Ryan is a Data Scientist at BlueConduit. Get to know Ryan through this quick Q&A:
Why did you join BlueConduit?
I was really excited to join BlueConduit for a couple of reasons: I’m passionate about working on environmental justice, so I was excited to have the opportunity to make an impact on equitable access to clean drinking water. I’m also looking to develop my skills as a data scientist, and the type of modeling BlueConduit does with real world municipal data is exactly what I wanted to focus on. Coming primarily from an academic background, I was eager for an experience in the private sector.
What professional experience and expertise do you bring to BlueConduit?
After finishing my master’s degree in statistics, I worked as a Research Fellow at the Stanford RegLab for the past two years. My work primarily involved outlier detection: for example, using computer vision with satellite imagery to detect large unpermitted factory farms. I also used causal inference – in other words, methods for inferring what effect X has on Y – to understand which public policies work to improve water quality . Throughout my past experience, I’ve grown accustomed to wrangling massive, messy datasets spanning space and time.
What does a day in the life of BlueConduit’s Data Scientist look like?
As a member of the data science team, my core responsibility is building trustworthy, high-performing statistical models for our customers. However, that goes far beyond just choosing a model: on a day-to-day basis, I may be providing customers with recommended field inspection sites, working with our customer success team to understand customers’ historical data, or analyzing it for regulatory compliance. As a Data Scientist, I work to prioritize quality control, clear communication, and making sure I deliver results which fit each customer’s specific needs. When I have a chance, I enjoy researching new methods for improving our pipeline.
What work accomplishments are you most proud of and what goals have you prioritized for this year?
I think I’m most proud of my work collaborating with civic organizations as a researcher: I’ve been lucky enough to work with community based organizations, local governments, state agencies, and even the US EPA. At BlueConduit, I’m excited to apply this experience to better help public water systems protect their customers while meeting regulatory requirements.
A big goal I have for this year is to find the balance between speed and technical rigor (e.g., getting predictions to customers quickly balanced with how well I know their data).
In the long term, I’d love to get experience leading teams and making high-level decisions from a data science strategy perspective.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
I love bird watching! It’s a nice way for me to get outside and really get to know a place. I also enjoy playing soccer and trying new foods from around the world. I live in Brooklyn, NY so I have a lot of different cuisines to try – it’s unmatched. I live with two cats, Ozzie and Claude, who are endlessly entertaining.
