What Is a Data Scientist?

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Perry Beaumont, PhD, has been the head of data science and actuary and the lead data scientist at Distinguished Programs since 2017. He is also a lecturer at Columbia University and a published author whose works include Fixed-Income and Synthetic Assets and Financial Engineering Principles. Perry Beaumont was also one of the presenters at the Annual Big Data Conference in New York in 2015, and more recently his latest text, Digital Finance, was published in late 2019..

A data scientist plays an important although oftentimes unseen role. As technology grows, so does the data that is generated and analyzed. Analysis can consist of the roles for traditional database and software technologies, as well as big data, which is data that contains too much information to be easily evaluated with traditional tools. The role of a data scientist is to find ways to collect, store and better understand data, and, most importantly, use it in meaningful ways.

At the heart of a data scientist’s work is the utilization of the data they collect and store in ways that are imaginative and insightful. This data can be used to identify trends, provide solutions, and develop new technologies. In the age of social media and the Internet, data scientists provide insights into the troves of information generated by these platforms. Experience in mathematics, statistics, and computer science are all crucial for success.