About Our Student Organization

Who We Are

The Data Science Club is a student organization at Harvard Kennedy School.

We are policy folks that want to deeply explore issues using data science and machine learning. Our level of expertise ranges from absolute beginners to PhD level economists.

Our core goals as a program:

  • Learning New Skills: We don't expect experts but rather we are trying to build an environment where we can each learn together
  • Gaining Real-World Experience Using Data Science: There are a lot of projects happening right now. Part of our club is understanding these trends, and maybe even trying a few out for ourselves!
  • Developing a Portfolio of Projects: We feel that the best way to improve beyond coding bootcamps is to start building actual projects. Our current portfolio is available on our github page.
  • Connecting with Employers: These skills are in incredibly high demand in public, non-profit, and private sector agencies.
  • Learning About People Actually Using Data Science In Policy Right Now: About once a month, we bring in a speaker who is doing this in their current work. Some of our previous speakers have been Chief Data Officers of Boston, head of analytics at Massachusetts General Hospital, and head of analytics at the Boston Celtics.


Meeting Details

Typical meetings are on Wednesday evenings from 6-8pm at the Digital HKS office (1 Brattle Square, Office #470). Food is provided!


Some of the things we are up to:

  • Python Bootcamp Series:
  • Project Work:
  • Speaker Series:

How To Get Involved

  • Google Form: Completing this form will get you onto our email list
  • Slack: This will have same event information and more data science discussion
  • Github: This will have our latest projects and code for this website as well. Feel free to use anything that you'd like!


  • Current and Former Members

    Snow
    Eric Englin

    2nd Year Co-Chair

    Eric is a 2nd year MPP

    Mountains
    Taran Raghuram

    Communications Chair

    Taran is a 1st year MPP.

    Mountains
    Nicolas Diaz

    Urban Analytics Officer

    Nicolas is a 2nd year MPP.

    Forest
    Jake Schneider

    Founding Member

    Jake is a 2nd year MPA/ID

    Mountains
    Ryan Brellenthin

    Ryan is a 2nd year MPP/MBA.


    Forest
    Nicole Jones

    Nicole is a researcher at the Harvard Medical School

    Snow
    Martin Montenegro

    Martin is a 2nd year MPP




    Snow
    Brian Eng

    Brian is currently a Captain at the New York Police Department

    Snow
    Chang Hyun Baek

    Chang is currently a Technology Solutions Consultant at Google.

    Snow
    Catherine Marks

    Cat is currently working as a data science consultant in Australia.