Sr. Data Scientist at InsideHigherEd

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please include cover letter with application submission.

Department Summary

American prisons are deadly but opaque places. In 2019, the federal entity charged with collecting and reporting carceral mortality data stopped performing these critical functions. The new entity tasked with this role has struggled to collect new data and has ceased new data reporting. This abdication has left the public without access to even the most basic facts about life and death behind bars, including how many people die each year in state and federal prisons; who is dying in prison, and why; and what disparities—racial, gender, and geographical—exist in mortality outcomes. This informational void makes it difficult if not impossible for policymakers and other stakeholders to identify what actions carceral agencies can take to reduce preventable deaths and improve conditions inside. It also makes it challenging for members of the public to see the contours and impacts of the carceral penalties imposed on people convicted of crimes. The UCLA Law Behind Bars Data Project's carceral mortality database is the only comprehensive, public accounting of the most basic facts about mortality behind bars: how many people died across state and federal prisons in recent years. The Project also gathers as much data as possible about mortality in jails and detention centers nationwide. And as of April 2025, the Project has begun expanding its scope to include as much data as possible on morbidity behind bars in American carceral facilities. The Project obtains and cleans data from public records requests, death certificates, and other data sources; compiles and publishes the data, and employs established data protocols and research methodologies to understand its implications. In addition, the Project collaborates with advocates, reporters, researchers, litigators, policymakers, and other stakeholders to make sure that data is available, intelligible, and usable for their purposes.
Position Summary

The Sr. Data Scientist will play a key role in supporting the Project's data-driven initiatives by developing and maintaining robust data infrastructure, conducting advanced analyses, and translating complex findings into actionable insights for a wide range of audiences. This position requires a strong foundation in data science, a collaborative mindset, and a commitment to using data for public impact. The Sr. Data Scientist will be responsible for designing and managing data pipelines using R to collect and compile information from various sources, including public records. They will develop and review reproducible code to integrate and standardize disparate datasets, and collaborate with the data team to maintain the Project's GitHub repository. The role also involves conducting statistical analyses and effectively communicating findings to diverse audiences, including the public, journalists, policymakers, litigators, advocates, and funders. Additionally, the Data Scientist will work closely with nontechnical stakeholders to define data objectives and create detailed project execution plans. The work will be remote; applicants need not reside in California.

Salary & Compensation

*UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors, including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common. Visit UC Benefit package to discover benefits that start on day one, and UC Total Compensation Estimator to calculate the total compensation value with benefits.
Qualifications

Experience with R, or a similar statistical computer languages to manipulate data and draw insights from large data sets. (Required)

Experience working with collaborators and stakeholders with varying levels of data science literacy. (Preferred)

Experience with git/GitHub another version control system. (Required)

Experience planning and executing quantitative and qualitative data projects including analysis, archiving, or collection. (Preferred)

Experience gathering and harmonizing national datasets using public records requests to government agencies. (Preferred)

Experience with different project management methodologies and an interest in developing the best fit for a variety of projects. (Preferred)

Experience building or maintaining productionized ETL pipelines in R or Python. (Preferred)

Experience with web-scraping or using OCR to convert data from unstructured sources to a machine-readable format. (Preferred)

Experience creating impactful data visualizations for social media and reports; (Preferred)

Familiarity with the criminal justice system. (Required)

Experience working with collaborators and stakeholders with varying levels of data science literacy. (Preferred)

Desire to work in a collaborative and diverse environment. (Required)

Outstanding initiative, judgment, attention to detail, ability to work independently and problem solve creatively. (Required)

Exceptional analytical, writing, and editing ability. (Required)

.Demonstrated ability to present research findings in written, verbal, or electronic formats to be understood by various audiences to arrive jointly at decisions, conclusions, or solutions (Required)

Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality. (Required)

Strong skills in analyzing, research and synthesizing data. (Required)

Ability to multi-task. (Required)

Outstanding leadership, judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to foster a collaborative working environment. (Required)

Education, Licenses, Certifications & Personal Affiliations

Bachelor's Degree related field or equivalent combination of education and experience. (Required)

Special Conditions for Employment

Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.

Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.

Age Requirement: Candidate(s) must be 18 years or older to be eligible to be hired.

Ability to work after hours or evenings and weekends, as needed, to fulfill job responsibilities. (Required)

Schedule

Monday - Friday | 8 am-5pm PST
Union/Policy Covered

99-Policy Covered
Complete Position Description

https://universityofcalifornia.marketpayjobs.com/ShowJob.aspx?EntityID=38&JDName=Project%20and%20Policy%20Analyst%203%20(TBD_189882)