Data Scientist I

Classification Title: Data Scientist I

Job Description:

The University of Florida Lastinger Center for Learning’s mission is to improve the quality of teaching, learning, and childcare. We research, develop, and scale equitable educational innovations for adults and children that put all learners on trajectories for lifelong success. Specifically, the Center targets kindergarten readiness, 3rd grade reading proficiency, and algebra proficiency as critical milestones in children's educational trajectory that are predictive of success in school and life. The Center works at the nexus of research, practice, and policy to develop sustainable systems that leverage educational technologies and improve the implementation of research-based practices. Housed in one of the nation's elite public research universities, the Center operates as a dynamic, entrepreneurial workplace focused on executing against UF's service mission to strengthen the human condition and improve the quality of life. The Lastinger Center is committed to attracting, hiring, and retaining top talent by valuing diversity of thought, skill, and experience. As an equal opportunity employer, we believe in fostering environments where team members feel included, valued for their differences, and empowered to do their best work.

Responsibilities: this position is responsible for:

Program Data Analysis and Reporting

• Supports New Worlds Reading Initiative data demands including but not limited to data cleaning, storage, transformation, visualization, analysis, interpretation, and reporting for various purposes of the initiative.
• Develops scripts to transform and combine data from multiple sources and in-effort to create analysis-ready data.
• Creates actionable high-value analysis and reporting priorities by utilizing New Worlds Reading initiative data and data science software, in collaboration with New Worlds Reading Initiative teams in alignment with deliverables.
• Responsible for designing, developing, and ensuring the quality and robustness of models for data-driven decision-making and data-based actionable insights.
• Supports data collection, data analysis, data reporting, and data quality assurance for different purposes of the initiative, including enrollment and student eligibility verification procedures.
• Supports data collection processes and protocols to be utilized throughout the duration of the initiative.
• Collects, analyzes, interprets, and summarizes data in preparation for generation of statistical and analytical reports.
• Designs appropriate data repository and reporting tools that will be used to organize, analyze, and report data.
• Utilizes query databases to extract information needed for various demands.

Research and Program Evaluation

• Supports research and data dissemination to different audiences through various channels.
• Utilizes data science and statistical software to clean, manipulate, analyze, and interpret research data.
• Supports design and implementation of end user experience survey analytics.
• Supports development of program analysis and reporting metrics to monitor overall program efficacy and Objectives and key Results (OKRs).
• Support program evaluation to determine longer-term programmatic impact.
• Interprets results of these analyses and provides explanation for variances in measures used for program or research recommendations.
• Compiles data and other information from multiple data sources.

Collaboration

• Collaborates with vendors and internal team for quality assurance related to data, reporting, and New Worlds Reading Initiative program evaluation.
• Collaborates with IT staff on improvements to or development of data infrastructure.
• Supports two-way data reporting relationships with FDOE, school districts, and other partners.
• Works with designated stakeholders to assess, define, and develop report deliverables to meet internal and vendor requirements.
• Collaborates with vendors and internal teams on the design and functionality of the data systems

Other duties as assigned

Hybrid work location policy:

Lastinger Center for Learning supports and promotes a healthy work-life balance. To achieve this, the Lastinger Center offers a flexible, hybrid work schedule that aligns with the university’s Flexibility in the Workplace Policy. Allowing employees to stagger arrival and departure times as necessary and to vary the number of workdays in the office so long as an employee’s FTE commitment is fulfilled within the university workweek. This policy also allows for occasional, incidental remote work based on individual circumstances.

Will travel for assigned business purpose minimally (1-2/quarter)

Expected Salary:

$65,000 - $75,000

Minimum Requirements:

A Bachelor’s Degree in data science, statistics, bioinformatics, analytics, or similar field and two years of experience; Master’s Degree in data science, statistics, bioinformatics, analytics, or similar field.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in computer science or related field.
• Experience with AI and data mining models (including but not limited to AI for data streams/temporal data, classification models, clustering models, text mining tools) for big data.
• Research experience.
• Experience connecting to and pulling data from Azure MySQL databases.
• Experience with statistical models.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

In order to be considered, you must upload your cover letter and resume.

A criminal background check is required.

Must have a valid State of Florida Driver's license.

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.

Health Assessment Required: No