Data Science Fellow (AI, ML, NLP, Data Visualization, GIS, Blockchain) Full-Time, Home-Based

Overview

Assist in harnessing frontier technologies for sustainable development

You have:

• Currently enrolled in a postgraduate programme (such as a Master’s programme or higher) or have graduated no longer than 2 years ago from a university degree or equivalent studies.
• Field of study should include Computer Science, Statistics, Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Economics, Geographic Information Systems or equivalent.
• Strong proficiency in programming languages, preferably Python or R.
• Familiarity with Software Development tools including Git and GitHub.
• Understanding of Agile project management and Scrum methodology.
• Knowledge of open-source software library such as TensorFlow, Scikit-Learn, Pandas, and NLTK is an asset.
• Experience with GIS software such as ArcGIS or QGIS is an asset.
• Familiarity with AWS technologies or Google Cloud is an asset.
• Hands-on experience in data visualization using Power Bi and/or D3.js is an asset.
• Experience with Big Data (Hadoop, Spark, Hive) is an asset.
• Fluent in English with excellent reading and writing skills is required.
• Proficiency in Turkish is an asset.

Contract

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Background

CORPORATE BACKGROUND:

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (IICPSD) is the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) global organization mandated to leverage the role of the private sector in development. The IICPSD was established in Istanbul, Turkey based on the Partnership Framework Agreement signed between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the United Nations Development Program in March 2011. The center is one of the six global thematic policy centers of UNDP, supports the private sector and foundations to become transformative partners in development through research, advocacy, facilitation of public-private dialogue and brokering partnerships. IICPSD leads UNDP’s global work on private sector and foundations and supports UNDP’s offices all around the world.

SDG AI Lab BACKGROUND:

The SDG AI Lab is a joint initiative of UNDP BPPS team, and it is hosted under UNDP IICPSD. The SDG AI Lab provides research, development and advisory support through cutting-edge digital solutions in harnessing the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for sustainable development. The Lab aims to strengthen the UNDP’s internal and its partners’ capacities for the increasing demand for digital transformation. In addition, SDG AI Lab mobilizes volunteer data scientists under the Supporting Digital Transformation through Volunteerism partnership between UNDP IICPSD and United Nations Volunteers (UNV). Volunteer Data Scientist Initiative connects UNDP teams and data scientists to address development challenges such as Covid-19, disaster response, poverty, climate change and others.

SDG AI Lab’s Data Science Fellowship modality is based on UNDP’s Fellowship policy. The objective of the Data Science Fellowship is to provide the opportunity to work on how to deploy frontier technologies such as Data Science, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Deep Learning (DL), Natural Language Processing (NLP), GIS, and Blockchain on development issues. In particular, the Fellow will contribute to data acquisition, data analysis, modelling, deployment and visualizations efforts.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Fellow will assist in the following duties and responsibilities:

No

Duties and responsibilities

% of time

1

Research and knowledge products development

• Conduct research on the Application of frontier technologies to development challenges
• Draft analytical briefs summarizing the project findings and methodologies in accessible to public manner.
• Conduct the data maintenance and data acquisition activities of the SDG AI Lab.

30 %

2

Development and implementation of digital solutions for SDGs with utilizing AI/ML/DL/NLP/GIS

• Develop ML and DL models applying supervised and unsupervised techniques on structured and unstructured Big Data
• Build and deploy AI/ML/DL models using the relevant techniques for the data such as NLP and GIS
• Design and implement data quality procedures to support data quality management activities for data pipelines
• Research and experiment with customized software using the relevant techniques for the data such as NLP and GIS

60 %

3

Other

• Provide as needed support to the Technical Specialist as required for, amongst others, participating in meetings, conferences, providing administrative support, drafting meeting minutes and perform other functions and duties.
• Contribute to the SDG AI Lab’s Volunteer Data Scientists Initiative through advancing the volunteer engagement in SDGs related projects

10 %

Competencies

Other competencies and attitude:

• Interest and motivation in working in an international organization
• Good analytical skills in gathering and consolidating data and research for practical implementation
• Outgoing and initiative-taking person with a goal-oriented mind-set
• Communicates effectively when working in teams and independently
• Good in organizing and structuring various tasks and responsibilities
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Responds positively to feedback and differing points of view
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Candidates must meet one of the following educational requirements:

• currently enrolled in a postgraduate programme (such as a Master’s programme or higher)
• have graduated no longer than 2 years ago from a university degree or equivalent studies.

Field of study: Computer Science, Statistics, Data Science, Mathematics, Physics, Economics, Geographic Information Systems or equivalent.

IT skills:

• Strong proficiency in programming languages, preferably Python or R
• Familiarity with the Software Development tools including Git and GitHub
• Understanding of Agile project management and Scrum methodology
• Knowledge of open-source software library such as TensorFlow, Scikit-Learn, Pandas, and NLTK is an asset
• Experience with GIS software such as ArcGIS or QGIS is an asset
• Familiarity with AWS technologies or Google Cloud is an asset.
• Hands on experience in data visualization using Power Bi and/or D3.js is an asset
• Experience with Big Data (Hadoop, Spark, Hive) is an asset.

Language skills:

• Fluent in English with excellent reading and writing skills is required.
• Proficiency in Turkish is an asset

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: jobs.undp.org