Analytics are a core feature of Blackboard’s products and services, both as a distinct product offering and approach to enhance existing products. This position will advance Blackboard’s mission by bringing cutting-edge analytics approaches to large data sets across applications, institutions, and student profiles; results from this work have potential impact on millions of students across the globe. This position will participate in the development of new predictive analytics functionality within existing products using big data and cloud infrastructure.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting to the Director of Development for Core Services, the Sr. Data Scientist plays an integral role in the design, development and implementation of machine learning and statistical methods on big data sets to identify students at-risk of low performance in a course, determine online course design characteristics and their impacts on student learning, and other analysis projects related to learning and teaching with technology. Findings from this research will be used to create production-level algorithms within Blackboard applications and inform product development priorities.
Translation of functional needs into rigorous analysis techniques, ability to adapt techniques and approaches to variable data sets, and clear communication with technical collaborators and non-experts are critical to the ongoing success of this role. Ability to convert research findings into results that be implemented in simplified production algorithms will also be essential to this role.
The position requires close coordination with program management and product development, as well as other product teams across Blackboard. Ability to interact with distributed teams via teleconference, web conference or through written communication are key aspects of the role. Knowledge and experience in educational technology and web platform data are strong assets.
Specifically s/he will:
Design research methods that address questions related to predicting educational outcomes, designing impactful software, and other strategic issues
Apply advanced machine learning algorithms, statistical methods and predictive modeling techniques on large and varied data sets that include application logfiles, other online application telemetry, structured and unstructured data sources.
Analyze research results, draw actionable insights, and present findings to product management and development personnel.
Lead the development of business requirements and functional algorithms that can be used in real-time production environments.
Provide on-going tracking and monitoring of performance of algorithms and statistical models, troubleshoot and implements enhancements and fixes to these systems as needed.
Assess data sources for integrity and validity compared to intended educational proceses.
Performs data processing and analysis tasks on large-scale, long-term projects that benefit product management and functional owners, user experience research, and product development.
Collaborate daily with other analytics team members implementing data analysis and machine learning techniques.
Collaborate with development team to ensure projects are clearly defined and properly phased to facilitate timely delivery of functionalit
