John Dattoma

About John Dattoma

Data Scientist and Social Science Researcher leveraging advanced analytics and behavioral insights to transform public service delivery. At the IRS, I lead strategic initiatives in natural language processing, predictive modeling, and customer experience analytics to enhance taxpayer services and operational efficiency. My work combines technical expertise with stakeholder collaboration to deliver data-driven solutions for complex organizational challenges.As a former academic researcher turned government data scientist, I bring a unique perspective to solving public sector challenges. I specialize in developing innovative analytical approaches to improve customer service quality, optimize workforce planning, and support evidence-based decision making. My focus is on translating complex analytical findings into actionable insights that drive organizational change.Key Achievements- Led development of new customer satisfaction metrics using advanced survey methodology and natural language processing, resulting in improved measurement of service quality across annual respondents- Designed and implemented behavioral field experiments spanning multiple countries, involving participants to improve tax compliance strategies- Developed predictive models for employee retention using causal inference methods, enabling data-driven workforce planning- Secured £1.5M in research funding and led international research teams in behavioral tax compliance studies- Spearheaded the implementation of new survey methodologies and experimental designs that enhanced the rigor of IRS customer research programsExpertise: Natural Language Processing, Predictive Modeling, Survey Design & Analysis, Behavioral Research, Data Visualization, Cross-functional Team Leadership, Customer Experience Analytics

Experience

1. Senior Data Scientist Quant Ux Researcher

   Internal Revenue Service

   Jun 2023 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   In my role as a Data Scientist, I conduct rigorous action research studies addressing critical business questions posed by various business functions. I work hand-in-hand with a dedicated research team on a wide array of projects. These include but are not limited to Customer Satisfaction Surveys, large-scale randomized control trials, text analytics and comprehensive journey mapping exercises. Leveraging advanced data analytics, machine learning algorithms, and data modeling techniques, I strive to innovate methods of data retrieval and provide groundbreaking data-driven recommendations. My in-depth analysis and documentation fuel the development of effective strategies and policies, ultimately enhancing our business systems and processes.

Education

• University of Missouri-Saint Louis

  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Political Science

  2010 — 2015

• Missouri State University

  BA, Sociology

  2004 — 2007

• University of Missouri-Saint Louis

  Master's Degree, Political Science

  2010 — 2013

• Saint John's University-Rome Campus

  Master of Arts (M.A.), Government and Politics

  2008 — 2010

Skills

• Ucinet
• Research
• Transnational Historical Materialism
• International Relations
• Survey Research
• Italian Politics
• Foreign Policy
• Comparative Politics
• Program Evaluation
• Tax Morale
• Critical Theory
• Neo-Gramscianism
• Quantitative Research
• Statistics
• European Union
• Data Analysis
• Photography
• History
• Grant Writing
• Politics
• Regression Models
• American Foreign Policy
• Qualitative Research
• Stata
• International Political Economy