Data Scientist

The Harvard Data Science Initiative seeks a Data Scientist to lead the data science, software development, and technical product work for an interdisciplinary research program focused on data centers, artificial-intelligence infrastructure, and their environmental, health, economic, and societal impacts. Working closely with faculty investigators, research scientists, and domain experts, the Data Scientist will develop and translate original scientific research into rigorous analytical workflows, scalable research software, and accessible data products. The position will lead the technical development of these products while also co-leading the underlying research, from study design and analysis through peer-reviewed publication. Job-Specific Responsibilities: Core Responsibilities • Lead the data science and software development of research products across multiple faculty-led projects. • Co-lead original research with faculty investigators and subject-matter experts, including the formulation of research questions, study design, analysis, interpretation, and publication. • Ensure that research software and data products are grounded in rigorous in-house scientific research and support the production of peer-reviewed publications. • Translate scientific objectives and research findings into technical requirements, analytical strategies, software architecture, and product roadmaps. • Design and implement statistical, machine-learning, and geospatial analyses using large environmental, health, energy, infrastructure, and socioeconomic datasets. • Lead the development and maintenance of data pipelines, databases, research software, APIs, interactive platforms, and decision-support tools. • Make technical decisions related to architecture, scalability, testing, documentation, reproducibility, deployment, and data governance. • Lead and contribute to scientific manuscripts, grant proposals, technical reports, conference presentations, and other academic outputs. • Coordinate technical contributors, mentor junior researchers, and establish best practices for scientific programming and reproducible research. • Communicate research findings and product capabilities to academic, policy, industry, and public audiences. This is a benefits-eligible, one-year term appointment with possibility of extension, contingent on funding and performance. Working Conditions: • Occasionally required to work outside of normal business hours and may be contacted during off hours Basic Qualifications are the minimum requirements a candidate must meet to be considered for this role. • PhD in artificial intelligence, data science, computer science, statistics, computational science, engineering, environmental health, epidemiology, or a closely related field. • Minimum of 5 years of combined advanced education and relevant professional or research experience, including doctoral training. Additional Qualifications and Skills: • Established record of substantive original research published in leading, high-impact peer-reviewed scientific journals. • Advanced expertise in scientific programming, data science, statistical or machine-learning methods, and complex data analysis. • Demonstrated experience co-leading interdisciplinary research from study conception through peer-reviewed publication. • Demonstrated experience leading the development of production-quality research software, data platforms, analytical pipelines, or interactive products. • Experience working collaboratively with faculty-led research teams. • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple research and technical projects and deliver reliable, reusable, and well-documented outputs. • Excellent scientific writing, technical communication, collaboration, and project-management