Data Science Researcher, Data Driven Discovery Initiative (DDDI), and the Penn Development Research Initiative (PDRI/DevLab)

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Data Science Researcher, Data Driven Discovery Initiative (DDDI), and the Penn Development Research Initiative (PDRI/DevLab)

Job Profile Title

Data Analyst D

Job Description Summary

Data Driven Discovery Initiative (DDDI), and the Penn Development Research Initiative (PDRI/DevLab) is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Data Science Researcher with a strong quantitative and machine learning background and experience in spatial data analysis. In this role, you will work closely with two interdisciplinary teams: PDRI/DevLab and the Data Driven Discovery Initiative (DDDI), supporting a range of data-driven projects related to the assessment of international development programs (PDRI/DevLab) and “data science for social good” research projects (DDDI). This is a one-year term appointment.

Job Description

The Penn Development Research Initiative (PDRI) and DevLab@Penn bring together interdisciplinary researchers and practitioners to address global challenges in developing countries. PDRI-DevLab focuses on international development, tackling issues such as education, health, governance, and gender equality. It connects Penn scholars with international organizations, fostering impactful research and solutions. Through collaborative projects, seminars, and impact evaluations, the initiative advances science and contributes to the well-being of vulnerable populations. For more information, visit PDRI-DevLab.

The Data Driven Discovery Initiative (DDDI) is Penn’s hub for data science research and education in the School of Arts & Sciences. Launched in 2021, it fosters collaboration across the natural and social sciences, from sociology and neuroscience to astrophysics, aiming to advance data-driven methodology and applications. DDDI offers training for undergraduates, a postdoctoral fellows program, cross-disciplinary seminars and events, and supports research through the Data Science for Social Good grant program. The initiative seeks to enrich empirical research through new data sources and AI-driven methods. For more information, visit DDDI's webpage.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and collaborate on spatial data analysis projects, using satellite imagery and machine learning models to assess international development programs.

• Develop and implement machine learning algorithms for a variety of socially impactful research projects.

• Communicate findings through reports, visualizations, and presentations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, including subject matter experts in development, public policy, and across the natural and social sciences.

• Contribute to the development of tools, models, and dashboards that support decision-making.

• Participate in publishing academic papers, reports, and presenting research at relevant conferences.

Benefits and Opportunities:

• Collaborate on cutting-edge research projects with leading experts in development and data science.

• Contribute to impactful research aimed at improving global development outcomes.

• Opportunities for career growth and professional development through cross-institutional collaboration.

• Flexible work environment with a strong focus on research and innovation.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science and 3 to 5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

• Master’s or PhD in data science, machine learning, statistics, or a related quantitative field is strongly preferred.

• Expertise in spatial data analysis.

• Strong programming skills in Python or R, with experience in machine learning libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).

• Proficiency in data wrangling, data visualization, and geospatial data manipulation.

• Experience working with large-scale datasets, particularly in the context of international development, public policy, or social impact projects.

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain technical concepts to diverse audiences.

• Experience working in interdisciplinary teams and with diverse stakeholders in academic, non-profit, or governmental organizations is preferred.

Preferred Experience:

• Familiarity with remote sensing data and satellite imagery analysis.

• Prior work in international development or social good projects.

• Strong publication record or history of supporting research in relevant fields.

• Experience with spatial statistics and GIS tools (e.g., QGIS, ArcGIS)

This is a one-year term appointment.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Arts and Sciences

Pay Range

$61,046.00 - $85,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.

Affirmative Action Statement 
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements 
Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay