About the Department
As NC State’s central office and authoritative source for institutional reporting and analytics, Institutional Strategy and Analysis (ISA) supports the university’s strategic decisions, planning activities, operations, evaluation efforts, and accountability by providing consistent, reliable information and analysis to university leaders, administrators, faculty and staff, students, external stakeholders, and the public.

In carrying out its mission, ISA:
Collects, analyzes, interprets, models, and reports information about NC State
Manages institutional strategic planning, including implementation planning and metrics for the university strategic plan
Provides leadership in governance and strategy with respect to the university’s academic and administrative data
Administers, analyzes, supports, and oversees institutional surveys
Supports, administers, and maintains applicable data structures, applications, and systems
Essential Job Duties
The Data Scientist (Entry Level) plays an important role in advancing NC State’s data and analytics capabilities. Applying advanced analytical and statistical techniques, methods, and tools, this role will help develop and implement predictive models and other sophisticated analytics solutions. Working on the Data Science team within Institutional Strategy and Analysis’s (ISA’s) University Data and Analytics (UDA) unit, this role is a member of a specialized team dedicated to building and delivering analytical products and services that provide actionable insights, drive strategic decision-making, and enhance overall institutional effectiveness.
Other Responsibilities
Specific duties of the position include but are not limited to:
Collaborate with other data scientists, analysts, and developers to collect, process, and analyze complex datasets.
Develop and implement statistical models and machine learning algorithms.
Create clear data visualizations and reports to communicate findings.
Maintain organized documentation of analyses and methodologies.
Support the development and optimization of data collection procedures.
Perform related duties as assigned or required to meet UDA, ISA, or university goals and objectives.
Qualifications
Minimum Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in Data Science, Statistics, Computer Science, or related field; or an equivalent combination of education, training and relevant experience.
Other Required Qualifications
Strong programming skills in Python and SQL
Experience with statistical analysis and machine learning frameworks
Excellent problem-solving abilities and attention to detail
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, PowerBI)
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
Experience with time series analysis, forecasting, and regression analysis
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with academic research projects or internships
Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git)
Knowledge of SQL and relational database management
Experience with pandas, NumPy, and scikit-learn libraries
Knowledge of Docker containers and basic DevOps practices
Familiarity with Agile development methodologies
Basic understanding of big data technologies (Spark, Hadoop)