Connecting Memphis classrooms to data science careers

The demand for data scientists is projected to grow 34% from 2024 to 2034, nearly 11 times faster than other occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This explosive growth has opened the door to a new generation of careers shaped by data, technology and discovery. As industries increasingly turn to data to answer complex questions and guide decision-making, data scientists are becoming key players in nearly every industry. In healthcare, data scientists help analyze patient outcomes, identify disease trends and support the development of precision medicine approaches. In research settings, they work with large and complex datasets to uncover patterns that can lead to new scientific discoveries. 

Beyond the numbers, this growing field represents an opportunity for future scientists and innovators to tackle real-world challenges using data science in ways that were unimaginable just a decade ago. As a leader in both education and training and data science, St. Jude is helping local students see themselves in future data-driven careers. 

Providing access and opportunity 

The STEMM Education and Outreach Program at St. Jude is ensuring students are not just learning about data science but are actively stepping into it. Recognizing the growing demand for data science skills across healthcare, technology and research, the program has partnered with Memphis-Shelby County Schools and the Scores Foundation to pilot a new initiative designed to introduce high school students to foundational data and computer science skills. 

The pilot program was introduced at Crosstown High, East High School and White Station High School, serving students in grades 10–12 through a curriculum co-taught by classroom educators and St. Jude scientists. Those data science experts include Tomi Mori, PhD, MBA, Department of Biostatistics chair; Stan Pounds, PhD, St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences associate dean and Department of Biostatistics member; and David Finkelstein, PhD, Department of Computational Biology lead-bioinformatics research scientist. The program is helping prepare students for future careers in STEMM fields while expanding access to advanced scientific education across the district.

“Data shapes the questions we ask, the problems we solve and ultimately, the discoveries we make, which is why it is so important to have diverse perspectives represented in the field,” said Mori. “By giving students early exposure to these experiences, we hope to help more young students see that their ideas, backgrounds and perspectives are valuable and can contribute to future discoveries.” 

Using real data to train future scientists

Rather than learning coding and data analysis only through textbooks or hypothetical examples, students are engaging with the same types of tools and approaches used in modern scientific research. In fact, the students are using real data from the St. Jude Cloud, a data repository that allows public access to data that is generated at the institution. 

Through hands-on experiences with programming languages, such as Python and R, as well as data visualization tools, students are learning how data can be used to answer complex scientific questions, uncover patterns and drive discovery. As they build these technical skills, they are also earning industry-recognized certifications equivalent to those used in professional workforce training programs, giving students tangible qualifications and credentials they can carry into future academic and career opportunities.

“This program opens the door for us to engage and inspire students from all backgrounds who are interested in biomedical research and data science and who want to help solve the challenges of tomorrow,” said Kyle Bichsel, PhD, St. Jude STEMM Education and Outreach Program, Virtual STEMM Academy program manager. 

College, careers and beyond  

By working directly with coding languages, data analysis tools and biomedical datasets, students are developing both technical and problem-solving skills that can support college-level studies and career pathways in STEMM fields. Students are also able to explore data firsthand, ask their own research questions and conduct novel analyses that support their growth and development as data scientists. 

“Crosstown High is a project-based, competency-based school, so a major focus for us is creating authentic learning experiences for our students,” explained Nikki Wallace, Crosstown High AP Biology teacher. “When I learned that St. Jude was developing a curriculum built around data and computer science, I immediately saw it as an incredible opportunity to engage students with real-world applications of science and data analysis in a way that feels meaningful, relevant and connected to potential future careers.” 

For many students in Memphis, opportunities to engage directly with scientists, cutting-edge technologies and advanced STEMM education remain limited. Careers in biomedical research and data science can often feel distant or difficult to imagine, something that happens in laboratories far removed from their everyday lives. By engaging with St. Jude researchers and exploring scientific challenges, students can see science not as an abstract subject confined to textbooks, but as a collaborative, creative and deeply human field driven by curiosity and problem-solving. This type of exposure is critical for helping students envision themselves in STEMM careers while breaking down misconceptions about who belongs in science. 

Empowering educators 

Beyond individual student benefits, the program aims to strengthen STEMM education across Memphis-Shelby County Schools by supporting both students and educators.  

“The program also provides a platform for educators to get more experience and guidance on how to teach complex topics such as computer programming and data science,” said Bichsel. “Not every teacher has had the opportunity to train in these rapidly evolving fields, so part of our goal is to provide the resources, curriculum support and confidence needed to help bring these subjects into more classrooms.” 

“One of the things we value most at Crosstown High is building meaningful community partnerships that connect classroom learning to the real world,” said Wallace. “As a science teacher, I’m always looking for authentic ways to engage students, so when I learned about the opportunity to partner with St. Jude, I immediately saw the value.”  

Planting seeds for the future of discovery 

The team hopes the initiative will do more than teach technical skills. They hope it will help students begin to see themselves as future scientists, researchers and innovators. By introducing students to data science early in their educational journeys, the program aims to prepare them for the growing demand for data scientists. 

“We are planting those early seeds that we want to see in our high school students,” Mori said. “We want to make sure the next generation is excited about science and understands that they can play a role in solving some of the world’s biggest challenges.” 

As the program continues to grow and expand across the district, organizers hope it will create long-term opportunities for students while helping strengthen the future STEMM workforce in Memphis and beyond. 

“The students we are investing in today will become the next generation of scientists driving future discoveries and cures,” said Bichsel. “We need their ideas, curiosity and innovation, and we hope they will choose to pursue that work at St. Jude.”