Elizabeth Lazar

DATA ANALYST AND TRUTH TELLER

About

As a data analyst at the Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General (OIG) with over 10 years of experience as a biostatistician working on clinical trials/ research studies, I possess excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, a strong work ethic, good interpersonal and communication skills, and ability to work well in team-settings. Integrity, accountability, and the pursuit of excellence are fundamental to my work at the OIG in helping to identify government fraud, waste, and abuse of public funds.Throughout my education and employment history, I've gained valuable experience working with datasets, analyzing data, creating visualizations and presenting study findings in a clear, effective manner to a broad range of audiences. By combining my research background with my data analytic skill set, I hope to offer a fresh, dynamic approach for using data to derive important insights that can be translated into meaningful action and opportunities.For your reference, I've provided a link to my RESUME and my education and employment history are included in the appropriate sections (please refer to the tabs on the Home page).Get in touch!

Experience

Data Analyst
Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General (Data Analytics Division)
Boston, MA        April 2024 - Current

  • Analyzed datasets to identify significant trends, patterns and data inconsistencies that could signal fraud, waste, and abuse of public funds

  • Conducted background research and data validation of letters, reports, and dashboards

  • Developed internal dashboards and report visualizations

  • Documented analysis findings and methodology

Research Consultant / Assistant  (Part-time, remote)
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital (Neurorehabilitation Lab)
Charlestown, MA        September 2021 - July 2022

  • Completed Form II training/certification requirements for the Traumatic Brain Injury Model System (TBIMS) longitudinal study

  • Scheduled and conducted Form II follow-up calls for participants enrolled in the TBIMS study

  • Assisted with drafting manuscript/tables for the Rehabilitation and COVid (RECOVR) study

Biostatistician
Jaeb Center for Health Research   (Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group)
Tampa, FL       October 2008 - September 2019

  • Participated in development and coordination of NIH clinical trials/epidemiology studies

  • Drafted detailed statistical analysis plans for protocol chapters and manuscripts

  • Performed sample size calculations, prepared and analyzed study data

  • Prepared and reviewed technical documents for study committees and research boards

  • Manuscript writing (10+ manuscripts)    ---     Publication List

Epidemiologist
Virginia Department of Health (Dental Health Division)
Richmond, VA        March 2005 - September 2008

  • Designed population- and community-based epidemiologic studies

  • Prepared study documents for internal review board submission

  • Survey tool and database development for data collection

  • Developed evaluation plans and materials

  • Data analysis and documentation of statewide surveys and study findings

education and training

General Assembly       May 2023
Immersive Data Analytics Program (Remote)
Certificate

  • Acquire, prepare, analyze and visualize data in real-time using Excel, SQL (PostgreSQL), Tableau, Power BI and Python

  • Create visualizations and dashboards to communicate insights

  • Modeling and machine learning techniques

  • Hands on experience through labs and final capstone project  (Capstone section)

Tufts University           May 2005
Boston, MA

Masters of Science in Nutritional Biochemistry/Metabolism

Masters of Public Health in Epidemiology and Biostatistics

  • Coursework in general nutrition, nutritional biochemistry and physiology, biostatistics and epidemiology

  • Design and conduct epidemiological research studies

  • Data analysis techniques and interpretation of statistical findings

  • Application of epidemiologic and biostatistical methodology and tools to address public health issues and policy

  • Coursework in epidemiological study design, data collection tools/methods and statistical analysis and modeling

University of Michigan          April 2002
Ann Arbor, MI
Bachelors in Biopsychology / Cognitive science

  • Curriculum includes coursework in biochemistry, anatomy/biology, psychology, neuroscience/cognitive science, math/statistics, research methodology and associated lab work

  • Hands-on lab and research experience

Additional Training and Certification

* CITI = Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative
† COMBI = The Center for Outcome Measurement in Brain Injury
‡ Modules include the (1) Admin. Training for the C-SSRS Screener Version, and (2) The C-SSRS Training – English International (v.1.1)

Capstone project

Unveiling the Roadscape: Analysis of Traffic Violations and Trends in Montgomery County, Maryland

In the video, I present the key findings of my capstone project regarding title 21 ('Rules of the Road') electronic traffic violations issued in Montgomery County, Maryland from January 2020 to December 2022. Data were obtained through Montgomery County's open portal system, which contains information on various violations and accidents.

Traffic violations are a major pubic health concern and a leading cause of crash-related injuries and death. The purpose of this project was to analyze the rate and frequency of violations, identify high-risk areas, and examine seasonal patterns. The main findings reveal that speeding is the most common violation, particularly on highways, followed by violations related to traffic signals and signs. Approximately 6% of violations result in accidents, with higher proportions during spring and summer months and on weekends. Male drivers have more violations overall, and their violations tend to contribute to more accidents. The study also highlights specific areas with a concentration of violations, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions. Limitations include data accuracy issues and the absence of certain factors like driver age and road conditions. Furthermore, COVID-19 emergency orders impacted travel patterns and driving behaviors, which could disrupt temporal trends and seasonal patterns. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into traffic violations and their impact in the county.All project materials, presentation slides and the technical report can be accessed at Capstone Project: 05/26/2023

The video and synposis of my research findings can be viewed on my Vimeo webpage (please refer to the CONTACT section).

Contact

I am currently seeking interviews for full-time remote and hybrid opportunities for data analyst positions. As a newly trained data analyst with a wealth of experience in research and statistical methods, I can offer a fresh, dynamic approach for using data to derive important insights and recommendations.

For any inquiries, I can be reached directly through email. If you would like to set up a meeting or interview, please schedule an appointment with me on calendly.