Have a problem you’ve been meaning to explore but haven’t had the time or resources to tackle? We are looking for 2027 Capstone Partners, and this is your chance to collaborate with a team of highly skilled graduate students ready to dive in.
What is a Capstone Project?
Capstone projects are year-long collaborations (September–April) that pair external partners with teams of second-year MIDS students. Together, you’ll work on a real-world problem that matters to your organization.
Our partners come from a wide range of sectors including companies, nonprofits, healthcare organizations, and research groups with a strong emphasis on industry collaboration. No matter your domain, if you have a data-driven question, we’re interested.
As a partner, you’ll propose a project aligned with your goals and meet regularly with your student team throughout the year. In return, students will deliver meaningful outputs (often including actionable insights, data-driven recommendations, and working code) to help you better understand and address your challenge.
Why Partner with MIDS?
- Access top talent: Work closely with graduate students trained in data science, statistics, and interdisciplinary problem-solving
- Expand your capacity: Explore new ideas or questions your team hasn’t had the bandwidth to pursue
- Build your pipeline: Get to know students you may want to recruit in the future
- Gain fresh perspective: Students bring curiosity, creativity, and cutting-edge methods to your work
A Win-Win Collaboration
Capstone projects are designed to create value on both sides. Partners gain insights and solutions tailored to their needs, while students gain hands-on experience working on meaningful, real-world challenges with stakeholders who care about the outcome.
How to Get Involved
If you’re interested in becoming a 2027 Capstone Partner, here’s how to get started:
- Submit a proposal by May 30, 2026
- Review proposal guidelines and project requirements
- Reach out with questions or ideas. We’re happy to talk through potential projects.
Want to Learn More?
Join one of our informal Friday drop-in Zoom sessions from 12–1 PM to ask questions and learn more about the process:
- April 24
- May 8
- May 22
You can also explore past capstone projects or review our partner information materials to see examples of past collaborations.