Data Science & Analytics
Open-source tools cited in Nature, Cancer Discovery, and 47 other peer-reviewed publications
The Problem
Researchers spend hours wrestling with geographic data that should take minutes. ZIP code lookups require expensive APIs. Distance calculations need manual geocoding. Demographic overlays mean stitching together multiple data sources. Time that should go toward research goes toward data prep instead.
Gavin Rozzi builds open-source tools that eliminate this friction. His R package zipcodeR has been cited in 49 peer-reviewed publications—including Nature and Cancer Discovery—enabling breakthrough research in public health, epidemiology, and environmental science.
zipcodeR
An R package enabling peer-reviewed research in cancer, public health, and environmental science. Cited in Nature, Cancer Discovery, and 47 other publications.
Technical Skills
R Programming
Package development, statistical analysis, data visualization with ggplot2, and Shiny applications.
Geospatial Analysis
GIS mapping, spatial statistics, boundary analysis, and geocoding with sf and leaflet.
Statistical Modeling
Regression analysis, time series, spatial autocorrelation, and predictive modeling.
Data Visualization
Interactive dashboards, publication-quality graphics, and data storytelling.
Data Science Projects
NJ HOMES Choice Tool
Interactive planning tool implementing A4/S50 affordable housing calculations for all 564 municipalities, supporting NJ HOMES grantmaking and municipal compliance.
Operation Right Answer: Housing Services Modernization
Led development of a data-driven service framework to modernize how New Jersey housing programs serve residents, partnering with the New Jersey Innovation Authority to implement AI-assisted contact center technology.
NJ Eviction Guide
Interactive self-help tool connecting New Jersey's most vulnerable residents directly to housing assistance and legal resources.
Municipal Lead Reporting Portal
Statewide compliance platform capturing residential lead-paint inspection data for all 564 New Jersey municipalities.
New Jersey Population Density Map
Award-winning 3D visualization of New Jersey population density using rayshader, winning First Place in the 3D category at the NJ DEP GIS Mapmaking Contest.
njgeo
An R package for geocoding addresses using New Jersey's official geocoding service, freely available as an alternative to commercial solutions.
njtr1
An R package that makes it easy to download and analyze New Jersey motor vehicle crash data for transportation research and safety analysis.
TrentonTracker
A modern Progressive Web App making New Jersey legislative data accessible and searchable, with ZIP code-based legislator lookup.
COVID-19 Spread Visualization
Interactive web-based visualization tracking the spread of COVID-19 across U.S. counties using advanced GIS technologies and real-time data processing.
NJ Narcan Dashboard
An interactive dashboard tracking opioid overdose interventions across New Jersey through law enforcement Narcan deployment data.
zipcodeR
An R package with 49 peer-reviewed citations including Nature and Cancer Discovery, enabling breakthrough research in public health, epidemiology, and environmental science.
OPRAmachine
New Jersey's first statewide freedom of information platform, processing over 75,000 public records requests and releasing 250GB of government data.
Publications
The Dark Side of Sentiment Analysis: An Exploratory Review Using Lexicons, Dictionaries, and a Statistical Monkey and Chimp
SSRN
Jan 2022
journalnjtr1: An R package for researching road safety in New Jersey using open crash data
Software Impacts
Nov 2021
journalzipcodeR: Advancing the analysis of spatial data at the ZIP code level in R
Software Impacts
Jun 2021
journalThe first statewide, open access dataset tracking public records requests in New Jersey
Data in Brief
Jul 2020
Articles & Tutorials
Making Data Tell Stories: Visualization for Public Policy
How effective data visualization can transform complex policy issues into actionable insights for decision-makers and the public
Jun 22, 2024React and TypeScript Best Practices for Government Applications
Lessons learned building production React applications with TypeScript for government clients who demand reliability, accessibility, and security
Feb 15, 2024Digital Transformation in Government: Lessons from the Trenches
Practical insights on modernizing government technology infrastructure and processes from years of hands-on experience
May 12, 2023Why Open Data Matters for Government Transparency
Exploring how open data initiatives improve government services and enable citizen engagement in the digital age
Aug 20, 2022A Spatial Analysis of New Jersey's Medical Cannabis Dispensary Accessibility
An isochrone-based GIS analysis revealing that over 756,000 New Jerseyans in 110 municipalities face 30+ minute drives to the nearest medical cannabis dispensary.
Apr 17, 2022New Jersey's official geocoding API now has a client for R
Using New Jersey's official state geocoding service just got easier! This post introduces njgeo, a new R package that simplifies working with New Jersey-specific spatial datasets.
Feb 4, 2022Frequently Asked Questions
What is zipcodeR and what can it do?
zipcodeR is an R package for working with U.S. ZIP code data, created by Gavin Rozzi. It provides functions for looking up ZIP code information, calculating distances between ZIP codes, finding ZIP codes within a radius, and accessing demographic data. The package is downloaded over 10,000 times monthly.
What programming languages does Gavin Rozzi use for data science?
Gavin Rozzi primarily uses R for data science, including package development, statistical analysis, and data visualization with ggplot2. He also works with SQL, Python, and various GIS tools for geospatial analysis.
What is geospatial analysis and how is it used?
Geospatial analysis involves working with geographic data to understand spatial patterns and relationships. It includes GIS mapping, spatial statistics, boundary analysis, and geocoding. Applications include demographic research, public health analysis, and government resource allocation.
How can data science improve government decision-making?
Data science improves government decision-making by providing evidence-based insights from public data. This includes analyzing demographic trends, measuring program effectiveness, optimizing resource allocation, and creating predictive models for policy planning.
What makes Gavin Rozzi's approach to data science unique?
Gavin Rozzi combines technical data science skills with deep domain expertise in government and public policy. He creates open-source tools used by researchers nationwide, publishes peer-reviewed research, and applies data science to solve real-world problems in civic technology.
About the Author
