Resume

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Note: I tailor my resume for each application - feel free to reach out if you’d like a version targeted to a specific role.

Data Scientist with a PhD in Psychology and 15+ years translating complex, real-world problems into high-impact data solutions. Expert at building data infrastructure, interactive tools, and automated reporting systems that drive strategic decisions. Proven ability to lead end-to-end projects across the full data lifecycle - from requirements gathering and pipeline development through deployment and stakeholder communication. Available for full-time and contract engagements.

Impact Highlights

  • Built financial tracking system in 3 days to monitor $5.45B, replacing a manual 10-report compilation process

  • Designed and deployed a workforce simulation app in 1 week - proving need for 100 additional staff and compressing the timeline from 3 years to 40 weeks

  • Drove on-time acknowledgment rate from 24% → 51% in 3 weeks, reducing a 1,000-claim backlog via automated acknowledgment system

  • Integrated 25M+ data points from 14 disparate sources for a longitudinal study of 400 participants

Technical Skills

Languages & Tools: R (ggplot2, plotly, Shiny, tidyverse, Quarto/R Markdown) · Python · SQL · Excel/Power Query · Power BI · Tableau · Salesforce · SPSS · Git · MATLAB

Statistical Methods: Regression · HLM/mixed-effects models · clustering · random forest · network analysis · predictive modeling · longitudinal & observational data analysis · factor analysis

Core Competencies: Data pipeline development · interactive dashboards · process automation · ETL · reproducible research · stakeholder collaboration · workforce analytics & modeling

Professional Experience

Lead Data Scientist, Consultant | ABS Group · Santa Fe, NM Mar 2024 – Mar 2026

Data analytics team supporting FEMA’s $5.45B Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office (30,000+ claims)

  • Built interactive workforce simulation app in one week - modeling 5-stage claims process across 11 teams, proving need for 100 additional staff to meet 40-week deadline vs. initial 3-year estimate; directly supported executive staffing justification
  • Engineered automated financial tracking system replacing 10-report manual compilation process; enabled executive monitoring of $5.45B across three payment tiers with min/max scenario planning, informing critical program and resource allocation decisions
  • Conducted predictive modeling of future workforce performance based on historical individual and team data, informing workforce rebalancing and capacity planning
  • Designed and deployed daily operations report serving 300+ staff across 3 sites with role-specific views (executive, site, team, individual), iteratively evolving based on stakeholder feedback
  • Developed automated acknowledgment system reducing claim backlog by 1,000 claims and increasing on-time acknowledgment rate from 24% to 51% in 3 weeks
  • Established complete data infrastructure from scratch - database connectivity, data dictionary, automated daily pipeline, standardized R/Excel protocols - creating single source of truth for all analytics; documented protocols and mentored team members
  • Consulted with senior leadership on analytical priorities; handled diverse requests ranging from 1-hour ad-hoc queries to multi-week dashboard development

Data Science Consultant | UC Davis · Remote Jan 2020 – Jun 2024

Contemplative Coping During COVID-19 Study: Longitudinal multidisciplinary outcomes study examining health and wellbeing of ~400 U.S. participants during COVID-19

  • Designed and implemented data pipeline integrating 25M+ data points from 14 disparate sources (Qualtrics surveys, biological samples) for longitudinal study of 400 participants
  • Established reproducible R/Rmarkdown/Quarto protocols adopted by 15 researchers, ensuring transparent and auditable data pipelines across the full study lifecycle
  • Automated generation of individualized mental health outcome reports for 350+ participants using Quarto/R, delivering personalized insights at scale
  • Directed clustering and multivariate distance matrix regression analyses of mixed-methods data to identify predictors of participant outcomes and intervention preferences
  • Collaborated with stakeholders to iteratively develop interactive R Shiny outcomes dashboard, enabling researchers to explore study insights and communicate findings; contributed to 4 conference presentations

Chief Program Officer / Head of Education | Think Elephants International · Remote May 2010 – Jun 2024

  • Designed and analyzed program evaluations using 1,500+ pre/post-intervention surveys across participant and control groups; led survey design, data collection, and sampling methodology
  • Directed multilevel modeling, factor analysis, and nonparametric statistics in R/R Markdown to assess learning outcomes and identify instructional improvement opportunities
  • Coordinated education programs across NY, CA, and Thailand serving 600+ students at 18 sites; managed teams of 3–9 instructors and 20+ partner organizations
  • Supervised and mentored 18 junior researchers including 3 thesis students; disseminated findings through 5 conference presentations, 2 reports, and 1 publication

Freelance Data Consultant | Remote 2023 – 2024

  • Adelphi University (2024): Automated exploratory data analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and inferential statistics workflows in R
  • UC San Diego StayWELL Project (2023): Developed interactive R Shiny data visualization tool to communicate wellbeing study findings to stakeholders; engaged in client-facing discussions to identify needs and provide strategic recommendations

Researcher · UC Davis, Center for Mind and Brain · Davis, CA 2013 – 2018

  • Contributed to $1.5M longitudinal research project assessing meditation intervention outcomes via cross-sectional study and randomized controlled trial (RCT) with wait-list control group; analyzed survey, behavioral, physiological, and biological data from 10+ experiments
  • Initiated and led development of novel network analytic method for quantifying qualitative data; published in peer-reviewed journal and presented at research symposium
  • Collaborated across multidisciplinary stakeholder teams, contributing to 3 publications and 8 conference presentations
  • Supervised and mentored 20+ junior team members in research methodology and statistical analysis

Earlier research experience at UC Davis MIND Institute and Emory University - see full PDF for complete history

Education

PhD & MA, Psychology (Neuroscience and Animal Behavior) · Emory University · 2009

BA, Anthropology & Social Welfare · University of Wisconsin-Madison

Selected Training

  • Building with Power BI / Get Data in Power BI / Clean, Transform, Load Data in Power BI - May 2025
  • Introduction to Power BI - Mar 2024
  • Developing & Testing Your Shiny Application - Open Source in Pharma, Nov 2023
  • Introduction & Intermediate Python - Apr 2023
  • Intro to SQL / Intermediate SQL / Joining Data in SQL - Nov 2022
  • Python / Intro to Machine Learning / Intermediate Machine Learning - Kaggle, Aug 2021

Selected Publications

View all publications on Google Scholar

  • Savannah V VandenBos, Jennifer J Pokorny, Alea C Skwara, Serigne M Diaw, Brandon G King, Anthony P Zanesco, Kamilah Majied, Clifford D Saron, Quinn A Conklin (2025). Benefits and Challenges of Delivering Meditation Instruction Live Online: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic Regarding Accessibility and Connection. Mindfulness. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-025-02556-1
  • Jennifer J Pokorny, Alex Norman, Anthony Zanesco, Susan Bauer-Wu, Baljinder Sahdra, Clifford Saron (2018). Network Analysis for the Visualization and Analysis of Qualitative Data. Psychological Methods. https://doi.org/10.1037/met0000129