Cal Poly FINAL MS Quantitative Economics Information Session 3/11 @5pm

MS in Quantitative Economics Information Session:

Economics Professor Carlos A. Flores will offer a Virtual Information Session about the MS in Quantitative Economics program at Cal Poly. Join us and learn how our 10-month program provides students with significant depth in programming, statistics, econometrics, data analytics, experimentation, machine learning, and the economic analysis of incentives.

 

Event Details:

Wednesday, March 11

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm (PST)

Zoom link:

https://calpoly.zoom.us/j/81261202449

 

More Detailed Information about the MS in Quantitative Economics (MSQE):

In today's data-driven world, economists distinguish themselves through their expertise in the analysis of the risks and opportunities embedded in any environment, and by focusing on the causes of data trends rather than just finding patterns. These are skills that are much harder to be replaced by AI than others (e.g., predicting patterns). You may find examples on this important distinction (causality vs prediction) here:

 

-Causal AI: How cause and effect will change artificial intelligence

- Susan Athey: Why Business Leaders Shouldn’t Have Blind Faith in AI, Stanford Business Graduate School

- Causal Machine Learning for Creative Insights at Netflix

- The Importance of Being Causal, Harvard Data Science Review

- The Case for Causal AI, Stanford Social Innovation Review

- A New Machine Learning Approach Answers What-If Questions, MIT Sloan Management Review

 

Now more than ever the value of solid training in quantitative economics methods is being revealed. Take a look at the following links, which show how Amazon, Uber and other Tech companies use modern economics tools to further their organizational goals:

 

- Amazon’s Economists

- Uber Secret Weapon is its Team of Economists

- Why Tech (and Other) Companies Hire So Many Economists

 

Hands on Experience:

In line with Cal Poly’s Learn-By-Doing philosophy, all MSQE students collaborate with external organizations, such as the World Bank, on real-world projects with real-life implications. The research conducted for these projects leverage core skills in economic theory, advanced econometrics, machine learning, and programming developed in the MSQE program. Listed below are some examples of past MSQE projects:

 

- The Effects of City Growth on Traffic and Urban Mobility

- Identifying Food Insecurity with Enhanced Monitoring and Reporting

- Estimating Poverty Using Deep Learning Algorithms

 

MSQE Alumni:

Our MSQE graduates have had great placements and do well on the job market in economics, data science, and financial analyst positions, as well as applying to PhD programs (see MSQE website). You can read some of our MSQE alumni profiles here. Our program is also shorter and more affordable than competitor programs.

Consider attending the information session to learn more about our MSQE program and let me or program director Professor Carlos Flores (cflore32@calpoly.edu) know if you have any questions about it. 

 

If you are unable to make either of these times, and would like, feel free to email me or Dr. Flores to set up an individual meeting at an alternative time for more information about the program.

ASA Scholarship Opportunity for First Generation Students

The Norman Beery Memorial Scholarship for First Generation College Students was established by Susan Mayo to honor her father, Norman Beery, who was a veteran and railroad worker, and to help first-generation college students like her. A first-generation college student is someone whose parent(s) and grandparents did not complete a four-year college or university degree.

The $3,000 scholarship will be given annually to a student enrolled in or planning to enroll in a statistics, biostatistics, or science (e.g., natural, social, computer) program incorporating statistics. It can be used to pay for any costs related to the recipient’s education such as books, tuition, and housing.

 

Please visit the website for more details: https://www.amstat.org/your-career/awards/norman-beery-memorial-scholarship/

The website lists a deadline of March 1st, but it has been extended to March 25th.

 

Irvine Summer Institute in Biostatistics and Undergraduate Data Science 2026

The Irvine Summer Institute in Biostatistics and Undergraduate Data Science (ISI-BUDS) will be held this summer from June 22 to July 31, 2026. Applications are due March 13, 2026.

ISI-BUDS is a six-week summer program introducing undergraduate students to modern methodology and practice of biostatistics and data science. The program will highlight applications in cutting edge biomedical research, will train students in fundamentals of biostatistics, data science, and computing, and will culminate in a team project co-supervised by statisticians and biomedical scientists.

Support: there are no costs or fees associated with the program. Moreover, accepted participants will be provided with

• up to $500 to cover travel expenses
• free housing that includes a meal plan
• $1,000 stipend for incidental expenses

Application: check your eligibility and apply here. We strongly encourage applications from students from historically excluded groups.

Funding: ISI-BUDS is supported by the National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R25AI170491, as one of the Summer Institutes in Biostatistics (SIBS) and Data Science. To learn about other SIBS visit the program webpage.

