Data Visualization Intern

Global Pulse is an innovation initiative of the Executive Office of the United Nations Secretary-General, exploring how digital data and real-time analytics can be used to understand and respond to changes in human well-being. To this end, Global Pulse is working to promote awareness of the opportunities Big Data presents for relief and development, forge public-private data sharing partnerships, generate high-impact analytical tools and approaches, and drive broad adoption of useful innovations across the UN System.

Global Pulse operates as a network of Pulse Labs, headquartered in New York with Labs in Kampala and Jakarta, together expertise from UN agencies, governments, academia, and the private sector to research, develop, test and share tools and approaches for harnessing real-time data to support decision-making and policy action. Examples of Global Pulse publications and reports include:

http://unglobalpulse.org/projects/BigDataforDevelopment

http://www.unglobalpulse.org/Mobile_Phone_Network_Data-for-Dev

http://unglobalpulse.org/nowcasting-food-prices

Global Pulse is recruiting a Data Visualization Intern to work in the New York office in support of its research agenda. The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary team and benefit from rich interactions with experts in different fields, including international development, data science, data visualization, technology and communications.

The Data Visualization Intern will work under the overall supervision of the Chief Data Scientist and the daily supervision of the Data Visualization Specialist to assist with creating interactive data visualizations, dashboards and infographics in collaboration with partners from the UN system, the private sector and academia. The Data Visualization Intern will also support the data science teams across the Pulse Lab Network - including the labs in Jakarta, Indonesia, and Kampala, Uganda.

Specifically, the incumbent will:

●     Draft information visualizations.

●     Assist the Data Visualization Specialist in the design and development of interactive visualizations and dashboards.

●     Support the communications team in producing relevant communication materials including infographics.

●     Provide support in software development including analysis of Big Data and contribution to other data processing pipelines.

●     Assist in reviewing and vetting various data sets and real-time information resources that could be relevant to ongoing or potential Big Data for Development research projects.

Applicants must be currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD program (or equivalent) or have graduated from with a degree within three months prior to the application date of the internship.

The candidate will preferably be enrolled in a degree program in Data Visualization, Computer Science, Interaction Design, Information Design, Engineering or a related subject.

●        Knowledge of Interactive data visualization development and information design such as working knowledge of D3.js, Crossfilter/dc.js, Leaflet.js, Processing.js, CartoDB or a similar package is required.

●        Knowledge of research design and investigation methods (from developing a hypothesis, gathering necessary resources and conducting background research, testing and documentation of findings) is required.

●        Knowledge of Python, SQL and R is highly desirable.

●        Data analysis skills, particularly text processing and sentiment analysis and/or clustering and classification techniques (k-means, k-nearest neighbors, SVM, SVD, etc.) are desirable.

●        Multidisciplinary experience in projects that integrate ICTs and social/biomedical sciences is an asset.

Intermediate knowledge of English.

 UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner.

Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations.

With over 7,000 personnel spread across 80 countries, UNOPS offers its partners the logistical, technical and management knowledge they need, wherever they need it.

A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

Based in Geneva, the Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECR) supports UNOPS offices throughout the region through: management, financial and programmatic oversight of global and country-specific portfolios, clusters and operations centres, including hosting services; fund and management advisory services; project implementation; procuring goods and services; and managing human resources.

ECR ensures that projects are executed to the highest standards, providing a shared knowledge base and ensuring that best practices and lessons learned are disseminated between business units and projects across the entire region.

 ECR strategy is to:

• Strengthen UNOPS role in operationalizing the Sustainable Development Goals with particular emphasis on health, environment and economic development.
• Position UNOPS in the Balkan sub-region, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
• Strengthen the implementation of ECR global and regional programmes, with revitalized partnerships in infrastructure, procurement and project management.

ECR operates global portfolios from offices in Geneva, Brussels and New York, and country-specific programmes from its operations and project centres located in Eastern Europe and Central Asian countries.

Based in the New York, the UNOPS Development Group Cluster supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. For example, within the United Nations Development Programme, the Cluster works with the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support and the Office of South-South Cooperation.

The cluster also supports the United Nations Secretariat, as well as a broadening community of other New York-based United Nations organizations in the delivery of project management and implementation services