UCLA's Strategic Research Lab will hold its second Coding Camp for Union Research from June 8-12, 2026 to teach labor researchers and movement researchers about using Python to handle large data sets, webscrape, and manage multiple files. Please apply, or forward this announcement to any labor partners who might benefit from using Python in their work! Justin McBride UCLA Labor Studies Harness the Power of Python for Union Research <https://irle.ucla.edu/strategic-labor-research-conference-2024/> <https://irle.ucla.edu/event/ucla-coding-camp-for-union-research/> Apply Now: Python Coding Bootcamp for Union Research (June 8–12, 2026) <https://irle.ucla.edu/event/ucla-coding-camp-for-union-research/> The <https://irle.ucla.edu/research/ucla-strategic-research-lab/>UCLA Strategic Research Lab <https://irle.ucla.edu/research/ucla-strategic-research-lab/> will hold a five-day intensive training in using the power of Python coding to simplify tasks for union research. The camp will be held from June 8-12, 2026.  The Python Coding Bootcamp for Union Research <https://irle.ucla.edu/event/ucla-coding-camp-for-union-research/> is an intense and challenging experience! Come ready to jump feet first into a weeklong journey towards simplifying your work, wrangling large datasets, and automating your most routine research tasks! Key Training Topics - Python fundamentals - Dynamically moving and combining multiple files - Fuzzy matching different data sets - Using APIs to bulk download data, such as open government data - Scraping websites to collect data, such as: - property listings, - company information, - government data, - pdfs, and - data sets that cannot be downloaded directly - Cleaning, merging, and deduplicating data, such as worker lists, property records, or company information - Using text patterns to extract data Who Should Apply This course is designed for union or movement researchers that often encounter large amounts of data in the course of their work. The skills taught in this course will allow students to collect, process, and analyze data more efficiently and accurately. This course does not cover topics such as databases (i.e. SQL), advanced data analysis (i.e. statistics and data modeling), machine learning, or extracting text from PDFs–these are advanced topics that cannot be covered in the time we have, but students will have a solid Python foundation and can work on self-teaching these topics after the course. Prior coding experience is not required to attend this course. However, all accepted students must participate in a short, self-paced python pre-course. We will also cover Python fundamentals together in class. Application Details This application includes a short diagnostic test. The results of this test are only used to help design the course and are NOT factored into your application assessment. This course is rigorous and fast-paced. By applying to this course, you pledge to remain focused and engaged, and to ask for help when needed. Applications close on March 21, 2026. Accepted candidates will be notified shortly after this deadline. Instructor: Mellissa Chang <https://irle.ucla.edu/event/ucla-coding-camp-for-union-research/> Instructor: Mellissa Chang Mellissa Chang (she/hers) is freelance campaign researcher and data engineer. She conducts data-informed campaign research and builds data tools for labor unions and non-profits. Prior to this, she was a research coordinator at the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, where she tracked and analyzed eviction data and acquisitions to support tenant organizing campaigns around the country. During the pandemic, she closely tracked covid relief spending, identifying parent recipients and matching recipients to a database of federal regulatory violations, earning her the DC Femme Tech Award in 2021. Before entering the non-profit sphere, she worked as an airports campaign researcher at 32BJ. Mellissa holds a B.S. in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University. In her spare time, she builds automated mass transit systems in Minecraft. Event Details: - Dates: June 8-12, 2026 - Time: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM - Location: UCLA Rev. James Lawson Worker Justice Center, MacArthur Park, Los Angeles - Cost: $850 (includes training materials & refreshments) - Meals: Not included, but local dining options are available Space is limited, and applications close on March 21, 2026. Don’t miss this unique training opportunity! APPLY HERE! <https://airtable.com/appMgvxgSf2jf3yra/pagRQHRgY4o1CGy10/form> Email srl@irle.ucla.edu for more information or if you have any questions. The UCLA Strategic Research Lab <https://irle.ucla.edu/research/ucla-strategic-research-lab/> <https://irle.ucla.edu/research/ucla-strategic-research-lab/>is a capacity-building training hub and network for researchers from labor and community-based organizations. As a research unit of a public university, the SRL seeks to train strategic researchers for the common good. Besides the Coding Camp for Union Research, the Strategic Research Lab also holds its annual Strategic Labor Research Conference <https://irle.ucla.edu/research/ucla-strategic-research-lab/strategic-labor-research-conference-2024/>, one of the largest annual convenings of labor and movement researchers in the nation. Sign up for email updates for other Strategic Research Lab events and trainings here <https://irle.ucla.edu/uc-strategic-labor-conference-e-mail-list/>. [image: Facebook] <https://www.facebook.com/IRLEUCLA> [image: X] <https://twitter.com/uclairle> [image: Instagram] <https://www.instagram.com/uclairle/> [image: Linkedin] <https://www.linkedin.com/company/uclairle> UCLA Institute for Research on Labor and Employment | University of California, Los Angeles 10945 Le Conte Ave. Ste. 2107 | Los Angeles, CA 90095 US