Curriculum Vitae
Zobaer Ahmed, Ph.D.
Director of Research & Evaluation · NYC Mayor's Office to ENDGBV
Summary
Accomplished data scientist and researcher with 10+ years of experience directing international research across governmental and NGO sectors. Expert in R, Python, SQL, GIS, and machine learning. Strong communicator who converts complex data into strategic insights.
Experience
July 2023 – Present · New York City
Director of Research and Evaluation
NYC Mayor's Office to ENDGBV
- Lead the research and evaluation team, driving collaborative projects and comprehensive strategic planning aligned with organizational goals
- Designed and implemented NYC's first Street Harassment Survey, NYPD Domestic Incident Report (DIR) Dashboards, City Agency Human Trafficking Survey, and redesigned the Rapid Re-housing (RRH) referral system
- Applied Lean Six Sigma methodologies to optimize processes, reduce operational costs, and enhance organizational efficiency
- Authored analytical reports evaluating program impacts — Early RAPP and Home+ — to guide policy and strategic decisions
- Integrated SQL Server with R-Studio, Power BI, and IRM software for advanced data analytics and reproducible reporting via Quarto
- Built strategic partnerships with city agencies: MOCJ, ACS, HRA, and NYPD for enhanced research collaboration and knowledge sharing
Mar 2016 – Sept 2017 · USA (Remote)
Research Country Manager
Premise Data Corporation
- Led a distributed team of 3,000+ researchers across Bangladesh; managed financial transactions exceeding $500,000
- Developed and implemented comprehensive training manuals and data collection guidelines for field operations
May 2021 – July 2023 · Fayetteville, AR
Senior Research Assistant
Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies (CAST), University of Arkansas
- Developed geospatial modeling algorithms using Google Earth Engine, ArcGIS, and R
- Collaborated on NASA and NSF grant proposals, securing funding
- Led peer-reviewed research on cover crop detection and conservation agriculture
Jan 2020 – May 2021 · Jonesboro, AR
Graduate Research Assistant
Arkansas State University
- Conducted extensive data analysis on agricultural datasets, publishing research on climate risks and agricultural technology adoption
- Co-led environmental impact studies focusing on agricultural burning and ecological effects
- Enhanced soil moisture modeling and UAV-based monitoring strategies as part of the geospatial research team
Sept 2018 – May 2019 · Florence, Italy
Visiting Research Fellow
University of Florence
- Trained and mentored 25+ master's students in environmental impact assessment methodologies
- Delivered guest lectures and workshops on research methods, proposal writing, and field data collection
Jan 2013 – Aug 2017 · Dhaka, Bangladesh
Assistant Manager, Research (MEL)
Friendship NGO
- Managed 30+ sustainable development projects; secured funding for 12+ proposals
- Designed M&E frameworks collaborating with SIDA, KPMG, Unilever
Education
2023 · USA
Ph.D., Environmental Dynamics
University of Arkansas
2019 · Belgium · Italy · Germany
M.Sc., International Rural Development
Erasmus Mundus — Ghent · Pisa · Humboldt
2014 · Bangladesh
M.Sc., Disaster & Climate Change Management
University of Dhaka
2012 · Bangladesh
B.Sc., Agriculture
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University
Skills
Analysis
R · tidyverseSQLPower BISPSS
Geospatial
ArcGIS ProGoogle Earth Enginesf · terra
Certifications
Lean Six Sigma Green BeltPower BI PL-300MS Project