponsors also find this interaction a valuable way of assessing students for future employment.  

Preliminary sponsorship applications do not have to be complete. DSE faculty will work with you to help finalize your materials. Additional information for potential industry partners can be found here. If you have any questions about the capstone projects or applications process, or would simply like to discuss your project idea, contact Dr. Nedret Billor, Statistics and Data Science Programs Coordinator (billone@auburn.edu). 

 

 

Key Takeaways:

• Synthesizing the concepts you have learned throughout the program in various courses (this requires that the question posed by the project be complex enough to require the application of appropriate analytical approaches learned in the program and that the available data be of sufficient size to qualify as ‘big’)
• Experience working with ‘raw’ data exposing you to the data pipeline process you are likely to encounter in the ‘real world’  
• Demonstrating oral and written communication skills through a formal paper and presentation of project outcomes  
• Acquisition of team building skills on a long-term, complex, data science project 

 

Capstone projects have been sponsors by a variety of organizations and industries, including: GE Aviation, Southern Power, PNC Bank, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Regions Bank, New York Life, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Flores de la Campiña, and more. To sponsor a capstone project, please fill out the application form found below. 

 

Testimonials

 

GE Aviation

“The Auburn Capstone student team was dynamic, engaged, and was able to deliver creative approaches to a business problem.”

Chad Foster

Chief Consulting Engineer

GE Aerospace

Southern Power

“Southern Power is a leading IS wholesale energy provider meeting the electricity needs of municipalities, electric cooperatives, investor-owned utilities, and commercial and industrial customers. During the 2022 Fall Semester, Southern Power worked with graduate students from Auburn University’s Science and Mathematics department to develop state of the art forecasts for Locational Marginal Prices in the Texas ERCOT system. The baseline forecasts developed included ARIMAX / SARIMAX statistical methods and more advanced Machine Learning methods were also explored such as PROPHET and Random Forests. The results achieved during this successful joint effort will be implemented internally within Southern Power’s trading recommendation model during the first half of 2023. This was the second successful project between Auburn and Southern Power.”

Jeff Baker

Modeling and Analytics Manager

 Southern Power

New York Life Insurance

“Our experience as the industry partner on the capstone project with students from the Masters in Data Science program was highly positive. We were impressed by not only the students’ caliber, but also their dedication and hard work throughout the project. The insights and solutions developed through their data analysis showcased strong skill sets in critical thinking and problem-solving, analytical and modeling abilities, and verbal and written communications. These students are well-prepared to excel in the field of data science.”

Guy-vanie Miokankana

Corporate Vice President, Lead Data Scientist 

New York Life Insurance Company

 

Sponsor a Capstone Project