If you have any questions about the program, please contact ISI-BUDS Co-Director Dr. Minin:

Volodymyr Minin (he/him)
Professor of Statistics and Honors Program Director
School of Information & Computer Sciences
Associate Director, Infectious Disease Science Initiative
Co-Director, Irvine Summer Institute in Biostatistics and Undergraduate Data Science
University of California, Irvine
Email: vminin@uci.edu

http://vnminin.github.io
https://www.stat.uci.edu/isi-buds/

Research Experience for Undergraduates at SMU in Dallas, TX

"Advancing Data Science in the Public Interest"

June-July 2026

Learn how to use data science tools for improving the lives of people.  You will join a team of researchers using data to find solutions to pressing economic and environmental problems affecting communities in Dallas and beyond.  The program is supported by the National Science Foundation under Award Number 2447670. 

Participants begin with a 2-week bootcamp to learn data science techniques using Python. Then, participants are placed in small teams under the guidance of SMU faculty mentors. Previous mentors have included Dr. Cullum Clark (Bush Institute/Economics), Dr. Anthony Petrosino (Teaching & Learning) and Professor Mary Spector (Law). Participants also attend weekly professional development workshops and symposia, and have multiple opportunities to present their work. 

• $5600 stipend
• On-campus room and board included

Eligibility:

• U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Completed Sophomore of Junior Year of college with strong academic record
• Major in math, statistics, computer science or related field and an interest in social science OR major in social science field and an interest in data science 

 

Apply for Summer 2026 

Note: Application window ends Feb. 15th 

2026 Panetta Congressional Internship Program - Applications Now Open!

Applications are now being accepted for the 2026 Panetta Institute Congressional Internship Program. This prestigious program encourages and develops future leaders and prepares individuals for greater civic involvement. Cal Poly has participated in this program since 2001. Our past interns consistently agree that this program was a meaningful experience.   

This opportunity is open to matriculating third or fourth-year, junior, and senior students from ANY major who have an interest in Congress, civil leadership or public service.

Complete program requirements and details are available here.  

 

The application deadline is Friday, February 13, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. PST. 

 

Questions may be directed to Kara Hahlbeck (provost@calpoly.edu or 756-2186).  

 

Two Job Opportunities with the LA Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers are currently hiring for two quantitative roles that may be of interest:

Quantitative Analyst
This role focuses on applying statistical modeling, data analysis, and quantitative methods to support baseball operations and decision-making.
Job posting:
recruiting.ultipro.com/LOS1000LADOD/JobBoard/...

Junior Quantitative Analyst
This position is well-suited for early-career candidates with strong quantitative training and an interest in applying statistics and analytics to sports.
Job posting:
recruiting.ultipro.com/LOS1000LADOD/JobBoard/...

2026 Frost Research Scholarship Oppurtunity

 Hi students, 

An exciting scholarship opportunity is available for students with majors in the Bailey College of Science of Mathematics. The Frost Research Scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students who are interested in engaging in ongoing research in collaboration with a faculty mentor. 

 

For those of you who may have an interest but don’t know where to start, that’s okay. We encourage you to reach out to a faculty member in the department and ask questions. It is appropriate to ask a faculty member to nominate you. Talk to your faculty about whether they might have a research idea that you could work together on. Let them know what you are interested in. If they don't have a project, they might be able to point to you someone who does.

 

The scholarship is funded by the William and Linda Frost Fund and is intended to encourage and support undergraduate students in conducting original research. See the attachment for more details. Students and faculty mentors must complete the application jointly, and submit by Friday, March 20.

• The scholarship is currently $10,000 per year, and comes with the guaranteed option to participate in Frost SURP (for a two-year scholarship, Summer 2026 and Summer 2027), which includes a $4,500 Frost Summer Undergraduate Research Award. Students are not required to participate in Frost SURP, but if they opt not to participate they are generally expected to pursue a professional internship, REU, or other external research opportunity. 
• Students are expected dedicate 10 hours per week to research during the academic year, registering for 2 units of supervised research each term.
• Typically awarded for two years starting with a student’s third year at Cal Poly, but exceptions are made.. Continuing transfer students are also eligible and encouraged to apply. 
• Successful candidates have a strong academic record, particularly in the major, with a minimum GPA of 3.0
• Read this file carefully for information about the selection criteria and expectations.

 

The completed application is due by Friday, March 20, via email to rkbrar@calpoly.edu. For questions and additional information please contact Phil Bailey, Director of the Frost Fund pbailey@calpoly.edu or Ruzena Brar, Frost Endowment Program Director.