Please kindly read the entire job posting. Application instructions are located at the end.

Data-Pop Alliance is looking for a Data Science Intern. We are an international nonprofit created in 2013 out of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI), the MIT Media Lab and ODI. We bring together researchers, experts, practitioners, and activists to change the world with data through three pillars of work: diagnosing local realities and human problems with data and AI; mobilizing capacities, communities, and ideas towards more data-literate societies; and transforming the systems and processes that underpin our societies and countries. 

DPA has partnered with and received funding from organizations such as the Inter-American Development Bank, UNDP, FAO, UN ESCWA, GIZ (German development agency), the Vodafone Institute, Oxfam México and other key international stakeholders to develop projects in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and Asia. To learn more about DPA, please visit our website or read our “Outlook and Overview” annual reports for 2019-20, 2020-22 and 2021-23. 

DPA’s projects are managed and carried out by a core team of about 31 people, including Directors, Managers, Officers, Data Scientists, Data Engineers, Developers, Research Assistants, and Interns.

Dates: Immediate start on a rolling basis selection process. 3-month internship with the possibility of extending for 3 additional months under certain conditions.

Location: Remote

Scope of Work:

The Data Scientist Intern will report to the Data, Technology and Innovation Director and work closely with the data team. Amongst others, primary activities for the Data Scientist Intern include:

• Data Collection and Cleaning 

• • • Collecting data from various sources as traditional data such as surveys, public datasets or non-traditional data such as satellite images, and cloud services data.
    • Cleaning and preprocessing data to ensure accuracy and consistency.
    • Handling missing data and correcting errors.

• Data Analysis and Visualization 

• • • Performing exploratory data analysis to uncover trends and insights.
    • Creating visualizations to communicate findings effectively to non-technical persons.
    • Using statistical techniques to analyze data and draw meaningful conclusions.

• Developing Predictive Models 

• • • Building and validating predictive models to forecast outcomes and support decision-making.
    • Implementing machine learning algorithms to solve specific problems.
    • Evaluating model performance and iterating to improve accuracy.

• Reporting and Documentation 

• • • Preparing detailed reports and presentations summarizing analysis results.
    • Documenting methodologies, workflows, and code to ensure reproducibility.

• Collaborating with Cross-functional Teams 

• • • Working closely with project technical managers.
    • Participating in daily data team meetings and project meetings to discuss project progress and share insights.
    • Providing technical support and training to staff on data-related topics.

• Research and Development 

• • • Staying updated with the latest data science techniques and tools.
    • Conducting research to explore new methods for data collection and analysis.

Profile/Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Probability or Statistics, Data Science, or any other related field is required. MSc/MA in computer science, statistics, or related fields is a plus.
• Highly proficient and experienced in programming languages and statistical computing skills, that is, fluency in Python is requisite.
• Proven experience with the implementation of Machine Learning algorithms.
• Bilingual proficiency in English is requisite (able to write and deliver conferences, reports, etc in both languages). Arabic, Spanish or French are highly desirable. A third language is a plus. 
• Based  between UTC+3 and UTC -3 is a plus.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• A self-starter, disciplined, driven, eager to learn, grow, and make an impact. 
• Successful experience working in a multicultural environment with partners and people of different backgrounds and levels of seniority.
• Availability to travel (only if necessary).

Remuneration: $500 USD (monthly) 

Recruitment Process: 

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a CV, a cover letter with two academic or work references to jobs@datapopalliance.org with the subject line “R2024003_DS Intern” by May 31, 2024, 6:00 pm EST. Candidates will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early application is strongly encouraged.

Please note that only complete applications submitted in English will be considered. Due to the large volume of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Also, rename each document you’ll submit with your name, the position and the type of document you are submitting. Ie. FIRSTNAME LASTNAME_Position_CV and send them in PDF format.