Matthew
N.K.
Smith

I'm the Principal Data Scientist with the City of Boston.
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I bring a creative research-oriented perspective to my data science work, drawing on my background in particle physics and experience in the world of conservation policy to drive social impact projects for the city.
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Ongoing projects include:
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modeling and forecasting COVID-19 impact on city services (workforce, food access, mobility)
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predictive modeling for homeless shelter reform,
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clustering rideshare activity to prioritize locations for pick-up/drop-off zones,
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founding and spearheading the City of Boston's Ethical Data Working Group
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sentiment analysis of press coverage of the mayor's legislative agenda,
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and many more!

PHYSICS
My physics research has focused on two topics:
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Jet physics is the study of collimated sprays of energy produced in particle collisions. Jets are fundamentally useful tools for managing collision products, performing a census on the particles involved, and tracing backward to the interesting dynamics of the collision's origin. I believe constructed objects like jets can serve as a model for other, less spacial, data structures.
Supersymmetry has been developed over the last half-century to address the weaknesses in the Standard Model of particle physics. The theory suggests that each fundamental particle has a partner "super-particle" that can only be observed at very high energies.
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My PhD thesis is titled "A search for supersymmetric phenomena in final states with high jet multiplicity at the ATLAS detector".
2015-2017
CERN
Worked on a supersymmetry search involving a very large number of jets. Collaborated primarily with the Oxford high-energy physics department. Completed PhD Spring 2017.
2014-2015
SLAC
Worked with the Stanford high-energy physics department and SLAC national lab, researching optimization and application of jet algorithms.
2013-2014
CERN
As a part of the Pixel detector team, tested and validated the innermost part of the ATLAS detector prior to its Run-2 installation.
2011-2013
Columbia University
Taught a variety of courses including advanced undergraduate engineering lab. Completed MSci, began research supervised by Emlyn Hughes (PhD completed 2017).
2010-2011
Perimeter Institute
As a member of the second class of Perimeter Scholars International (PSI) I completed an intensive theoretical physics masters.
2006-2010
Yale University
BS in physics (honors track). Senior thesis: di-hadron correlations at RHIC. Winner of the Yale Deforest Pioneers Prize "for distinguished creative achievement in physics"
© CERN

CONTACT
I'm always happy to get in touch! Shoot me an email at:
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matthew.nk.smith[AT]boston.gov
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Or just fill out the form here.