Mel Haley

data science, analytics, visualization, communications

About

About Me

Hi! My name is Mel, and I am a highly motivated, data-driven, creative problem solver with 13+ years of experience in research, project management, and generating insights from data. My non-traditional career path has provided me with the flexibility to operate in diverse subject areas, from neuroscience and health research to film and tv production, as well as the ability to quickly gain new skills. Scroll down to learn more. I am currently located in Port Jefferson, NY.

Portfolio

Portfolio

Check out some of the projects I've worked on


pink, purple, princesses

Data analysis to provide actionable insights to guide client product acquisition strategy.

ParkHacker

A simple web app to help users navigate the most efficient route through a theme park. TDI capstone project.

Yummy, yucky

A brief primer on Mel's neuroscience research.

Bibliography

Links to my journal articles and publications.

Film Credits

Before I was a neuroscientist, I worked in costume design. Link to my IMDB page for the curious.

Resume

Resume

Learn more about my skills and qualifications


Skills

Programming

    Python, SQL, IGOR

Data Science & Machine Learning

    Experimental Methods (Hypothesis Testing, Statistical Analysis, A/B Testing, Experiment Design), Data Processing & Visualization (Pandas, Numpy, Matplotlib, Seaborn, Altair, Streamlit), Linear & Logistic Regression (Scikit-Learn), Unsupervised Learning (K-Means, Clustering, PCA), Deep Learning: (Neural Networks, TensorFlow, Keras, Image Processing with CNNs), Distributed Computing (PySpark), Natural Language Processing (NLP), Git/Version control

Other

    MS Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Premiere), Technical Writing & Literature Review, Signal Processing, Behavioral Data Analysis, HTML/CSS, Web Scraping, Data Presentations

Experience

Oct 2008 - Mar 2023

Research Scientist (Senior, Associate, Assistant)

Stony Brook University -
Neurobiology and Behavior Department
  • Led the full lifecycle of 4 multi-year research projects, overseeing experiment design and strategy, data acquisition, quantitative analysis, data management, and visualization. Delivered novel insights on how the brain integrates both the physical and psychological components of taste perception.

  • Processed large neural and imaging datasets extracted from multiple sources, building automated pipelines to ensure data integrity, quality, and consistency for accurate feature engineering.

  • Applied critical thinking and statistical techniques to identify dataset trends, test hypotheses, and draw conclusions from experimental findings. Developed custom analysis code to optimize data workflows and standardize procedures, increasing the efficiency, accuracy, and reproducibility of analysis results.

  • Created clear and concise data visualizations, presentations, and summaries to communicate complex analysis results to both expert and lay audiences. Authored 7 peer-reviewed journal articles and participated in 4 speaking events, 13 conference proceedings, and quarterly internal meeting presentations.

  • Managed data sharing and storage, implementing best practices for detailed documentation, version control, and compliance with regulatory standards.

  • Spearheaded and facilitated a collaboration between two independent research groups, generating data that led to over $9M in awarded grant funds.
Jan 2021 - Dec 2021

Instructor / Adjunct Lecturer

Stony Brook University -
 Psychology Department
  • Taught and managed operations for a survey course in biopsychology, with 250+ students and 2 teaching assistants per session. Adapted course materials, including the preparation of 20+ multimedia presentations to an online format.

  • Developed key engagement metrics to monitor user behavior, enable performance tracking, and identify trends. Delivered constructive criticism and guidance to students, reviewing progress throughout the course, with one-on-one meetings as needed.
Aug 2001 - Dec 2007

Department Coordinator

Freelance, Member USA829 -
 Costume and Wardrobe Department
  • In 6 years, collaborated with cross-functional teams on over 24 film, television, and theater productions, interfacing with diverse internal and external stakeholders and VIPs to address business processes and objectives.

  • Directly oversaw and managed the department’s budget and finances. Served as the primary point-of-contact and liaison between the purchasing and accounting divisions.

  • Partnered with vendors, oversaw inventory pipeline, and coordinated scheduling of deliverables in a fast paced, dynamic environment with strict deadlines.

Education

PhD in Neuroscience

Stony Brook University
 May 2017

BS in Biology

Stony Brook University
 August 2010

BFA in Drama

Carnegie Mellon University
 May 2001

Certifications

Data Scientist Certification

The Data Incubator Fellowship Program
 May 2023

Contact

Contact

Comments? Questions? Message me!
Open to connecting and exploring data driven roles