Discover posit::conf as an Opportunity Scholar

At Posit, we believe that a vibrant and inclusive data science community is essential for innovation and progress. That’s why we’re so proud to offer Opportunity Scholarships to support individuals from underrepresented groups in attending posit::conf and connecting with this amazing community!

The opportunity scholar program includes travel funds, accommodations, and conference registration. However, it’s not just about covering costs. It’s about fostering a welcoming environment where everybody feels supported and inspired. We hope to empower individuals to pursue their passion, share their perspectives, and be part of something bigger. 

Last year, we were thrilled to welcome over 35 scholars! Want to get a glimpse into their experience? Read some quotes from Sunny, Fonti, Jen, and Chaima!

Sunny Tseng, a PhD candidate at the University of Northern British Columbia, stated, “As an RStudio and open-source enthusiast, being among 2,000 like-minded software engineers was exhilarating.” (translated by Google Translate) Read Sunny’s full blog post here.

Fonti Kar, a science facilitator from Australia, shared, “The general vibe of all the talks was very humble and warm. It was a gentle ‘Hey I did this cool thing in my free time, and I encourage you to do the same because we can support each other and can do great things’. This sense of comradery continues to motivate me to try out all the new things I’ve learned at the conference.” Read Fonti’s full blog post here.

Jen Richmond, a developmental psychologist and co-founder of RLadies Sydney, reflected, “My take home is that at a big conference like #positconf, inclusivity starts at the top. […] The result was a big conference that felt like a small community. That small community feel created an environment where people really felt comfortable to bring their whole self.” Read Jen’s full blog post here.

Chaima Boughanmi, a Data Scientist at BVA Xsight and R-Ladies Paris organizer, shared, “I had the pleasure of meeting extraordinary people from around the world and learning so much from the keynotes, talks, and workshops.” Read Chaima’s three LinkedIn posts.

These are just a few of the many inspiring stories from our 2024 scholars, and we’re delighted to see our scholars share their takeaways and contribute back to the community.

Apply to be 2025 Opportunity Scholar

We’re looking forward to posit::conf(2025) and another opportunity to bring together a diverse and passionate group of data practitioners. If you’ve been inspired by these stories, apply to be an Opportunity Scholar before applications close on Friday, February 21st!