Data Scientists

What this job is

Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. May create dynamic data reports.

What they do day to day

• Analyze, manipulate, or process large sets of data using statistical software.
• Create graphs, charts, or other visualizations to convey the results of data analysis using specialized software.
• Test, validate, and reformulate models to ensure accurate prediction of outcomes of interest.
• Deliver oral or written presentations of the results of mathematical modeling and data analysis to management or other end users.
• Recommend data-driven solutions to key stakeholders.
• Identify business problems or management objectives that can be addressed through data analysis.
• Compare models using statistical performance metrics, such as loss functions or proportion of explained variance.
• Clean and manipulate raw data using statistical software.
• Identify solutions to business problems, such as budgeting, staffing, and marketing decisions, using the results of data analysis.
• Apply feature selection algorithms to models predicting outcomes of interest, such as sales, attrition, and healthcare use.

Skills and knowledge that matter most

Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).

Education and preparation

Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.

Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree.

Who this job suits

Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.

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