Data scientists play an important role in the federal government by analyzing large quantities of information, conducting research, and developing innovative tools to support learning and decision-making at federal agencies.

Data helps agencies stay aligned with their mission. Without it, they would be less effective at serving the public.

Take the example of a data scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The individual in this position uses data for generating reports to inform public health professionals of emerging infectious diseases and outbreaks. At the Federal Emergency Management Agency, data scientists support disaster relief efforts by enabling employees who run response programs to make evidence-based decisions.

Data science is a cross-disciplinary field, requiring knowledge of data, mathematics, information technology and computer science. Check out the top agencies that need these skills for roles in the fields of computer science, mathematics and engineering: