Jocelyn Finlay

About Jocelyn Finlay

Data Analyst Consultant | Machine Learning for Social Science | Python · NLP · Causal Inference | Harvard AffiliateI am a data analyst consultant with 20+ years of experience turning complex data into decisions that hold up — for governments, international organizations, and NGOs operating at scale.Through Machine Learning for Social Science (Boston, MA), I work with clients including the World Bank, USAID, and the Guttmacher Institute on applied analytics projects spanning labor markets, economic development and decision-making behavior. My edge is combining rigorous quantitative methods — machine learning, NLP, causal inference — with deep subject-matter expertise and the ability to communicate clearly to senior, non-technical stakeholders.What I bring to engagements:+ML & NLP pipelines: Python-based sentiment analysis on news feeds and social media, network analysis on large unstructured datasets, and predictive modeling — including when to use prediction versus classical causal estimation+Data strategy & governance: Designing data standards, quality assurance workflows, and reproducible analytical pipelines for complex, multi-country, multi-source programs+Causal inference & econometrics: Natural experiments, impact evaluation, and longitudinal analysis on datasets spanning 55+ countries+Team & client leadership: Managing cross-functional international consortia of 150+ members; translating analytical outputs into actionable recommendations for C-suite and government decision-makersPreviously, as Senior Research Scientist at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (2006–2020), I built and governed the data infrastructure underpinning 100+ peer-reviewed publications, including a gold-standard analytical framework for the Demographic and Health Surveys — one of the world\'s largest public health data platforms. I remain affiliated with Harvard as a Department Associate.I served on the National Academies of Sciences Committee on Population, co-chaired the IUSSP Population, Poverty and Inequality Scientific Panel, and contribute to The GovLab\'s 100 Questions Initiative on data gaps.Open to consulting engagements in data analytics, applied ML, impact evaluation, and data strategy.

Experience

1. Author

   Oxford University Press

   Jun 2025 — Present

Education

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  MicroMasters, Data Science

• University of Melbourne

  Bachelor of Commerce, Economics (Honours)

  1995 — 2001

• University of Melbourne

  Bachelor of Arts, Japanese

  1995 — 2000

• The Australian National University

  PhD, Economics

  2002 — 2006

Skills

• Stata
• Statistics
• Public Speaking
• Data Analysis
• Public Health
• Economics
• Program Evaluation
• Qualitative Research
• Policy Analysis
• Research