Contact
- Website
- https://stwatson.me
- swatso10[at]gmu.edu
- Location
- Washington, D.C.
About
Scott is a D.C. native currently working as a data scientist with Systems Planning & Analysis Inc., where he uses state-of-the-art analytics to help provide decision support services for enterprise-level management problems. He has earned degrees from The College of William & Mary and George Mason University, and before his current position at Systems Planning & Analysis, was an assistant professor of data science at George Mason University. While his work focuses on time series forecasting and streaming data analysis, he also has extensive experience in network analysis.
Profiles
- Scott Watson
Work
Systems Planning & Analysis, Inc.
- Position
- Data Scientist
- Date
- Jul, 2019 — Current
Supporting several SPA programs, Scott is using advanced mathematical, statistical, and analytical models to help provide data-based decision support services for these programs. Current work is focused on supporting the continuing development of SPA's core software through improving models and source processing flows, performing on-demand analysis results for customer requests, as well as creating customer-facing briefs to answer complex data questions.
Highlights
- Tasks included using Python and R for large-data processing, advanced modeling, and robust analysis to provide forecasts and data-driven decision support for customer challenges
- Built a from-scratch streaming data platform through agile-style processes for aligning, merging, and processing multiple human-generated and machine-generated data sources in order to create consistent data pipelines for analysis and forecasting
- Introduced to project team neural network-based natural language processing tools for extracting vital information from free-text data
- Created a Python library and tool to find the intersection of time series events among multiple data sources to highlight overlaps and conflicts within the event timelines
- Utilized advanced parallel programming, SQL, and NoSQL techniques to improve the throughput and storage of large data sources necessary for analysis results.
Veracity Forecasting Group (SPA)
- Position
- Data Scientist
- Date
- Jul, 2019 — Current
Group within Systems Planning & Analysis, Inc.
Veracity Forecasting Group (SPA)
- Position
- Data Scientist
- Date
- Jun, 2019 — Jul, 2019
Previously Veracity Forecasting and Analysis, Inc., before acquisition by Systems Planning & Analysis, Inc.
George Mason University
- Position
- Assistant Professor
- Date
- Aug, 2018 — Jun, 2019
Taught multiple undergraduate-level courses in both GMU's Computational Data Science department and Physics department. Duties included teaching fundamental mathematical and physical concepts, using computers and programming languages to model real-world phenomena, as well as introducing high-level data science and machine learning techniques.
Highlights
- Taught how to model real-world phenomena such as predator-prey models, chaotic dynamical systems, and DNA subsequence matching with Python and MATLAB
- Introduced basic data science, database, and machine-learning concepts to prospective majors
- Propsed and implemented improvements to the introductory data science courses to better integrate the topics at hand with the skills being taught
George Mason University
- Position
- Full-Stack Webmaster
- Date
- Jun, 2017 — Aug, 2018
Re-designed outdated Department of Physics and Astronomy website in accordance with university style guidelines.
Highlights
- Developed a front-end that was HTML5-compilant and mobile-friendly
- Designed a Wordpress backend that was meant for use by non-technically-inclined users
Hamiltonian Artists
- Position
- Full-Stack Webmaster
- Date
- Jun, 2014 — Sep, 2015
Updated a Wordpress-based site to remove viruses and perform speed enhancements. In cooperation with Gallery sponsers, reworked the frontend to provide greater focus on content and helped implement new security procedures to help prevent hacking attempts.
Education
George Mason University
- Study
- Doctorate — Physics
- Date
- Aug, 2009 — May, 2018
George Mason University
- Study
- Masters — Applied and Engineering Physics
- Date
- Aug, 2009 — Dec, 2012
The College of William & Mary
- Study
- Bachelor of Science — Physics
- Date
- Aug, 2005 — May, 2009
Awards
Outstanding Service Award
- Outstanding Service Award
- Awarder
- SPA Joint, Land, Air, and Space Division (JD)
- Date
- Mar, 2020
Outstanding service award for exemplary contributions made to SPA.
Theses
Exploring Collective Dynamics of Networks: Limits of the Ott-Antonsen Approach
- Exploring Collective Dynamics of Networks: Limits of the Ott-Antonsen Approach
- Date
- May, 2018
- Authors
- Publisher
- George Mason University
Robotic Multi-Sensor Fusion
- Robotic Multi-Sensor Fusion
- Date
- May, 2009
- Authors
- Publisher
- The College of William & Mary
Presentations
Symmetry Breaking in a Network of Networks
- Symmetry Breaking in a Network of Networks
- Date
- Dec 12, 2014 — Dec 14, 2014
- Event
- Advances in Discrete Networks
- Location
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Presentors
- S. Watson, E. Barreto, B. Cotton, P. So
Poster presented.
Symmetry Breaking in a Network of Networks
- Symmetry Breaking in a Network of Networks
- Date
- May 17, 2015 — May 21, 2015
- Event
- 2015 SIAM Conference on Applications of Dynamical Systems
- Location
- Snowbird, UT
- Presentors
- S. Watson, E. Barreto, B. Cotton, P. So
Talk presented.
Skills
- Areas
- Data Analysis
- Mathematical Modeling
- Statistical Analysis
- Machine Learning
- Computational Physics
- Web Development
- Tools
- Python
- R
- C/C++
- Rust
- Javascript
- SQL
- LaTeX
- Mathematica
- Matlab