Stephanie Byrum, Ph.D. Core Director

The Data Science Core supports current and future research and education across the Arkansas INBRE network. (Figure 2). The Data Science Core incorporates aspects of the Arkansas INBRE Bioinformatics Core but the infrastructure and scope has been expanded to allow faculty to pivot to emerging needs as the data science field is rapidly expanding and evolving.

The Data Science Core supports PUI faculty and students who use imaging data, ML and AI, deep learning, cybersecurity, publicly available data, require data management and sharing, and other data science topics as needed . Data science applications will be made available through the local HPC and use cloud-based tools, such as PSSC Labs, Google Colaboratory (Colab), and Amazon Web Services (AWS). PSSC Labs is a custom cloud-based framework designed specifically for the needs of the Arkansas INBRE network. Google Cloud Platform provides access to data storage and TensorFlow machine learning applications. AWS has specific environments for modeling applications, such as Alpha Fold. The Data Science Core provides training and education by hosting training workshops with these platforms, developing cloud-based training Jupyter Notebooks with code and instructions, and working with PUI faculty to develop CREs.

A grant supplement was awarded to AR INBRE to enhance data science capabilities in the Arkansas. As part of this mechanism, the Bioinformatics Core has developed both hardware and software resources for education and research purposes. 

Opportunities include:

• Cloud computing: On demand access with CPU and GPU components and Jupyter Notebooks for data pipelines
• Training modules: NIGMS Sandbox
• BigOmics Analytics: software for analyzing omics data that includes differential expression as well as pathways and functional analyses
• A new Help Desk for Data Science-related questions. 

Please email Stephanie Byrum at if you are interested in utilizing any of these resources.