Public-Interest Data Science Jobs#
So you’re a data scientist interested in using your skills to contributing to the public good. At the same time, you aren’t sure a job with the government (federal, state, or local) or a non-profit is right for you. This is not an uncommon position to find yourself in — many young data scientists want to give back, but are also nervous about the practicalities of things like student loans and visa sponsorship. As discussed below, however, there are many paths to doing good with your data science degree, and many of them actually come with increased job security and an easier path to securing a green card.
Considerations for Jobs in the Public Interest#
While not all jobs that contribute to the public good offer the same salary as one might get working for a major tech company like Google or NVIDIA, you may be surprised by the benefits on offer for data scientists who take public interest jobs.
Many public-interest jobs offer quite competitive salaries. There are a surprising number of for-profit or not-for-profit companies that specialize in serving non-profit and government clients. These companies — like Civis Analytics, Mathematica, or Acumen — pay very reasonably. They don’t pay “meta just acquired my AI startup” salaries, but they are often more than adequate to cover your student loans.
Employees of certain non-profits can get H1B visas without going through the visa lottery system. Employees of non-profit or government research organizations (like universities, think tanks, or government research groups) are what are called “H1B cap-exempt employers”, can their employees can apply for H1Bs without worrying about getting one of those lucky draws.
Just because the job title isn’t “data scientist” or “data engineer” doesn’t mean it isn’t a data science job. Non-profits and government consultants often don’t use keywords the same way as big tech companies. For jobs in these sectors, “Data and Policy Analyst” or “Data Analyst” may be for precisely the same jobs as what a big tech company might call “Data Scientist” or “Data Engineering.”
Companies with government clients often offer substantially better job security than the for-profit private sector, especially companies who have contracts with the federal government.
No, you don’t need a security clearance. There are lots of jobs that involve consulting for the US government that do not require citizenship or a security clearance, so don’t assume those paths are closed off to you.
Public Interest Data Science Opportunities#
Below are a list of companies that do data-science-related work in the public interest. Many — though not all — of these companies offer data science consulting services to non-profits, membership organizations (e.g., museums, the American Medical Association, etc.) and government agencies.
One disclaimer: this list is meant to help students explore this space; these are not endorsements. Some of these we know about personally, but others are ones we’ve just come across. But as we’ve learned from companies like McKinsey, not all public-sector consulting actually makes the world a better place.
US-Based Companies#
Abt Global — A mission-driven consulting and data analysis firm that partners with government agencies worldwide to improve health, social, and environmental policy through evidence and innovation.
Accenture — A global consulting firm with a large public services practice that works with governments, nonprofits, and higher education institutions on technology modernization and service delivery.
Acumen LLC (note this is different from the Acumen listed down below). — A policy research firm that provides data-driven analysis and technical support to federal, state, and local government agencies on health care and social policy programs.
Civis Analytics — An all-in-one analytics and AI platform used by nonprofits, governments, and mission-driven organizations to manage data warehousing, reporting, and AI deployment.
DataKind — A nonprofit that tackles the world’s toughest social challenges by partnering mission-driven organizations with data scientists and AI experts.
Knowli Data Science — A women-owned data science consulting firm specializing in healthcare analytics, public health, and government programs like Medicaid and Medicare.
Mathematica — A research and data analytics firm that bridges data, technology, and policy to help government agencies, foundations, and healthcare organizations improve program performance and public well-being.
Recidiviz — A nonprofit that builds data tools and AI-powered assistants for criminal justice agencies, helping corrections leaders make smarter decisions, reduce incarceration, and improve reentry outcomes. Currently active in 19 states.
RTI International — An independent, nonprofit research institute that provides research, development, and technical services to government and commercial clients worldwide, with expertise in health, education, surveys and statistics, advanced technologies, and environmental and social policy.
International Companies (including both US and International Operations)#
Abt Global — (See description above.) Active in 36+ countries with projects spanning public health, climate, education, and social services.
Acumen — A nonprofit impact investor that uses “patient capital” to invest in businesses serving low-income communities in the developing world, with a focus on areas like agriculture, energy, education, and health.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) — A United Nations agency that leads international efforts to defeat hunger, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture worldwide.
The International Monetary Fund — An international organization that works to stabilize the global economy by monitoring exchange rates, providing financial assistance to countries in crisis, and offering policy advice.
The World Bank — An international financial institution that provides loans, grants, and technical assistance to developing countries for projects aimed at reducing poverty and promoting economic development.
Political Consulting#
Blue Rose Research — A progressive research organization that uses machine learning and Bayesian statistics to improve polling accuracy and provide messaging guidance for campaigns and progressive organizations.
Blue State — A creative and technology agency that partners with causes, companies, and campaigns to drive fundraising, grassroots mobilization, and digital engagement.
Catalist — A progressive data trust that maintains a national voter database of over 256 million individuals, providing data, analytics, and software to Democratic campaigns and progressive organizations.
TargetSmart — A full-service data solutions company that helps progressive campaigns and causes with voter data, analytics, media buying, and digital engagement tools.
Know of Companies That Should Be On This List?#
Great! Email me and I’ll add them!