Engineering student named Scholar-Finalist of Cornell-funded Data Incubator Program

Wayne State University engineering and business student Kyle Brown was chosen as a Scholar-Finalist for the prestigious, Cornell-funded Data Incubator Program. The Data Incubator is an eight-week intensive program that helps top data science master's and Ph.D. students advance their skills and transition from academia to industry. Brown competed against students from MIT and Harvard in a rigorous application process that included a project proposal, high-level applied statistics and data-mining exercises. Only one in four applicants were chosen as Scholar-Finalists.

"I am extremely appreciative to be selected as a scholar-finalist," Brown said. "It is an elite honor to be chosen among top Ph.D. candidates."

Brown has a diverse educational background. He received his first undergraduate degree in finance to prepare for his goal of one day running a tech giant such as Apple or Microsoft. However, throughout his childhood, Brown had a vested interest in chemistry, mathematics and technology. This passion led him to pursue a second undergraduate degree in electrical/electronic engineering technology and a master's in data science and business analytics, which he will start this fall. The latter degree is a joint effort launched by the College of Engineering and the Mike Ilitch School of Business. The innovative degree allows students to develop the interdisciplinary skills necessary to thrive in the fast-growing field of data science and analytics.

"Data science is impacting all industries," Brown said. "Not only is it used by investment bankers to predict stocks, but it is also applicable in a multitude of other industries. One of the most interesting to me is its application in drug discovery. Big data is used to develop pharmaceuticals more efficiently. It takes something that is high-risk, low-reward and makes it economical by cutting down on the testing and analysis phase and streamlining the entire process."

In addition to completing these degrees simultaneously, Brown is the CEO and founder of WorldCapital Integrated Solutions, a financial analytics company where he provides financial services and product design and development to friends and colleagues. Brown is also an active member in student organizations. He serves as the co-captain and CFO of WSU's Motorsports Formula Electric SAE and the president of the Engineering Technology Student Organization.