Volpe Data Scientist & Secretary of Massachusetts Fulbright Association

Resume posted by Scott Stevens in Engineering.

Desired position type: Full-Time
Location: Cambridge Massachusetts, United States

Contact Scott Stevens

Summary

I love data exploration, analysis, and visualization. I have experience in experimental design, statistics, and R programming, and am currently learning Python as well. I’ve given talks in all sorts of contexts, from conferences to public talks to board meetings, and I enjoy the process of breaking information down and making it digestible and useful for a variety of audiences (nothing tests your understanding like explaining it in simple terms). I love writing in general.

My group evaluates new automotive safety systems, including collision-warning systems and automated vehicles. Currently, I analyze the results of large-scale studies of these systems, characterizing their effectiveness and user acceptance. Although I started off in the natural sciences, I transitioned to working with engineers via a Ph.D. in experimental psychology.

Though currently based in Cambridge, MA, I have lived in Germany and the UK.

I also serve as the Secretary of the Board for the Massachusetts Chapter of the Fulbright Association.

Education

University of Cambridge, Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology, UK, 2010

  • Dissertation on experimental research into the development of avian cognitive strategies

Fulbright Scholar, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany, 2003

  • One-year international exchange research position in an ecology laboratory alongside field work and courses

Clark Honors College, University of Oregon, BS in Biology (Minor in Chemistry), USA, 2002

  • Departmental honors, cum laude, GPA 3.83/4.00, honors thesis, elected to Phi Beta Kappa society

Experience

Volpe National Transportation Center, U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Cambridge, MA, USA

     Operations Research Analyst, Advanced Vehicle Technology Division, 2010 –

  • Lead projects evaluating effectiveness and user acceptance of prototype automotive collision-warning systems using large-scale field tests, simulator studies, focus groups, and surveys
  • Division’s go-to expert in experimental design and statistical analysis; independently design and perform data analyses (quality control, exploration, creative visualization, statistical testing) on large data sets with both quantitative and qualitative data
  • Manage multiple simultaneous projects with diverse parties and shifting deadlines
  • Enthusiastic writer; authored more than ten white papers and coauthored six published reports
  • Frequently present results to clients and spoke at Society of Automotive Engineers conference

Dept. of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

     Doctoral Researcher, 2005 – 2009

  • Designed, executed, and statistically analyzed a series of behavioral experiments, resulting in a 77,000-word dissertation, a poster presentation at an international conference and seven talks in which results were presented and defended before leading experts in the field
  • Communicated complex concepts to general audiences through a popular-science article in La Recherche (French equivalent to Scientific American), poster presentations at the Cambridge Science Festival for three years, and two publicly advertised lectures

     Project Supervisor, 2007 – 2009

  • Taught small groups of undergraduates experimental design, statistics, and persuasive writing
  • Mentored three undergraduates through their final-year six-month research projects

     Graduate Student Body President, Trinity Hall, 2006 – 2007

  • Managed a committee of 19 and represented graduate students at governance meetings
  • Researched housing market and prepared case to negotiate student rents on behalf of 270 students, resulting in a below-average increase and a commitment to improve facilities
  • Designed and co-created extensive web site for current and prospective students

Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany

     Research Assistant, 2004 – 2005

Max-Planck-Institute of Neurobiology, Germany

     Research Assistant, 2003 – 2004

Skills

  • R
  • Python
  • SPSS
  • Statistical analysis
  • Data visualization
  • Public speaking
  • Writing

Specialties

    data analysis, Data visualization, Experimental design, General Audience Writing, Public speaking, Technical writing

Groups & Associations

    data analysis, data visualization, Experimental design, General Audience Writing, Public speaking, Technical writing

Spoken Languages

    English (native), German (fluent)