Summer Institute in Neuroimaging and Data Science

Project Summary/Abstract
The study of the human brain with neuroimaging technologies has entered an exciting era of Big Data. Many
data collection projects, including NIH-funded initiatives such as the Human Connectome Project and the Ado-
lescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, have made neuroimaging datasets of unprecedented quality freely
available to researchers. Despite appearing only recently, these large datasets have already yielded important
new insights about human brain structure and function, and the quantity of ongoing NIH-funded projects related
to these datasets suggests that this yield has not yet peaked. However, neuroscience researchers face substan-
tial challenges in capitalizing on these datasets. The incorporation of Big Data into research requires a set of
technical and theoretical tools that are not emphasized in traditional training in neuroscience. These skills and
ideas, collectively referred to as Data Science, include both technical expertise—e.g., computer science, soft-
ware engineering, databases, machine learning, statistics, and data visualization—as well as a familiarity with
the contemporary data ecosystem and best practices. The Summer Institute in Neuroimaging and Data Science
features instruction by experts in data science methodology and by leading neuroimaging researchers who are
applying data science to answer scientific questions about the human brain. In addition to lectures and tutorials
on the theoretical background of data science methodology and its application to neuroimaging, the course fea-
tures a week-long hackathon, in which learning is driven by student-led group-projects, with guidance from the
course instructors and additional experts. Overall, the curriculum emphasizes experiential hands-on training and
collaborative learning.

Grant Number: 5R25MH112480-10
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Noah Benson