UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — To celebrate International Love Data Week 2026, Penn State University Libraries will host two afternoon events 1–4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11: a viewing party for a Big Ten Academic Alliance-sponsored careers in data panel discussion, followed by a data career fair.
Both events will be held in the Dewey Room, ground floor West Pattee Library on the University Park campus. The events are especially well-suited for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars across disciplines who are exploring data-related careers both within and beyond academia, although all registrants are welcome. Registration for both events is required.
Careers in Data panel discussion
At 1 p.m., a screening of the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) Careers in Data Panel will feature four Big Ten experts and a representative from Netflix. Leaders and alumni from across the Big Ten Academic Alliance will share their experiences and insights into careers in data. Topics include career pathways, skills and education, and emerging trends in the data field.
Attendees from students to professionals exploring a transition into data and experienced practitioners will hear practical guidance and perspectives from panelists to help navigate data-driven careers.
Panelists include:
- Gabbi Tanner Kraus, Purdue University
- Jill Blackman, Northwestern University
- Michelle Appel, University of Maryland
- Zac Lockwood, Ohio State University
- Aaron Williams, Netflix
Data Career Fair
At 2 p.m. immediately following the panel screening, attendees will transition into a Data Career Fair designed for informal, conversational engagement with data professionals representing several Penn State departments. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect through one-on-one and small-group discussions focused on career pathways, skills development and professional decision-making.
Data Career Fair participants include professionals from:
- Penn State Data Commons
- Institute for Computational and Data Sciences (ICDS)
- Data Science and Analytics, University Development
- Research Data Stewardship, University Libraries
- Donald W. Hamer Center for Maps and Geospatial Information, University Libraries
Light refreshments will be provided.
Love Data Week events at Penn State are co-organized by the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research and the University Libraries’ Research Data Stewardship Department. These events coincide with the Big Ten Academic Alliance Love Data Week virtual, no-cost events that will be held Feb. 9–13.
For more information about Love Data Week events, email the Research Data Stewardship Department at ul-rds@lists.psu.edu.