By Apryl Motley – Communications Consultant, MS-CC
Meet the MS-CC Spotlight
Editor’s Note: This Q&A continues off our series of short interviews spotlighting members of the MS-CC community. Be on the lookout for additional interviews each month, and email Apryl Motley if there’s an MS-CC community member you like us to spotlight in the future or if you would like to be in the spotlight yourself. We appreciate community members and all they do to move our mission forward.
David Lockett is a data science Ph.D student at the Meharry School of Applied Computational Sciences (SACS) in Nashville, Tenn. He is also the school’s grants proposal development and awards management specialist. During his four years at SACS, David has received numerous accolades, including acceptance into the prestigious 2025 National Science Foundation I-Corps Winter Cohort and being named to the education workforce committee of the National Data Science Alliance.
What does he love most about his job? “I have the opportunity to drive impactful research, connect with communities, and secure funding for transformative projects,” David explained.”I enjoy collaborating with experts across various disciplines, pushing the boundaries of innovation, and making science and technology more accessible.”
Read on for his perspective on how participation in the MS-CC is beneficial as he pursues these endeavors.
More About David
- Best Advice He Ever Received (& from whom): Turn data into discoveries, funding into opportunities, and outreach into action. (Dr. Todd Gary, Director, External R&D Partnerships and Assistant Professor, Biomedical Data Science, Meharry School of Applied Computational Sciences.
- His Personal Motto: Science thrives on discovery; communities thrive on connection—my work fuels both
Q: How does participation in the MS-CC help you in your current role?
It helps by bridging the gap between research and real-world impact, empowering change through data, collaboration, and innovation.
Q: What would you say to encourage other institutions to participate in the MS-CC?
The MS-CC provides Infrastructure development support, such as assistance in upgrading campus cyberinfrastructure, partnerships with HBCUs and HSIs, strengthening research and educational initiatives; and internships and fellowships, [offering] programs for students and faculty to gain practical experience.
Q: Why does participation in the MS-CC continue to be important for your institution?
The MS-CC provides Meharry with opportunities for collaborative research and innovation in cybersecurity, enhancing its role as a leader in health sciences education and research.
Ready to Get Involved?
Joining the MS-CC as a participant is simple, quick, easy – and free! Fill out the form, join the mailing list, and stay informed about upcoming meetings and activities.
About the MS-CC
The MS-CC aims to strengthen cyberinfrastructure for research and education across a wide range of fields and communities, taking into account the education, research, and service missions of participating institutions. In partnership with Internet2, the MS-CC received funding from the National Science Foundation to support this vision: OAC Award # 2137123 and OAC Award # 2234326.